Uhhhg! I know your video is amazing but I’m lacking so much in tech skills that I still need more help. At the part at 5:20 or so you refer to the ‘About me’ section. Are the pages you’re referring to somewhere else and you attach or is it created within this program?
@user-nz8ml2jr1wКүн бұрын
Hi Lauren! How long do you recommend we should wait before sending a Query letter to another literary agent if you don’t hear back from a previous agency? Thank you.
@cathyhulet441Күн бұрын
This was the most honest and helpful information I’ve seen. Thank you for being so transparent! I am supposed to do a live pitch in September and now I’m feeling like I don’t know enough about this world of agenting or publishing. Where did you find the most helpful resources? Did you use Publisher’s Marketplace? I am a debut author and the more I learn it feels like the less I know. 🤷♀️
@laurenkaywritesКүн бұрын
Hi! It can be really, really overwhelming, for sure. I went by a lot of trail and error, honestly, and worked with a book coach who helped with a lot of questions that came up. I created an entire course about the querying process, called Query Bootcamp, in order to put all I learned, and have learned since, in one place. You can learn more about that here: laurenkaywrites.com/query-bootcamp
@cathyhulet441Күн бұрын
@@laurenkaywrites thank you! I just found your channel yesterday, so I’m trying to learn everything I can as quickly as possible. 😅
@CSJR2 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I'm still working on my first manuscript but hearing the real deal stories from published writers is super motivating. Thank you thank you thank you.
@laurenkaywritesКүн бұрын
You are so welcome!
@TheDani1723 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for this video. How many agencies did you submit to before you settled with an agent?
@laurenkaywritesКүн бұрын
I queried 50 agents, and had 26 full reuqests, before I chose my agent.
@meganmoxon79563 күн бұрын
Lauren, I just signed up to be a critique partner! What an amazing way to not only connect authors, but give back to people so they don't have to struggle in the shadows. Thank you so much for providing this free resource, and I look forward to reading, critiquing, and seeing what avenues this can help open up!
@laurenkaywritesКүн бұрын
Absolutely! So glad you're signed up.
@drewmorrison4 күн бұрын
I’ve been spending years trying to write a memoir and used scrivener. It wasn’t until I went to a video like this did I realize I was doing scrivener completely wrong. I wasn’t using section types or anything like that. I got confused about the separate folders and just used one text page per chapter. I ended to putting a mountain of notes in the note sections being clueless the bookmarks page can have media dropped into it. Then I realized the best way to write is to write each scene out as a text page and organize it that way. Then you can see the outline, write directly into it. It’s made the process so much clearer. Especially I can use a folder as chapter and look at the entirety of it if I wish.
@laurenkaywritesКүн бұрын
So glad to help!!
@maryfuzzell62624 күн бұрын
You hit on something I think critical. Is the you wrote you second book fast. I think the let down is harder when years are spent writing a book, instead of months. Thank you for sharing.
@lucblayne6 күн бұрын
Do you know how to back it up to the cloud?
@PoeticGem6 күн бұрын
This was great. I believe in transparency as well - which overall publishing is not known for ;) I respect you for telling your true experience good, bad & ugly. Continued success!
@laurenkaywritesКүн бұрын
<3!
@user-vq2qr4gq2v7 күн бұрын
Thank you for your honesty and listening to your gut. You took a risk. I thank you for that. I'm sixty-two years old and am a rookie in this business. And I knew I was facing a monumental challenge. Now I know precisely what challenges I am actually facing. Anyway, you are a fantastic person. Again, I thank you.
@laurenkaywrites7 күн бұрын
You are so welcome <3
@user-vq2qr4gq2v7 күн бұрын
Thank you very much, Lauren. Your video was exceptionally helpful. I have one question: Did you have a large following either here or on social media or your authors website, before landing that six-figure contract? Thanks again, Lauren.
@laurenkaywrites7 күн бұрын
It came after! I had a moderate twitter following before I got the book deal, but most of my following came after the book came out.
@KryssyKat9 күн бұрын
Wow, thank you for this amazing tutorial! I found this by googling Scrivener, as there's a character in my game who's title is that, and they do the work of a scribe, so I assumed a scrivener is the same thing, but wanted a definition, and found the app first before scrolling down to a definition. I got curious and checked it out, but was hesitant to get it as I'm at least familiar with my process for the last several years. Then I scrolled a bit and saw your tutorial vid on the results page. I think I'm leaning far more towards trying this program out. So, thanks again. I'm saving this guide for later reference.
@CG-yf4qi10 күн бұрын
Scrivener is a life saver
@crose58812 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Hearing all of the details of your journey is so incredibly helpful as I work through my own process. Amazing video -- love the candor!
@laurenkaywrites7 күн бұрын
You are so welcome!
@elizabethstump407714 күн бұрын
Thanks for the peak of rejections we may face before we find an agent to champion our stories.
@laurenkaywrites7 күн бұрын
Absolutely! Rejection is a huge part of all of it.
