Julie Butcher

To all of the RT 2013 Authors

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:35:00 +0000

Thank You!

To the Adult Writers

My girls were the ones asking you if they were old enough to read your books. Thank you for taking the time to chat with them. You made them feel important. The swag you gave them is proudly displayed on the bookself in my daughter's room. They remember your names, and your books, better than I do. I know that they aren't your readers yet, but you can bet your buttons that they will be. So, thank you for making them look forward to reading in the future.

To the YA Authors

You were awesome personified. My daughter and her friends came away with bragging rights that will last for years. At the bookstore, the youngest points out the books that are yours and remembers exactly what you told them about the plot. (You're costing me a mint!) She remembers each face, and what you said, and how you really listened to her questions. She tells friends that they MUST READ your book because you are so cool. I have never seen happier eighth grade girls. They felt wanted and needed, and felt like their opinions mattered.

They came away from Teen Day feeling great about themselves and looking forward to a summer with your stories. As a mother I thank you. You made my job easier.
,

My Daughter in the Most Awesome Prom Dress Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:24:00 +0000

On Editing and Random Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:24:00 +0000

I'm all caught up on the freelance editing I've been doing, so if you need a quick read, I'm available for the next five days. Then, I'll be at the Romantic Times Convention for a week. Fees are as follows:

Query Critique and First Chapter (up to 20 pages) $30.00

First Three Chapters (up to 45 pages) $50.00

Entire Manuscript Critique $1.00 a page

Emergency Fee to Jump the Queue $50

For more information on how and what I edit, please see this post.

In which I am interviewed and you can see how rough are my first chapters

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:32:00 +0000

So I am interviewed over here http://iniribablog.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/interview-guest-writereditor-julie-butcher/ . Go and see :D

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: Finding a Reputable Agent #...

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:19:00 +0000

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: Finding a Reputable Agent #...: Baby Evil Writers 101: Finding a Reputable Agent #2 Julie Butcher Last time we talked about finding an agent, we decided that being ...

I Can Tell You Why Your Manuscript Sucks

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:33:00 +0000

How can I do this and why would you want to be told such a horrible thing?

Maybe, because you want to find an agent or editor who LOVES YOU DEARLY?

I've found mine and now I'd like to help you find yours. (No, you can't have mine.) So I've started a critique service. Not forever, but for a while.

Why do you think you're any good at this at all?

I've been beta reading since 1990, not only for unpublished authors, but for agented and published ones, too. Quite honestly, I was a terrible reader for the first ten years or so. I was worried about hurting people's feelings, and didn't say when a passage stunk on ice, or when something made me go WTF?! Now I do. This is what you need to improve your writing.

Also, I remember thinking, "I wish someone would just tell me what I'm doing wrong so I can fix it." Seriously, some of you guys are wonderful writers, you have a voice, your sentence structure is strong. But, your pacing sucks, or you just can't quite make your characters come alive for the reader. I can help you with that.

Why would you want to use your time like this when you could be watching Dr. Who or Spiderman?

Quite honestly, I have six kids. Three are in college, and three are in private high school. I'd like them to stay in school, their education is extremely important to me, and that costs a gerjillion dollars.

Why would I want to pay for a critique when I can get one free from my own critique group?

Unless your beta readers are published, or are working with a traditional agent or editor, they don't have the experience to help you. I do.

How much will this cost?

Query Critique and First Chapter (up to 20 pages) $30.00

First Three Chapters (up to 45 pages) $50.00

Entire Manuscript Critique $1.00 a page

Emergency Fee to Jump the Queue $50

What do I get for my money?

I'll post notes throughout the manuscript using Word and Track Changes. I'll tell you where, when, and why you're messing up. I'll tell you what you're doing right, and what you shouldn't change. I'll also provide a detailed letter of what I think will improve your work.

Every writer is at a different stage of development. All writers (including me) have problems actually seeing their story because what they've written is colored by what they see in their own mind. The reader doesn't have the benefit of your imagination.

What won't you do?

I will not recommend you to my agent unless I think your book is ready to go into print tomorrow. You should know that I have been with my agent for two years, and have only suggested that she read one writer's work. (While I've read hundreds.)

I don't critique erotica. (For all I know I could be doing it wrong.)

I will not correct your punctuation. You need a line editor for that.

How do I contact you?

You can email me at juliebutcheredits@yahoo.com
You can check out recommendations and *like* my editing page at https://www.facebook.com/JulieButcherEdits
On twitter you can find me at https://twitter.com/Julie_Butcher

I look forward to working with you.

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: Finding a Reputable Agent #...

