A Woman Writer Wonders

Nom de Plume? Photo courtesy of Hans Splinter
Wana Commons

I came across a most interesting blog this morning. I had a wow reaction to it and would like to share it with you. Keep this in mind, being represented by an agent is my ultimate goal. Having self-published, and being ever so grateful for an opportunity to get my book out there, I have grown even more appreciative of the work an agent does on a writer’s behalf.
Some background on me. I’m a girly girl. Love make-up and ruffles. Still enjoy a man who holds a door open for me. An RN, worked in a female bastion—pardon to the wonderful male nurses out there in the new world of medicine. I began writing several years ago. A story-teller with women protagonists. I began by writing suspense novels. Women overcoming frightening, dangerous situations with their own intelligence and inner strength. I moved on to women’s fiction and just self-published the first novel, Missing Emily, in a three-book series.
This I did after going the agent query route, entering contests, doing pitch parties. Along the road I received many positive responses—my favorite from an agent’s reader: . . . could be a commercial success i.e.Jodi Picoult. So, I was close, but I wasn’t offered representation.
I am a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Today’s newsletter had a link to a blog: Homme de Plume: What I Learned Sending My Novel Out Under a Male Name by Catherine Nichols.
Here’s the link: http://jezebel.com/homme-de-plume-what-i-learned-sending-my-novel-out-und-1720637627
I’ll do a short summary in case you only want the gist. This young demonstrably excellent writer, in a bout of writer’s block, after sending out fifty queries to agents on a book she knew was good, wasn’t offered representation. Based on something Catherine read, she decided to do an experiment. She sent out fifty more queries–some overlapping agents she’d queried as herself–with the nom de plume, George Leyer. The results are surprising. She received nicer worded rejections, fast turnarounds, many more manuscript requests as George than she did as Catherine. An agent she’d queried and was rejected by as Catherine, requested the manuscript from George.
In her blog, Catherine gives an array of possible explanations for the phenomenon. She does in no way disparages agents. Catherine wonders if a female protagonist written by a male author holds more interest for an agent. Her small experiment is provocative to women who write. She suggests we might all use only our initials in the future when querying. Catherine is now represented by an agent based on a work of non-fiction (under her real name). Kudos to you, Catherine!
I am, at some point, going to publish my suspense novels. Do I have the courage to use only my initials or a male pseudonym? Wouldn’t an agent see right through my girly-girl writing? Worth a try?

Writing Contest

Photo courtesy of Merrybond at Wana Commons/flikr.com

Normally about this time on every other Monday, I am plunking out some blithe little blog or an informative piece on something Cape Cod. I had in mind a particular blog, but I can’t seem to do it. Words won’t flow. I’m blocked. So, I’m going to tell you what’s on my mind.

Today is the day agents offer requests (or not) to the winners of the Sun versus Snow contest. This is one of the best contests I’ve entered. In six minutes, all 200 entrants—the max for this contest—were in. Mine was one of 32 chosen to move to the next phase.
Sun versus Snow, SvS, is run by two generous women, Amy Trueblood, YA author and free lance writer, https://chasingthecrazies.wordpress.com; and Michelle Hauck, Fantasy author and editor, https://michelle4laughs.blogspot.com. I recommend both of these treasure trove blogs for writers, and if you missed the contest this year, go for it next year!
For SvS, Amy and Michelle plow through all 200 entries and choose a set number, this year 16 each, of entries for phase two. In that round, a mentor is assigned to help each of the 32 entry authors hone their submissions. The next phase is what’s going on today through Wednesday at four p.m. Fifteen agents are reading the entries and making requests to the authors to read more of their work. Part of the fun is the twitter party that started before the first submission hit cyber space. It’s still going strong with good words for everyone, encouragement, and pom pom shaking.
I have not yet had a request. I am completely relaxed. No ego. No concern if an agent doesn’t tag me. I am fully detached from the outcome, happy for the winners. Really? The truth is I am sitting on tenterhooks while I wait. Yesterday, full of lucky stars; today, a bundle of nerves.
Will I let you know what happens?