Fiction

How to Use Scrivener Workshop with Patsy Buell Stierna and Holly Erskine

Many writers love using Scrivener. I am one of these writers. In this workshop, Patsy and I will show you how Scrivener can help organize all your valuable writing ideas. Oct 05, 2024 1:30PM—3:00PM Location Write On, Door County 4210 Juddville Rd. Fish Creek, WI 54212 Cost $0.00 Categories Adult... Read more →

Synopses for my Trilogy: A Feast of Spoiling Spoilers Awaits You

Thanks to the Manuscript Academy's classes, I've come to a better understanding of what a synopsis should be. I used to confuse a summary or pitch with a synopsis. I'm certain my ignorance cost me some queries. Ouch. This is still basically me, reading with cats, testing the shielding properties... Read more →

My latest query, happily course-corrected

"Holly, it's not a standalone," he said, smiling kindly, when I explained how book 1 ended. But then he said I simply query it "as book one of a trilogy." He later added that I am to say that books 2 and 3 are outlined. My mouth dropped open. "You can do that?" I felt stupid. Because I am stupid. He assured me it was done all the time, even with debut authors. Read more →

The Trouble with Trilogies (and series) and, because of this, yet one more query revision

Here is another tale about how I was wrong, so you don’t have to be. Lucky for you, I am often wrong, so I’ve got a lot of these tales. Booster is exhausted by all of this. Once upon a time, I felt smart and dutiful by mostly completing a... Read more →

Query for book 1 (yet another revision)

I keep revising my query. It's needed. For the three of you out there who are glued to every twist and turn of my query revision drama, you will already know I've posted one version, and then another. More advice from one of Manuscript Academy's experienced agents informs me what... Read more →

Revised synopsis for book 1

I've revised my synopsis for book 1. My goal was clearer descriptions of subplot resolution for characters' arcs. I thought hard about all the character arcs. How they mostly resolve, but not completely at the end of book 1: The Time Bomb From Outer Space: Day One, Discovery. Series can... Read more →

Query for book 1 (revised!)

I've revised my literary agent query letter for book 1 of my trilogy. This is based on kind, actionable advice I received through Manuscript Academy with literary agent Chelsea Hensley. Manuscript Academy allows you to have a ten-minute consultation with any one of an impressive array of experienced agents and... Read more →

Similar works (for book 1)

Some literary agents request "similar works". This is in addition to your two standard "comps" (comparables) that are always part of a query letter. I just polished up a list for my book 1, The Emissary and the Time Bomb from Outer Space: Day One, Discovery. I began with the... Read more →

Query for book 1

I'm surprised to have really, truly enjoyed paring down my book from 127K words to 119K words (removing words like really and truly, and for example, for example. For more information on how I chopped, read here.) This took a few months of concerted work. Chapter by chapter. I had... Read more →

Sneak Peek: prelude to an awareness walk

For this holiday weekend, a sneak peek at my book. I'm just about to start querying literary agents for book 1 of the Emissary trilogy. Books 2 and 3 are also complete, but need trimming. This has no spoilers. I hope you enjoy it. --Holly Phaneuf Erskine Read more →

My painful happy word limit crisis

I just had a painful writing crisis. I’m thrilled this happened. I should explain. I was in the process of querying literary agents for the first book in my science fiction trilogy. Generally, the accepted upper limit for word count for fiction is 100,000 words. Science fiction and fantasy traditionally... Read more →

Recently published book suggestions for my comps, please!

Do you read a lot of fiction? I need well-read people like you to suggest recently published books for my "comps". Recently published means 2020-2024. What’s a comp? Comps are comparable works, which an agent uses to pitch a manuscript to publishers. The standard is to provide two comps. Not... Read more →

November 11: Stewart Wafflequisp's luckiest day

You can’t just steal an alien machine lost since the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and use it to power your dairy farm for thirty-eight years and not expect any consequences. Read more →

AI is invading critique groups: what to do?

As of this writing, I have no idea how to create AI-generated content. I’m uncharacteristically not curious about learning how. Uncharacteristic, because normally new tech makes my inner nerd all giddy. This tech, when applied to writing at least, makes my inner ethicist want to vomit. I am trying to be balanced. I am often wrong about things. Read more →