Author Archives: Melissa Caruso

Why Query Contests are Awesome

I didn’t get my agent from a query contest, but I entered a bunch of them back when I was querying, and I found contests to be incredibly helpful to me as a writer. But not for the reasons I thought they would be. Some people do find their agents through contests, but I knowContinue reading “Why Query Contests are Awesome”

Success Over 40 and Other Mythical Creatures

So, there was some talk recently about whether you’re washed up as a writer after a certain age and do you have to get published in your twenties and when should you give up and blah blah blah. I think a lot of people have said what needs to be said—which comes down to IT’SContinue reading “Success Over 40 and Other Mythical Creatures”

In Which I Squee About My Cover

Have you seen the beautiful cover for THE TETHERED MAGE?! (Design: Lisa Marie Pompilio; Art: Crystal Ben & Arcangel) I love this cover so, so much, guys. One of the many reasons I was super excited when Orbit offered to publish my book is that their covers are FREAKING AMAZING. And wow, they did not disappointContinue reading “In Which I Squee About My Cover”

Outlining Process

I fall firmly into the “plotter” category, preferring to plan things in advance when I write a book. I generally have dozens of pages of notes and an outline before I start writing page one. I wasn’t always that way—in high school, I wrote a (really terrible) novel (on notepads, in pen) with the ruleContinue reading “Outlining Process”

After the Offer: Five Things No One Told Me

Getting an offer from such an amazing publisher as Orbit remains a highlight of my life to date, and working with them has been pure bliss. My pre-publication experience has continued to be a dream come true. But there are some aspects of the life of a debut author I couldn’t have guessed at. SoContinue reading “After the Offer: Five Things No One Told Me”

My 2016 Writing Life In Review, One Email Quote at a Time

2016 may have sucked for humanity, but it was pretty awesome for my writing career. As the year draws to a close, just for fun, here’s a look back on my 2016 writing life through email quotes! I always am fascinated at anything writers, editors, or agents post about submission and publishing timeline stuff, becauseContinue reading “My 2016 Writing Life In Review, One Email Quote at a Time”

Justifiable Murder

One thing that bugs me as a reader (and I do realize this is a pet peeve that probably doesn’t bother lots of people) is when an author kills off a character and I get the feeling they did it solely to make things seem EXTRA DRAMATIC. As if they might get some kind ofContinue reading “Justifiable Murder”