@laurenjackson403216 күн бұрын
That was SO helpful, thank you! I'll definitely have to re-watch this several times to absorb all that info, but you've made it way less intimidating, haha!
@laurenkaywrites15 күн бұрын
I'm so glad!! <3
@gregmartin899616 күн бұрын
Very good short tutorial. Only just started to look at using the software. I use an iMac/iPad combo, so I personally save to a folder on iCloud. Then I can open it on my iPad from the same iCloud Drive. A side effect of this is that it renumbers the project name <proj>-1 <proj>-2 which might be good or bad I guess.
@HigumaYT17 күн бұрын
Hi, Im a teenage author that hopes to get traditionally published one day, and I've been binge watching your videos, they are so so helpfull! Honestly, what Im really scared about is writing a manuscript that I love and having it rejected. Sometimes it discourages me when I try to finish my book, but Im really hoping I get an agent one day :). Thanks for this! <3
@laurenkaywrites15 күн бұрын
I'm so glad you're here! And you've got lots of time to write a manuscript that you really love and feel good about <3 Keep going!!!
@ariesmarsexpress17 күн бұрын
I love scrivener, but when it comes to formating, its not at all easy, especially if the format you want is Chapter > Scene > Part rather than Part > Chapter > Scene. It's easy enough to drag everything into the right place, but then you basically have to change every configuration and do a custom compiler format to get it printed. Compared to Google docs though is awesome. I basically use scrivener to keep everything organized. If you have any advice for where to keep outlines, that would be appreciated.
@homelifewithkayla18 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for this helpful vid! Now I feel like I can go into the program more confidently!
@marziehsafaee968618 күн бұрын
Hi Lauren, Thank you so much for your video. Does this structure of querying work for children picture books?
@laurenkaywrites7 күн бұрын
It does! But always make sure to carefully read individual agents' requirements for querying as they may have specific things they want for your particular genre.
@RobSchwartzCoaching20 күн бұрын
I can't believe more people don't talk about Story Genius. Great video
@samuraijaco120 күн бұрын
This is kind of a random question, but is there a way to have Scrivener put in specific chapter numbers? I'm part of a writing workshop, and so I submit a few chapters at a time, rather than all at once... and I was hoping to have it start the count from 43 to an epilogue, for example. Does anyone know if there's a way to do that?
@smokinggnu658421 күн бұрын
Got to the part about the bio and my heart sank. I don't have much of anything to put on there that would really be positive in any way, just a life of failure, fear and anxiety.
@laurenkaywrites7 күн бұрын
Bios can be so overwhelming to write, for sure! But I don't believe for a second that your whole life is failures <3 I bet there is something you've done, or some interest you have, or some place you've been, that is relevant to what you're writing about and can be tied in to create a bio that explains why you're the best person to write your particular book.
@RaEmpress1122 күн бұрын
Why doesn't this have more views and likes? BRILLIANT content and to the point thank you so much!
@laurenkaywrites15 күн бұрын
Thank YOU so much <3
@Lavender719323 күн бұрын
When you were talking about Bird by Bird I started crying. Gonna read that for sure
@laurenkaywrites15 күн бұрын
It's really great!!
@AngryDenver24 күн бұрын
I'm writing my first book and appreciate this video. Thanks!
@laurenkaywrites23 күн бұрын
so glad! hope it's going well!!
@beautyintheheart25 күн бұрын
What is the name of this software? For some reason, I can't see your replies to other people. I hope YT isn't ghosting you somehow.
@laurenkaywrites23 күн бұрын
This is Miro! I have a free novel template in my Writer Toolkit: www.laurenkaywrites.com/writer-toolkit . Hope this helps!
@beautyintheheart25 күн бұрын
Thanks so much for this! Great video. You seem to pick great apps, btw. Besides Scrivener, what else do you use? Even the app you use for social media replies looked extra organized. Thank you 😊
@laurenkaywrites23 күн бұрын
Ah, thanks! I use Manychat for social media :)
@dumpsterpsycho289426 күн бұрын
Where do you go to find an agent? What website
@laurenkaywrites4 сағат бұрын
Hi! There's no one website for finding agents. A lot of writers reference and use Publisher's Marketplace and QueryTracker.
@Benjaja29 күн бұрын
What a share. Thank you for sharing your vulnerabilities as well as your strengths. I appreciate the balance. I've just written my first novel and am thinking of the possible routes of self-publishing or going down a similar path as one you described with querying~agent~editor~publisher. Like your experience with your second book, I wrote my first draft in two weeks and then followed up with revisions for six months. I'm now letting family read it and then will circle into a beta reader group. Would a chance to see if you'd be interested in being one of the Beta readers? Who know anything is possible !!Congrats on all your failure and success 🙂
@laurenkaywrites27 күн бұрын
Hi! Congrats on finishing your draft!! I don't have the bandwidth to be a Beta reader, but I did create a free database of folks who are open to being beta readers and critique partners: laurenkaywrites.com/critique-partner
@Benjaja27 күн бұрын
@@laurenkaywrites Thank you so much for this Lauren. How incredibly helpful of you. I appreciate everything you're doing. Looking forward to reading your books 🙂
@JGVIllustrations29 күн бұрын
Amazing story! What a rollercoaster it must’ve been 😭 So what happened to your first book? I might’ve missed the detail but did you get it published finally or still in the works?
