if you want to sing out, sing out

I made jam to unwind after a long workweek!

Agatha Faversham’s haunted mansion. Photo by MGness. [OS] [2048×1365].

Rosemary, pepper, lavender skillet bread. 2 cups lukewarm water 2 ¼ tsp yeast 4 1/3 cups flour 1 tbsp herb mix Rock salt Olive oil

Herb mix: grind black pepper corns, lavender rosemary and salt in a mortar using equal parts (maybe a smudge less lavender than everything else)

In a bowl, add water and yeast, stir to dissolve and let set for 5 minutes. Add in 1 cup flour and herb mix, stirring with a wooden spoon. Continue adding in flour until fully mixed. Cover and Let proof in a warm spot for an hour. Coat your cast iron skillet with olive oil and sprinkle flour on the dough and your hands to help minimize stickiness. Fold “ugly parts” under and place in oiled pan. Cover and let sit another 30 minutes Preheat oven to 400 F Pour more olive oil on top to make sure the entire top is coated. Sprinkle salt and extra herbs on top, cut an X and bake for approximately 30 minutes depending on size of pan. Top will be a nice brown, transfer to a cooling rack, or serve in the skillet after letting it cool down.

Not running away, running towards.

In the fir forest, Ivan Shishkin

jack LISTEN… listen to me have you taken a good look at this man

firm and musky power stance, not even toning it down even remotely to talk to a little hobbit

bright red tunic + bright blue hat (pointy style), it is well known that people who regularly blast hole are the only people allowed to mix primary colors. thats color theory 101

the HEELS on the BOOTS… saruman WISHES he could. radagast is radaGAGGED

cloak wrapped several times around the shoulder area (ferociously sexual) which doesnt match any other part of the outfit but hes wearing it anyway (power move)

hes gandalf

It’s always a good idea to begin your research as early as you can, because A LOT is still not enough. When you round up your data, make sure you check out every website, twitter, or other networking site an agency might have.

To jump-start your research, here are all the resources I’ve compiled over the process of my own querying journeys (also, these sites are free, and a few of them have donation pages or additional services if you do find them helpful):

Agent Query – is a great website with a database of agents. AQ also has additional resources like how to submit to a literary agent and how to write a query.

Query Tracker – is updated quickly, especially when agents close to submissions for periods of time. QT has individual message boards for each agent page so writers who are querying can see approximate and recent response times that other writers are getting. Additionally, agent pages also have graphs and lists of clients and other useful things.

Absolute Write – is a forum for writers that has a whole branch for members to discuss agents, response times, goings-on, so on and so forth. Other helpful threads include workshopping chapters and queries – which, if you’re fairly new to querying, is highly recommended.

Literary Rambles – is a blog run by Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre, and they post really sweet, in-depth profiles and blurbs from interviews of literary agents in the YA (young adult), MG (middle grade), PB (picture books) and CB (chapter book) realms.

Writer Beware – is sponsored by the SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America) with support from the MWA (Mystery Writers of America). They update with publishing scams and schemes and traps with advice on how to spot and avoid them. They also have a blog and a facebook page.

What to do when you’ve finished your manuscript – is advice I put together to help writers to prepare their manuscripts and submission needs. Many writers begin querying before they’re ready.

special touch on a gift for a friend + cozy coffee shop i’m making a habit of writing in