What makes a lit agent say, "yes"

Rachelle Gardner writes about what makes a lit agent say, "yes" in her blog post: Craft, Story and Voice

7 courses that will help you in the real world

Writing
How much time you spend sending e-mails? These messages count as business communication, though few people realize it. If ur messages lack punctuation AND DISREGARD STANDARD WRITING guidelines no 1 will take u srsly!! In an era where we can exchange e-mails with someone for months without ever meeting them in person, your writing skills are often the first and most important judge of your talents or professionalism. Plus, spend enough time in the working world and you'll realize many people have no writing skills. I'm not saying they can't write like Hemingway—I mean they just don't have the training or skills to write effectively, which means people who can write stand out for all the right reasons.

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The Other Side of the Story

The other side of the story is the blood, sweat, & tears an author puts into his book. Each author puts a little bit of themselves into their books. They want to convey a message to the reader.

Writing a book takes time. Time that the author could do whatever they want, but they have a burning desire to pen their words in hopes that readers would appreciate their work through buying the book and providing feedback.

The book is a story, sure - but what it took for the author to get to that story - is a story of itself.

Writers:
Do you have any stories about how your book(s) came to be?

I'd like to buy a vowel

I'm not a fan of the TV game show "Wheel of Fortune". I've tried to watch it, but the contestants usually out guess me and the phrases I guess right, the contestants can never seem to get.

However, I could see watching this show being a good exercise for writers. You really have to think about letters and words and common phrases.

As writers, we often spend time thinking about the right perfect words or phrases and often break the rules of grammar to do so. After all, whom really speaks perfect grammar when they talk - if you know someone that does speak that way; don't they sound odd?

Writing the way people think and talk flows better out of my head and onto paper than having to stop and think if my writing fits the rules of grammar.

Getting Into Character

I believe writing characters well can make an author stand out. A believable character with flaws and circumstances we can all relate to is interesting to read - it is like we are reading about ourselves.

If you can get your reader to care about your character that they get so emotionally involved they can't put the book down - then you have grabbed your reader.

Writers:
What advice would you give other writers about writing 'good characters'?

Writers Bookstore:
Books on Character Writing