Evil Adverbs (LY) In dialouge.

Don't trust JK Rowling. Well do in some cases, but not when it comes to using ly.

Although she is not the only published author that is know to over use sharply hastily quickly etc in her writing, she is perhaps the only one called out on it by Stephen King.

Don't get me wrong, I love Rowling, she is someone to be admired for not only her ability to paint a picture with words, but also her huge heart and great spirit.

In fact she gave over 15m dollars to an MS hospital, I have a huge heart for all philanthropy, but MS hits home because my sister has it.

Nevertheless Rowling does over use ly in her dialogue. I have listened to every single one of the Books on CD, and at times even Jim Dale (the narrator) fumbles over words because it doesn't feel natural to be told how someone says something.

I advocate reading your MS aloud, I did this again today and eliminated TONS of words that made it hard to read. This is something that should be done (imho) it forces you to read what you wrote rather than what your mind is seeing on the paper.


How goes the querying? Well more rejections this week. One helpful and the rest just form.
I am currently not querying anymore, as I am doing some major revamping and considering rewriting the first page of my MS. Anyway the stats are below.

Sent 15
Requests for Partials 1
From Rejections on Query 3
Helpful Rejection on Query 1
Rejections on Partials 1

The First of Many

Well an exciting week to say the least.

I received a request for a partial of Death Incorporated. My first request and I was about to run circles around my desk and kiss my boss.

After calming down a bit I reasoned that it was perfectly acceptable to be excited about my first requested partial. After all it means that my query letter is working...on at least one agent. So when I got home from work, I double checked the first 30 pages of the script' and sent it off.

I was on cloud nine for almost exactly 24 hours, and in came the rejection. "Not connecting with the narrative...you have a clever premise...too hard for me to sell in this competitive market."

I didn't want to eat...I didn't want to sleep...I didn't want to be alive.

48 hours later I am rebounding, editing heavily and finding the ability to smile coming back to me. It felt good to get out on our four wheelers yesterday and do NOTHING on the book.



Now it's back to work finding the right agent. There only needs to be one yes.

Here is the tally so far
11 queries sent.
1 form rejection
1 Request for partial/rejection after partial.

I will keep adding when I get more to add.

~Ash

Been a while!

It's been a while since I posted on my blog!

I have been really REALLY busy.

First, I entered three of my photos into the NM state fair. They did better than I thought they would, but I won't find out if they ribboned (probably not) until the Fair starts in September.

Here are the three I entered



Second I have been working pretty much NON STOP on my manuscript for Death Incorporated.

Last but not least, I have been writing and getting my Query Letter Critiqued, by the O so helpful people over at AQ Connect.

Today I sent out 11 queries to agents that I think will be a good fit.

Now the waiting game begins I will updated you all when I get anything back!

Good night Good night!