Monday, June 18, 2012

How's Your Research Going?

Agent research that is! I know some of you aren't in the querying stage yet and some of you are well past it, but it's always an interesting topic.

Today I'm over at From the Write Angle talking about one stage of my agent research process. I hope you'll join me over there!



Also, my blog buddy Stephen Tremp is having a Breakthrough Breakout Book Giveaway today and tomorrow. For these 2 days, his debut novel Breakthrough will be available for free on Amazon. Check out Stephen's blog for the details!


I was always one of those kids who enjoyed writing essays because I love doing research. How about you?

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Jemi for the image and the link! I greatly appreciate the exposure.

And I love doing research. I spend a good chunk of time researching the material. The trick is to remember as much as possible after the book is published.

Anonymous said...

I liked writing essay because I liked arguing... ;-)

Old Kitty said...

Research is the best bit - you never know what amazing things can turn up! Take care
x

JeffO said...

I've never been one to mind research in general, but I've found researching agents to be quite arduous. Good luck with your search.

Theresa Milstein said...

I think I missed Stephen's giveaway during the busy weekend. Boo!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I don't mind research.

Talli Roland said...

Headed over!

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephen - you're very welcome! And when the research is complicated (like yours!), it's got to be that much tougher :)

Old Kitty - I agree - I love doing all kinds of research!

Jeff - it is a lot of work - there are so many great people! I've found AQ & QT to be invaluable! :)

Theresa - it's actually today and tomorrow, so you're good :)

Alex - me too :)

Talli - thanks! I appreciate it!

Yvonne Osborne said...

You must have more time for writing these days while I have less. Did I say I'm jealous? No, but I am a little bit. The garden/market season is a huge time suck, but it makes more money than writing these days so plodding ahead I go.

Jemi Fraser said...

Yvonne - June is kind of crazy for me, which is why I do these research type things then. I can do those in small bits :) I'm the worst gardener EVER so that's one place I don't spend a lot of time :)

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I'll admit it, I'm a nerd and love love love research.

Julie Dao said...

I'm querying right now and will head over to check out your post! :)

Dianne K. Salerni said...

I need to stop fumbling forward in my WIP and do some solid research so that I can nail this climax that I have in mind (but haven't really *planned* in a practical sense).

Oh, and I might get to go to Mexico to do some research in person this summer. Very excited about this!

Lynn Proctor said...

i have to admit---i do not like research very much--at least when it comes to writing---but i have recently become very interested in searching my family history :)

Anonymous said...

I'll head over.

I posted about Stephen's book, too. :)

As a kid I enjoyed doing research.

Jemi Fraser said...

Teresa - isn't it great! I felt odd in high school loving research - but online there are so many of us who do!

Julie - thanks! Hope it helps you out a bit :)

Dianne - how exciting! I never set my stories in real places because I don't travel much. I'd love to try it though!

Lynn - that's a fun one to research too! There are so many interesting bits of family histories :)

Medeia - yay! :) I did too - love learning new stuff!

Jack said...

His book looks very cool! I love the cover!

Glad you like the picture!

Lisa Gail Green said...

I'm a librarian's daughter, so I do find research interesting. I love using the internet now though! I guess I'm dating myself, huh?

Jemi Fraser said...

Jack - I did! And Stephen's book is a great sf adventure :)

Lisa - having a librarian for a mom probably ensure you either love it or hate it :) In college I loved sitting in the library surrounded by books and note cards and coloured pens. So much fun :)

Leslie S. Rose said...

I'm a research junkie. I'll start on one topic and fly off in many tangents. So much fun.

Jemi Fraser said...

Leslie - me too! Love doing research and it's so easy to get caught up in it! :)

Precy Larkins said...

I'll stop by your FTWA post in a minute. Just letting you know that I have a blog award for you. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Precy - aww, thank you! You're a sweetie! I'll pop over :)

cleemckenzie said...

My motto: When all else fails, do some research. I love combing through data and coming up with tidbits that I can use in a story. I have to set a limit, however, or I'd be in research heaven forever.

Stephen's everywhere today!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lee - me too - research is fun. I often have to force myself back to work :)

J.L. Campbell said...

Jemi,

Like you, I enjoy research, so much so that it sometimes becomes a diversionary tactic when I want to avoid writing. Will check out the other site later. Rushing out for a dinner engagement.

