Episodic

What the bleep does that mean? Episodic?

It's something you want to stay away from when writing your novel. :)

Here are 2 definitions of this word that I like from Dictionary.com and I've bolded and marked the parts that really hit home with me, in red.

2. divided into separate or tenuously related parts or sections; loosely connected: an episodic novel.

3. occurring sporadically or incidentally.

The synonyms for this word I love even more - it tells you a lot: rambling, wandering, digressive.

What it really boils down to in writing is this. Your character needs to have an overall goal in the story. To reach this overall goal, there needs to be these mini goals or mini plots where the character attempts to reach that overall goal. But there is always a failure or a setback. Each time there is a failure, the character breaks down in some way and they must pick themselves back up and set a new goal to achieve their overall goal. Sort of like, two steps forward, one step back.

Gradually, as the stakes get higher and the character continues to fail and tries other avenues to reach their smaller goals (so that they can reach their overall goal), they come to a point where they hit bedrock, so to speak. They're at their very lowest and then when they finally resolve the internal conflict that has prevented them from attaining all those mini goals, they can resolve the external conflict - the main overall goal.

If your story doesn't have these little mini-plots where the character has to overcome failures or obstacles in some way to finally reach their overall goal, check to make sure it's not episodic. An episodic story just sort of rambles on and really doesn't go anywhere. Sure, things are happening but the character is not growing which is vital.

Now for a confession. I have a story like this! And the worst part is it's the one that had the most requests ever (I sent 20 queries and had 7 requests) I think I mentioned this a post or two ago.

I'm currently working on revising it but I think it took writing a new manuscript in the meantime (by fully plotting the new one out and understanding plot a lot better) and a lovely agent, initials S.S., telling me that the story was "missing a compelling central conflict" for me to realize it was episodic! Which I just realized this past weekend.

Anyways, there's always something to learn and episodic was really eye-opening for me.

Happy Writing!

Kimberly

The Year of Contests

I am a lover of contests and they are a good way to get your work out in front of agents. There have always been contests for writers out there but I feel like this year there are more contests than ever!

I haven't been taking advantage of them all but I sure have been watching some of them. Here are blogs you can watch for contest goings on in the future.

Cupids Literary Connection - This one is so darn cute AND there are usually quite a few agents involved! A friend and critique buddy is in this one now and I am totally rooting for her! She did get requests and I'm so happy because her story totally rocks more than the two bands across my street - she'll know who she is :)

Miss Snark's First Victim - The one that started them all! I've entered a couple of times a few years ago and the great thing is that even if the agent doesn't select yours, you get mega amounts of awesome feedback on your first page.

The Blabbermouth - Agent Linda Epstein occasionally has contests too, how awesome is that. Her most recent was a book giveaway for books on craft and a query critique.

QueryTracker Blog - QueryTracker also has contests every so often. They just had one recently and will be announcing the winners on Monday!


Here are a couple that are going on now or soon!

Shelley Watters, Brenda Drake, and Cassandra Marshall are having a March Madness Agent Pitch Match with about half a dozen agents involved. Check out their blogs for details. It sounds mad for sure AND awesome.

Taryn Albright's blog - For her Birthday, Taryn is giving away several books, a query critique from agent Vickie Motter, and $30 toward editing service gift card.

Those are some of the ones I know about - what other contests are out there?

Happy Writing,

Kimberly

To Nudge, or Not!

I know it's hard for some writers when you have partials and fulls out there not to want to nudge after a few weeks or months. Personally, I have not, and don't think I will do any nudging because almost every time I've heard of someone nudging, it turns into an immediate and automatic NO.

I do have a partial and full out there from last summer (for my YA light sci-fi that did get a lot of requests but I stopped sending queries after about 20). I have just written these two off though because it doesn't seem like I should worry about them at this point. Thankfully, I had a new story to work on (YA post-apocalyptic) at the time, so it's kept me busy and it doesn't even bother me that I've not heard back.

Of course, there are those few and far between instances you hear of where nudging actually turns into good news for someone! I love it when I hear about those. :)

I know a lot of writers have different opinions on nudging so I would love to hear what you all think about it.

Happy Writing,

Kimberly