Is a novel ever finished? Views from the trenches

Okay, so it happens to me a lot. I think I've finished a novel and then I get a brilliant idea--or what I think is brilliant--and start tinkering with it again.

Sometimes it's after my query letter gets a less than warm reception, but other times it's like the proverbial bolt out of the blue that strikes me. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I'm happy with my bolt I immerse myself in my bolt. I think my bolt is the best thing ever.

There aren't any quantitative measures for this sort of thing, so I just have to take it for granted that I'm right. This new change will make the book better.

Do you get bolts out of the blue and if so, please comment below and let me know what your bolts are like and what effect they have on you.

DANGEROUS: YA Query Blog Hop Entry

Here is my Query Blog Hop Entry. Please critique away. I adore all comments.

Dear Ms Perfect Agent for Me,

When sixteen-year-old Cammie's forced off the road and nearly killed by the richest man in Sleepy Valley SC, she needs evidence to prove her sister’s boyfriend is the culprit before he murders both of them.

Lucky she has someone to count on: her Nana, now in her seventies who worships the god Bahr, has more guns in her house than the local pawn shop, bakes fantastic Norwegian cookies and keeps up with the latest on profiling killers. But no one else believes Cammie, including the sheriff, until his hunk of a nephew tries to help her, but he could be one of the bad guys.

After scheming to get the murderer to invite her and her family to his home for dinner, she makes friends with one of the maids and takes a job as a maid at his family’s palatial estate. Dressed in disguise so her sister's boyfriend doesn't recognize her, she snoops in his laboratory and room, looking for evidence, but time is closing in on her and so is the murderer.

 I won first place from the Virginia Romance Writers Association for one of my novels and second place for YA fiction from the Florida State Writing Competition. My mystery/suspense fiction has been published in PALM PRINTS, the University of South Florida Writers Journal, and online at RIVERWALK.

Dangerous is a 61,000 word completed YA mystery/thriller that contains unique formats, including newspaper articles, lists, cards and emails.

This is a multiple submission. Although Dangerous is a standalone story, it has series potential.

As per your guidelines, I've pasted in the first chapter and a synopsis.

Thank you for considering Dangerous.

Sincerely,

Finished a new young adult novel called DANGEROUS and sending to an agent

Hi All,

Today, I'm getting my new young adult thriller ready to send to an agent who requested the full manuscript after reading the first five pages.

This is exciting. Every time an agent requests a full, my little heart pounds like crazy. Could this be it? Will I get representation?

You never know.

DANGEROUS is about a younger sister who knows her older sis is dating a murderer. She has to figure out how to stop her, even though older sis is head over heals over this rich, handsome guy. Even though the police chief thinks she's crazy. Even though she's always reporting crimes that turn out to be simple misunderstandings.

Will Cassie get the evidence she needs to send this guy to jail before he kills her sister...and maybe her, too?

Will the agent want to represent my novel?

I'll let you know.

Just finishing up edits of my new adult mystery, BELLINGER BEAUTY; here's the story...

When Zoe Gale’s husband is brutally murdered and the police give up the search for his killer, she sets out to find peace of mind by proving the guilt of a wealthy and powerful man. To pay the rent, she takes a job in the same city, helping another man find his missing daughter.  If she doesn’t find her husband's murderer, the man will go free and her name will rise to the top of his To Kill list.

Win free giveaway of the 2015 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market! Check this out!!

The 2015 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market is out now! Giveaway contest: http://tinyurl.com/lj72wx9 – via @chucksambuchino

or see my tweet at www.twitter.com/ccc10 

Read my interview about my writing and my books with Judy Godwin at http://judygoodwin.wordpress.com/2014/08

Read my interview about my writing and my books--especially CANDY, MURDER and ME--with Judy Godwin at http://judygoodwin.wordpress.com/2014/08

CANDY, MURDER & ME on sale for .99 cents!

After Fourth of July sale! CANDY, MURDER and ME is now available for 99 cents. #CarolynChambersClark

Don't miss out on terrific recipes, from Cookie Berelli's Norwegian and Italian heritage, including Grandma Berelli’s Pralines (“Worth going to jail for”), Cookie’s Maple Candies (“So good they’re criminal”), Nana’s Kringlas (“To kill for”), Cookie's Chocolate Cover-Up Fudge ("Perfect for spying activities"), and Blood Red Spaghetti Sauce with Bad Boy Meatballs, among others.

These great recipes are available throughout the story to break up the mayhem while you follow this cozy mystery of who killed Cookie's P.I.

Find CANDY, MURDER & ME at http://amzn.to/1ouLniC

Hey, contest to win free novel. Check this out.

YouTube is a mighty easy and often entertaining way to find out if you're going to like a novel or not. You can find authors reading from their own books and people talking about their books, non-stop in some cases. My favorite are book trailers.

For some samples, go to http://www.youtube.com and put Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the page. A bunch of book trailers will pop up. Click on the ones that interest you.

Put a comment in the comment section below this post of the best trailer in your opinion, then follow me by Email and I'll send you a copy of the book you'd like to have a copy of! (Put your email address in the box to the right and I'll send you your book.)

Have fun watching and reading!

Free editing of your manuscript

Ultimate Book Editing is offering free editing of up to 1.000 words of free edits of your manuscript.
Hurry on over to http://ultimate-fiction.blogspot.com/p/special-offers_19.html to enter the raffle. If you enter, you will get at least 250 words edited, so do stop by there.

What You Can Learn from the TV Show How I Met Your Mother

Can you really learn something about writing well from TV shows?

Cris Freese says, "Yes, you can."

Whether you're a writer or a reader or a TV watcher, I think maybe Cris is right. Even though I dislike sitcoms, except maybe Roseanne,  here are the points that might be helpful to writers. They can also help a reader or watcher to help evaluate whether the book or show is worth your time, because good writing is satisfying and keeps you hooked, coming back for more.

1.  Everything happens for a reason. Don't put in details unless you plan to use them later on.

2.  Reward your readers. It helps to have a recurring element that readers or watchers will look for and feel satisfied when it happens.

3.  Never write yourself into a corner. Readers and watchers won't like it either because they'll feel as if something is unresolved. We humans like things to be neatly tied up at the end.

4.  Main characters should not only have primary goals to achieve, but also secondary ones that create good tension and keep the reader or watcher on her toes.

5.  Tragedy can be compelling because it tugs at our emotions and makes us want to root for them. Build them in if you're a writer and look for them if you're a reader or watcher.

5.  Endings are hard whether you're writing them or reading or watching them. If the writer has done the job, you'll be hooked and want to see what happens next, even when the book or TV show has ended.

6.  Tie up all the loose ends. If you don't, your reader or watcher will feel gypped.

7.  At the end of the story or chapter, bring the reader or watcher back to familiar territory.



These are the bare bones. To find out all the details, go to http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/7-things-how-i-met-your-mother-can-teach-us-about-writing?et_mid=668728&rid=239174751

Contests, contests, writing contests!

If you're a fiction writer, you'll want to enter at least one of the contests being offered this month. Seekerville has them all nicely categorized and described. Find them at http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2014/02/march-contest-update.html

Ready, set, go!

And...good luck.

New free critique of your first page by literary agent, Sean McCarthy

If you're a writer, you're sure to love this one. Agent Sean McCarthy will critique the first page of whatever novel you're working on.

See the contest details at http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/free-fall-friday-industry-update-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WritingAndIllustrating+%28Writing+and+Illustrating%29

Good luck!