Fabulous Follower Fiesta/Lessons from the Bachelor

Here are today's winners! Thanks again to all my followers!

Winner #1: Ash Elizabeth (Warning)
You won Hardback of Wicket Lovely by Melissa Marr and The Novel Writers Toolkit. Please email me your address.

Winner #2: Robyn Campbell (Putting Pen To Paper)
You won a Hardback of Devils Kiss by Sarwat Chadda and The Writers Course

Congrads and thank you for following me :)


Lessons from The Bachelor when querying agents/editors

Yes i need to make some excuse for my addiction to reality tv!

1. Stand out - Make sure your premise/query letter has a good hook

2. Don't use gimmicks to get attention - be professional

3. Don't be the "crazy one" - do not keep emailing them. Wait the allotted time they list in their submissions before hounding them

4. Remember that chemistry is not something you can force - sometimes its that untouchable factor. Don't take every rejection personally.

5. Don't be the aggressor - don't appear desperate

6. Expect to cry at least once - Its OK to be upset about rejections. Give yourself 24 hrs and then move on. Especially at rejection.

7. There are at least 25 other good writers in line with you - Keep in mind agents get thousands of queries and editors get hundreds of manuscripts. Don't take the long wait personally.

8 First impressions are critical - watch the mispellings in your letter.

9. Know when to talk - don't blog about your rejections

10. Don't give up on "love" because you haven't found it yet - it only takes one to love your work.

11. Don't settle - if an agent offers you representation, be sure you connect. A bad agent is worse than no agent at all.

12. Make sure they love you as much as you love them - be sure when you get representation that you choose someone who loves your work and voice. Not just the premise or idea.

13. No one likes drama - their is no room for drama in publishing. Keep it in your books.

14. Be true to yourself. Stay true to your writing, no matter what but be willing to revise.

15. There are other fish in the sea - if you get one rejection, move onto the next.

16. Love is a battlefield - This business is not easy. It is so hard. Those who fight through the rejections will prevail.

17. Don't focus on the ring. It is important you enjoy the journey and not stress yourself out to get to published.Try to have fun along the way.

18. Have faith you will find "the one" - there is an agent for you. Have faith you will find them at the right time.

19. You will not ride off into the sunset - after reaching one horizon, there will be another.

20. Learn from your mistakes.

Here's to hoping you all find your "true love"! :)

Wes - Karma is a Bitc$$

I usually don't spout off about TV on my blog and I rarely get on my soapbox.

But did anyone see The Bachelorette last night?

Are you kidding me? Seriously?

I am so appalled at Wes's attitude. How can people in this world be so cold and heartless? I still can believe these people still exist! And did his family lie for him? They said he wasn't dating anyone. If he's been dating someone for 6 years, they would know.

I really liked him in the beginning and then last night it was like the Jekyll and Hyde show.

To come on a show and purposefully lie and cheat and deceive is horrible. What a jerk!

Yes, the show is hokey. Yes it is probably staged. Yes some guys/gals are weird. (hello the foot fetish dude? Tanner keep your pants on!)

But do you have to be a total ass too?

I don't understand how someone can lie to someone's face who is obviously genuinely trying to find true love. Maybe it won't work. Maybe it won't last. But to deceive someone and purposely stomp on their dreams for your own personal gain is just wrong.

And it was all for "Number Uno". (as he referred to himself)

All I can say is Wes, I would not listen your CD/music if you gave it to me. I thought you were a hotty totty, but it is amazing how ugly someone can become when they dont' have a good heart. Your music kinda sucks anyway. Not all that. And your girlfriend is just as sad if she is proud of you.

Not to mention, your publicist is a snake. I'm a publicist and I would never work for people like you, let alone encourage them to succeed at someone else's expense.

Your mistake was not taking your "act" all the way to the end. You did all that for publicity and ended up looking like a huge weasel. All because your ego got in the way and you just had to spout off how deceiving you were. Something you are obviously proud of - "I am the first man to make it to the final 4 with a girlfriend."

If I was your snaky publicist - I would have to kick your arse for showing your true colors. because I hate to tell you this will backfire in your face and ill be short-lived. You will never be remembered for your music - only your weaselness. You just alienated about 20 million girls who watch the show.

I don't worry about people like this because what comes around, goes around. I do not believe you can just take and take and take and not expect to eventually give up something BIG. HUGE. I don't believe you can disrespect someone's spirit and not pay for it in the long run.

I hope this backfires in your face so you can learn it is better to give than receive. It is better to be honest than deceive, and it is better to love others more than yourself!

Good riddance!

Tanner - you are a wimp - you should have called him out to his face along time ago. Who cares about the "Male pact".

Jake - you rock for sticking to your guns and trying to help someone you care about expecting nothing in return! I hope you are the next Bachelor cuz that took some guts to get back on TV after being rejected and standing up to Wes the Weasel.

Jillian - you kept Wes on way too long but thank goodness you came to your senses.

What do I take away from all this?

Characters, characters, characters.

And now, I have a bad guy for my next book. ;)