Jemi Fraser said...

JL - thanks! It really can be a fun diversion! Hope you have a great dinner! :)

klahanie said...

Hi Jemi,
Good of you to mention Stephen Tremp's giveaway. I have linked his giveaway via 'Farcebook'. Yes, lucky Stephen is one of my 'Farcebook' friends.
I loved doing essays in school. I recall one essay was a maximum 500 word essay discussing our thoughts on the word "why". I handed in my essay with two words, "why not?" The teacher gave me a marking of 75% :)
I'm now going to teleport myself over to your link...bye .....

Wendy Lu said...

I'm still working on my writing project, so I'm afraid I am not yet at the agent research stage yet! But I will definitely check out your post at From the Write Angle - it's a great writing site!

Just downloaded Breakthrough! I blogged about Stephen's event as well - it's an awesome giveaway!

Speaking of blog events, I'm hosting a fun blogfest and critique giveaway at my blog from June 22-24 that you should totally come participate in if you're interested! :) Hope you have a great day.

~Wendy Lu

The Roarin' Twenties Poetry Blogfest + Chapter Critique Giveaway (hosted by The Red Angel)

Ella said...

Hi Jemi,
I loved biology essays...it just came to me! I'm not in that stage yet,...but I also appreciate insight into it.

Thanks for visiting me!
Yes,my son loved Stephen's book. He loaned it to his girlfriend. I will have to get it and get caught up...

Off to visit you elsewhere ;D

Al said...

The only research I seem to do is background research

Jemi Fraser said...

Gary - lucky Stephen indeed! I haven't ventured in FB territory yet! Your teacher definitely had a sense of humour - as (obviously) so do you :)

Wendy - thank you! I'll check out your giveaway after work - I'm just heading out in a few minutes here! :)

Ella - you're very welcome! :) Glad to hear others are enjoying Stephen's book too :)

Al - I do that too - and it's fun! :)

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

I didn't enjoy research as a kid, but I love it now.

See you at From the Write Angle! : )

LD Masterson said...

'Have to find out something for a school paper' research I wasn't too crazy about. Follow my nose research on something I find interesting - I love.

Jemi Fraser said...

Cynthia - thanks! I've always liked research. My parents thought it was nuts when I'd read through the encyclopedias for fun :)

Linda - there is a difference, isn't there! That's why I like to give the kids a fair amount of choice in their research assignments at school! :)

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

Hey Jemi, thanks for stopping by the blog. I'm glad you liked Alicia's post :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Shelli - I did! And you're welcome :)

DEZMOND said...

oh, yes, I loved writing essays too! Loved reading and researching!

Beth said...

I'd rather write fiction than essays, but writing anything is great!

Jemi Fraser said...

Dezzy - it's enlightening to see how many people who blog loved to research! Fun :)

Beth - I agree. I do like putting together a good essay though - not really sure what it is that's appealing, but I enjoy it :)

Elana Johnson said...

Oh, the thought of researching agents gives me hives. No lie.

Jemi Fraser said...

Elana - it is terrifying! I'm just glad I enjoy research, or I'd be in total meltdown! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi, Jemi. Nice to see you again! I just got your comment about my Twitter account being hacked again. Another follower also let me know this. Thanks for letting me know. I'm giving it up. It's not worth it to me, I rarely use it, and I don't want anyone getting virus links. So I just de-activated it. I'll stay occasionally with blogging, and Facebook.

I hope you're doing well. Hope you're able to write the way you wish. I have Stephen's novel, one of the many on my to-read list. He's an excellent writer, and I wish him great success!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Yay for Stephen. Popping on over...

Jemi Fraser said...

Ann - I don't blame you - it can be so frustrating when people do these annoying things. I just don't understand the mentality of them. I doing very well - even during this very busy time of June :)

Lynda - thanks so much!

Lola Sharp said...

In school I didn't much like the research (though I did enjoy writing the essays), but I do enjoy it very much as an adult. But, I'm choosing the research topics, thus they interest me. I enjoy it so much, in fact, that I have to be careful I'm not going too far down the rabbit hole and using it to procrastinate.

Happy weekend, Jemi. :)

Hugs,
Lola

Jemi Fraser said...

Lola - it is much different when you get to choose your own topics! I get very distracted too - last night I spent a couple of hours on a cowboy dictionary site! :)