GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Horror Author Martha Wickham: How to beat the rejection pile blues + excerpt | I Smell Sheep

Friday, February 4, 2022

Horror Author Martha Wickham: How to beat the rejection pile blues + excerpt

How to beat the rejection pile blues
by Martha Wickham

Being rejected can be a negative experience, but it's definitely a learning one. Disappointment shouldn't last log
n. Cut it short. Go for a walk, pet your cat, listen to music and remember there's always another publisher to submit to.

What you should do is have your manuscript edited before submitting. This will keep it looking its best. You don't want to be upset because it was rejected for punctuation and grammar. If they ask if it was edited you can tell them, yes and you can submit with confidence.

Another way to avoid the rejection pile is www.pitchwars.org. It is held on Twitter with the hashtag #PitMad. There are four a year, one every season. You write a short pitch and tweet it a few times a day. Agents and editors heart it if they are interested, you click on them, click their website and submit. I think it's a good idea because you have a lot of people there and more of a chance with likes. Negative comments aren't allowed.

Some very famous books have been rejected many times so maybe the fiftieth submission will be a charm! There are tons of publishers out there. When I had an agent she asked me where I wanted to submit my book. I told her then never heard back. They were silent rejections, but easier to take. Other agents may give you a little feedback about your rejection. I recommend getting an agent. They can help with a lot of submissions.

When writing I would be original and give your character's personality. My favorite books have characters with amazing personalities. They're silly, caring, and loving. That would catch a publisher's eye. Get creative. Write out all your thoughts in your notebook. Sometimes I write out alternate scenes to see which sounds the best. See you on that tidal wave of books.

The Mystery Of Frankenstein's Bride
by Martha Wickham
December 20, 2020

Paranormal, Horror
15 pages
When love takes a turn, what are you willing to do to keep it?

Terra's love life is a monster so she sets out to see her old flame Nathaniel Johnston. But when she finds he is no longer living either, eternity is theirs. Bringing him back will get her a husband because of her passionate feelings for him.

Johnston is her new life, but when they are on their honeymoon in Germany things take a bad turn. The castle they stay in creates too much distance between the two.

Can she get closer to him before it's too late?

EXCERPT:
Frankenstein stomped through the water and quickly strangled the man watching as the lady gasped. He left on his deadly rampage to terrorize the city! He crept towards the stone structure where he was made and entered. The grounds keeper ran as Frankenstein made his way back to his dwelling place, knocking down the lantern that was left behind. A wood chair caught on fire. 

A mob with torches arrived. They outnumbered him by thirty-five so they weren't afraid. The Frankenstein death toll had been 5. The 6 foot tall monster headed toward the dungeon as the fire burned everything it could. It soon burned the front door. Now no one could get in. 

Dr. Frankenstein appeared. “Why have you done this?” shouted the mob. 

“It was an experiment,” he replied nervous. 

“Just tell us what to do,” came from the mob. 

“Find him and lock him away,” suggested a mob member. 

“That's all we can do,” mob man said. “Is there another way in?” 

“Through the back,” the mad scientist replied. They all ran that way but the smoke and fire warned them not to enter. Even if it looked okay. They could see Frankenstein in a window three stories up. 

“Fire bad,” they could hear the deep voice say. And he was gone. A moment later he broke through a downstairs window and headed into the deep woods. The villagers filled their buckets with water and struggled to put it out before it got to the woods. 

The bride of Frankenstein sat on her throne listening to the radio. Her black lips unhappy from the news. “Another body has been found in the wheat field. It looks like another victim of Dr. Frankenstein's experiment,” the radio announced. It looked like her fiance would not return soon. But they were perfect for each other. They were undead, engaged, and hated fire. Only he was killing nice, decent, innocent people. 

She sat and thought about all the young men she loved in her short life. But there was one she loved the most. A banker from Chicago had stolen her heart one summer. He was tall, dark, and handsome. They dated, stayed together, and were in love. They weren't married but were parted by death when she fell ill with pneumonia at only thirty-four. 

In the afterlife she missed him and watched lovingly over him. Suddenly she became angry with Frankenstein. She picked up the table and threw it across the room with ease. It shattered into pieces as she growled. How could he do this to her? She decided she would not marry him. She never wanted to see him again.

About the Author:
Twitter
Martha has studied writing with Writer's Digest and has an Associate’s degree in Social Services. She has also written poems and songs and even studied screen writing and horror. She still writes and likes getting writing prompts. Her favorite author is VC Andrews.





Virtual Book Tour - February 5th - February 25th
February 5 - RABT Book Tours - Kick Off
February 5 - I smell sheep - Guest Post
February 6 - Book Reviews by Virginia Lee - Spotlight
February 7 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt
February 8 - Stormy nights reviewing and blogging - Spotlight
February 9 - A Life Though Books - Interview
February 10 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight
February 11 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight
February 12 - My bookish mind - Review
February 14 - Momma Says to Read or Not to Read - Spotlight
February 15 - The Avid Reader - Interview
February 16 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight
February 17 - Texas Book Nook - Review
February 18 - Sapphyria's Book Blog - Spotlight
February 19 - Book Junkiez - Spotlight
February 21 - My Reading Addiction - Interview
February 22 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight
February 23 - On a Reading Bender - Review
February 24 - Girl with pen - Review
February 25 - Valerie Ullmer - Excerpt
February 25 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up

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