Getting an agent or editor’s attention

 For us (unagented authors and writers) entering competitions where agents and editors are judging the entries is a surefire way of snagging an agent/ editors’ attention. 

Honestly, our queries may get submerged in the deluge of the slush pile every agent is flooded with. I have heard that some agents don’t even go through unsolicited queries, forget about reading either the synopsis or the first few pages.

There are many blogs and sites which hold competitions where one has to submit either the pitch or the first 250 words of one’s manuscript. And many writers have got their agents through this route. Even winning short story competitions can work in our favour, as agents and editors’ interest is perked when they hear about prize winning writers.

I came across one such competition while researching a few agents last night. The Greenhouse Literary agency is conducting the Greenhouse Funny Prize, a competition to find new writing talent. It’s the second year for the competition. This year the competition has become bigger. It’s open to the world. The winners will receive an offer of representation from the Greenhouse Literary Agency. If you can make people laugh with your writing, then check out the guidelines here.

Have any of you ever entered a competition where agents and editors where judging. What’s your take on competitions? Do you think competitions work in a writer’s favour?

Tackling moments of doubts and madness

From the past few months I have had several moments of madness. It’s at these moments that I have done impulsive things that either I am regretting or applauding myself for. I feel strange forces have silently and subtly pushed me towards these moments of madness. Perhaps a higher force unknown to me.

These mysterious forces are also largely responsible for my bursts of literary creativity. It’s during these moments that I am tempted to choose themes for my WIPs.  Sometimes the themes range from the completely bizarre to the weird, from the wild and wacky to the strange and quirky. What starts off with an initial burst of promise sometimes takes just moments to fizzle out, and then after several pages have been filled I am assailed with doubts about the commercial and literary potential of what I once considered my future masterpiece.

What started off as awesome has somewhere along the line turned into a big bore? Honestly, this is my current state of mind. I feel my plot is no great shakes, the stakes are not high enough, my character’s story is not page turning enough, the antagonist is not coming across as strong and the world building is pretty slow, the supporting characters are too dull. I am doubtful whether any editor will even want to read my first book, forget about the trilogy.

I don’t know why I am so caught up by doubts that I am second guessing everything and dismissing most of the scenes as not happening enough. Though I am still working on my books, I am not satisfied with what I am writing. Maybe I should work on something else for a few days, distance myself from my manuscript. The long wait for a reply from the publishing houses is straining me emotionally. And my agent search that didn’t go too well also psyched me up.

Do you all go through what I am going through. How do you all tackle your doubts? Do you distance yourself from the project or do you plough on? Do you feel I should work on an entirely new project for the next few days? Maybe even work on some short stories so that I can let the doubts and worries fade from my mind? Please share your wisdom.

   

Creating a memorable antagonist

When we talk of the characters in our books we normally talk of the main character and the other characters who play a supporting role. We write posts on how to make him/her more likeable, memorable and rounded.

I think that in our mad rush to create lovable protagonists, we tend to overlook the antagonist. He single handedly drives the conflict. Creates tension. Is  responsible for the obstacles in our character’s life.

The protagonist and antagonist are two sides of the same coin. Without them our manuscript is incomplete. Having a strong antagonist is as important as having a strong protagonist. While working on my current WIP (yes, even though the muse is on a holiday, I am still jotting down points and writing scene descriptions and thinking on world building lines).

I realized that I was paying a lot of attention to my protagonist. My antagonist was coming across as a weak one. No wonder then, the conflict in my manuscript was looking pale.

To toughen the conflict and raise the stakes, I had to concentrate on the antagonist. Make him strong. Powerful. Clever and resourceful. If the balance tilts in one person’s favour, the conflict loses its appeal. But if we have two powerful forces (protagonist and antagonist) that’s when the conflict becomes interesting and the battle between them engrossing and intriguing. Till the last minute the reader must keep guessing who is going to win the war.

We have to constantly ask ourselves what are our antagonist’s strengths? What are the advantages he has that give him an edge over our main character. Is the antagonist able to capitalize on his strengths? Is he able to push the protagonist into corners? What about the antagonist’s weaknesses?  Is the main character aware of the chinks in the antagonist’s armour? What is the antagonist’s safeguard against the protagonist?  

To make the conflict strong, I have to give both the protagonist and the antagonist an equal number of strengths and weaknesses. A battle grips us when there are two powerful forces pitted against each other. Forces that would do anything to win. Who is about to find the chink in the other’s armour first? Who is able to capitalize on the other person’s weakness first, will decide the winner?

I loved Harry as much as I disliked Voldemort. I wanted Harry to kill Voldemort, come what may. They were two formidable forces with an equal number of strengths and weaknesses. Their clashes were page-turners.

Is the antagonist on top of your character development? Do you believe that powerful antagonists drive the conflict better? What are the things you all are doing to create powerful antagonists? We all would love to know.