@laurenkaywrites27 күн бұрын
It came out in 2023 with HarperCollins :)
@JGVIllustrations27 күн бұрын
@@laurenkaywrites So awesome!!
@SocialHigh29 күн бұрын
Thanks! Made my mind up from your videos. Love it!!
@girlypopgayАй бұрын
Sad that it’s one of my favorite songs 😢
@girlypopgayАй бұрын
Never leaving google docs…guess I’ll never get published…or write a book…
@laurenkaywritesАй бұрын
Not at all <3 I'm just a huge, huge fan of Scrivener.
@eolaspellor1718Ай бұрын
Some good points. I'm revamping my tiktok to try and get more viewers and this gave me some good insights. (My best TT has about 30K views, but it took a couple of years to get there).
@Walking_In_The_Spirit.Ай бұрын
AWESOME INFORMATION. Thanks
@laurenkaywritesАй бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@joshuas6251Ай бұрын
Promise I’m not trying to incite, but have you covered how the Publishing industry is just as interested in the demographics of writers as they are the diversity of work submitted? Looking at some publishing stats, it can seem that it doesnt matter what is submitted if the writer doesnt check a box for them. Seems like a huge hurtle these days, was wondering if this has been your experience at all.
@WarTheoryАй бұрын
How does one get a great story out into the world if they are not a writer?
@laurenkaywritesАй бұрын
You...write :) Write and write and write. Share it with friends and family, get solid feedback. Pitch stories, submit to publications, post on social media (if you're comfortable with that). Take writing courses if you can. Talk to other writers.
@WarTheory25 күн бұрын
@@laurenkaywrites thank you so much for getting back to me, but I am not a writer… I wish I was. I am one hell of a talker though… The story I have is pretty crazy and good sad humorous truly entertaining in so many ways I’m not ego driven I don’t even need to have my name on the project. I just want to get the story out into the world if that’s something you might be interested in what’s a good email? My story is based in New York. Granted this is not "We ship it" but my story has a very strong, female voice... The best way to do a female is to be a female.... I think that's why I haven't been able to wrap my head around it the proper way let me know what you think...
@wendymoore6150Ай бұрын
I know this may sound like I know nothing about the process. I don't buy I am trying to learn. If you have a literary agent but you do not get an offer for that book, but you write a second novel do you have to query again? Or does the agent you are working with gets the 1st read?
@laurenkaywritesАй бұрын
This is a conversation you'd have with your agent and may also be something included in any contract you sign when you sign with them.
@christinacascadilla4473Ай бұрын
The this video sounds a lot like the Kevin Bacon movie “The Big Picture.” All these Hollywood studio executives are telling him he’s going to be the next big writer/director. Then they change their mind. For no apparent reason.
@YESCHEFDADDYАй бұрын
THANK YOU... This was awesome! You are a tutorial master.
@ayafreshАй бұрын
Thank you for this! How did it go with the cover? Did they allow you to use your own cover? Did you use your cover design to help pitch to agents? What's the best way to find agents to query? Thanks again, and a big congratulations!
@thejavilobbyАй бұрын
Congrats on your success! I'm in the same boat now. I just started querying my first novel and i need to do better at connecting with other writers who can help me on my journey.
@laurenkaywritesАй бұрын
My Critique Partner Connection is totally free and can help you find other writers :) Here's the link: www.laurenkaywrites.com/critique-partner
@thejavilobbyАй бұрын
@@laurenkaywrites Thank you so much!!!!
@_astrog137Ай бұрын
Great tutorial! ❤
@bobbymoynahanАй бұрын
Is 50,000 an acceptable word count for memoir when querying?
@laurenkaywritesАй бұрын
Most memoirs are usually 50-80,000 words. But memoir and nonfiction typically sell on proposal, not on the full manuscript :)
@bobbymoynahanАй бұрын
@@laurenkaywrites I appreciate it!
@SarahBalmondАй бұрын
Hi, I am just getting started with Scrivener. This is a steep learning curve but your video helps a lot, so thank you! Thanks for the tip on setting Dropbox to save files for back up. However when I go to Dropbox and try to open the Srivener files, it says Scrivener is unsupported and it can't open the files. Just wondering if you have any advice on that. Thanks.
@laurenkaywritesАй бұрын
Hi! Try to pull up the files when you are in Scrivener (go to your dropbox and select the file) and make sure you're in the folder where they're saved, not the backup folder. Scrivener has amazing customer support, so reach out to them if that doesn't work!
@irishoriginsАй бұрын
Is snail mail used now or is it better through e--mail?
@laurenkaywritesАй бұрын
email :)
@DayvinityDaveАй бұрын
Thank you so much for this video! The biggest draw back to this software was the learning curve. You really saved me hours. Thank you!