Tuesday Tip: Everything Agents

Do you have questions about agents, submissions, etc.? Here are three sites you may find helpful:

 
1. Association of Authors' Representatives, Inc.:  On this site, you can search through a database of over 400 members, which includes both literary and dramatic agents.

2.  Between the Lines: AGents Rachelle Gardner, Rachel Kent, Wendy Lawton, Janet Kobobel Grant, and Cynthia Ruchti of Books & Such Literary Management share their expertise and educate writers about the publishing process, what agents are looking for, etc.

3. Manuscript Wish List:  This site makes it easier to find a place that will be the perfect fit for your manuscript. Agents and editors update their profiles regularly to include bios, submission guidelines, and in-depth information on what they're looking for. They have a podcast, too.

Tuesday Tip: Poisonous or Venomous?

You may have heard the words poisonous and venomous used interchangeably, but they're not the same.

Poisonous means its deadly to eat or touch.

Venomous means it has a deadly bite or sting.

Tuesday Tip: Punctuation Tips to Ponder

Misused or overused punctuation marks can really hurt your manuscript. Here are a few tips to ponder and look for in your WIP (work in progress):

Apostrophes: Misused'

Commas: Often placed, in the wrong space

Ellipsis: Used too often in stories...

Exclamation points: Overused!

Question mark: Generally used correctly?

Semicolon: Best to create a new sentence; conjunctions and commas are other options.

Periods: These are usually fine.

Tuesday Tip

Have you ever wondered how you can find out information such as what publishers are looking for, which publishers accept agent-only queries and submissions, and submission guidelines?

If so, you should pick up The Writer's Market Guide by Robert Lee Brewer ((ABA) and The Christian Writers Market Guide by Steve Laube  (CBA). Be sure to also follow-up with the publisher's website to make sure the information is updated.

Tuesday Tip

If your WIP (work in progress) contains Christian content, you may want to consult the Christian Writer's Manual of Style, 4th ed., by Robert Hudson. It's considered the industry-standard guide for Christian content for publishers in the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA).

Some of the information you can find in this style manual include:

• Do you capitalize deity pronouns?
• Do you capitalize Heaven and hell?
• How should Scripture references be cited?

Tuesday Tip: Advise or Advice?

This is the final post on some common words that can be confusing.


Advise is a verb meaning to give counsel to or to offer an opinion or suggestion. 

The doctor will advise you on the best treatment.

Advice is a noun meaning an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action. 

It's often wise to get advice from someone with more experience. 

Tuesday Tip: Anymore or Any more?

For the past few weeks, I've posted about some common words that can be confusing. I'm wrapping that up this month. 

Anymore means "any longer."  

The child told his mom he didn't need help anymore.

Any more means "additional." 

The boy said he didn't need any more help besides his brother.

Tuesday Tip:Specially or Especially?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Specially means it's for a specific purpose. 

The dress was made specially for the bride.

Especially means particularly or "above all." 

The boy loves all animals, especially turtles.

Tuesday Tip: Stationary or Stationery?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Stationary means unmoving. 

The traffic was stationary due to the accident.

Stationery is a word for office supplies or writing materials. 

The bride discovered that blank invitations were less expensive than those found at a fancy stationery store. 

Tuesday Tip: All Together or Altogether?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


All together means everyone together or everything included. 

All together there are six kids coming to the party.

Altogether means completely, all things considered, or on the whole. 

I don't think you've been altogether honest with me.

Tuesday Tip: Torturous or Tortuous?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Torturous means very unpleasant or painful. 

It was a torturous decision, but he left his job.

Tortuous is marked by repeated twists or turns. 

The country streets are narrow, tortuous, and inaccessible to trucks.

Tuesday Tip: Criterion or Criteria?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Criterion is a standard. 

The main criterion for joining the country clue is one's ability to pay the annual fee.

Criteria is the plural form of criterion. Criteria are two or more standards. 

When she saw the criteria for getting into Harvard, she decided to attend a local university instead.

Tuesday Tip: Hanged or Hung?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Hanged is when someone is put to death by hanging from a rope. 

The prisoner was hanged.

Hung is the correct past tense for of "hang" in all other uses. 

The child hung from the fence before he climbed over it.

Tuesday Tip: Warranty or Warrantee?

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Warranty is a written guarantee. 

The tablet comes with a year's warranty on all parts.

Warrantee is a person who is given a written guarantee or a warrant. 

Sarah was the warrantee for the tablet.

Tuesday Tip: Vise or Vice?

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Vise is a tool used to hold an object firmly.

Clamp the starter in a vise.

Vice is a bad habit or immoral practice. 

He thought gambling was a vice.

Tuesday Tip: Elicit or Illicit

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Elicit is a verb that means to evoke.

The telemarketing phone calls elicited no response from the homeowner.

Illicit is an adjective that means illegal.

She dumped her boyfriend because of his illicit drug habit.

Note: Elicit and evoke both begin with the same letter, as do illicit and illegal.

Tuesday Tip: Adverse or Averse

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Adverse is an adjective that means unfavorable or antagonistic in purpose or effect.

She had an adverse reaction to her medication.

Averse is an adjective that means to have strong feelings of opposition, antipathy, or repugnance.

Many children are averse to the idea of year-round school.

Tuesday Tip: Historic or Historical?

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Historic is an adjective that means well-known or important in history.

A historic event is memorable.

Historical is an adjective that pertains to past events.

A historical event occurred many years ago.

Tuesday Tip: Should you use i.e. or e.g.?

I.e. is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "id est." It is used to specify or clarify, and it means "in other words."

E.g.is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "exempli gratia." It means "for example," and it used to introduce examples.

Tuesday Tip: Anymore or Any more?

Anymore and any more are often confused, but they aren't interchangeable.

Anymore is an adverb, and it means "any longer." For instance:

"It's not a secret anymore," Violet said after reading on Twitter about Mark's plans for her surprise party.

Any more is an adjective phrase meaning "any additional." Such as:

"Would you like any more tea?" Martin asked.