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: Finding a Reputable Agent #...:
Baby Evil Writers 101: Finding a Reputable Agent Step #1

Once you’ve finished a manuscript, it’s easy to jump right into sending hundreds of letters to literary agents. Maybe you get a list from a friend, or sign up for a website that lists agents who represent the genre of book that you write. They’re an agent and so inherently have the evil goodness that you’re searching for, right?

Not so my sweet minions of evil.

Continue reading at The Evil League of Evil Writers

Why Nathan Fillion is Han Solo :: Buzzy Mag - Sci-Fi News, Reviews, Interviews and Original Fiction.

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:16:00 +0000

Here you go and yes, my brain is broken. :D
Why Nathan Fillion is Han Solo :: Buzzy Mag - Sci-Fi News, Reviews, Interviews and Original Fiction.

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:35:00 +0000

This was today.

'nuff said.

Oragami Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:08:00 +0000

So I'm in the car with the high school kids. Middle Daughter was overtired and slumped down in the seat. Youngest Son was in the back happily chattering away about how he taught himself to make an oragami bird this morning. When seventeen year old daughters are worn out, all they say to younger brothers is, "SHUT UP!"

So, Youngest Son waved his paper bird in front of her face and replied, "Lieutenant Dan, ice cream."

You've got to love a kid who can shrug off crankiness.

I Killed the Crockpot But I Didn't Shoot the Refugee

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:24:00 +0000

So today was the big day for my high school kids. The entire school dresses like turn of the century immigrants and they go through the processing at Ellis Island (the school gym) like their ancestors did. We spent yesterday getting costumes together.

The kids asked me to make Russian Piroshki, which are fried meat pies. So after working my patotie off on costumes, I stayed up until midnight prepping the meat, eggs, onions, etc so the actual cooking of the pies would be easy for this morning.

My youngest son, Gabe.

This is my middle daughter Ellie----->

This morning I was up at dark o'clock to make the piroshki. I rolled dough and filled pies and fried them up. There was plenty of time, we even had five minutes to sit before we had to load up the crock pot and drive to school.

We didn't make it out the door. (insert scene of wild panic). Glass was everywhere, the floor, the counters and most of all it was fallen into the peroshki.

The phone rang and my youngest had forgotten her lunch. The dogs were in the glass trying to get the meat.

Well, by then we were running late. The kids piled into the car, I grabbed the dogs, one on a leash and one without, threw a lunch together for youngest daughter, and made it to the car.

Since bringing food is a part of the grade for Ellis Island, the high school kids were freaked.

I dropped the immigrants at their school and sped over to the grade school to drop off lunch. Then The dogs and I went to the grocery, picked up more ingredients, and sped home. But when I got here, the Lowe's truck was unloading my new washing machine. So I parked across the street. One dog was on the leash, one was under my arm like a purse and my other arm had the groceries.

The dog's hind leg got stuck in the waistband of my sweat pants and I pretty much mooned the delivery guys on my way in the door. Seriously, I did. They may never marry having had a preview of the coming attractions of middle age.

So then I had to roll out and make another four dozen Piroshki. Of course, since the crock pot was smashed and gone to Jesus, there was the ginormous hunt for the missing electric pancake griddle. (It was the only thing big enough to heat a turkey-roaster pan full of meat pies-- because cold fried pie is nasty.)

Finally, I actually managed to deliver the Piroshki to school. Now the immigrants won't starve and I may be a hero.

Noon: This just in. Middle daughter tweeted me that the piroshki was the first food to be eaten gone! We win at lunch.

3PM: The pancake griddle evidently caught a chair on fire. 0-O

Kill Your Heroes

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:19:00 +0000

If you haven't heard this song, you should. It belongs on Monday.

Head-banger Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 02:46:00 +0000

Sometimes I think it would be easier to stand and bang your head against a brick wall that it is to be a writer. I mean, think about it. Head-banging only requires a head, a wall, and the courage to get ‘er done. There could only be three outcomes. Your head would break, the wall would crumble, or you’d pass out stone cold.

Some days I’d rather bash my noggin than try to pull words out of the knot inside.

I may seriously need chocolate.

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: Finding Your Voice

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:33:00 +0000

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: Finding Your Voice: Baby Evil Writers 101: Finding Your Voice Julie Butcher The first time I heard the term Voice, as it applies to writing, was at an S...

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: Seriously Guys, You Need He...

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:36:00 +0000

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: Seriously Guys, You Need He...: Baby Evil Writers 101: Seriously Guys, You Need Help Julie Butcher I'm not talking about MENTAL HEALTH HELP. If you're reading this post ...

Strange Love For Valentine’s Day :: Buzzy Mag - Sci-Fi News, Reviews, Interviews and Original Fiction.

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:38:00 +0000

I have a new article out today. You guys, this is really how my brain works so no judging, mkay?

Strange Love For Valentine’s Day :: Buzzy Mag - Sci-Fi News, Reviews, Interviews and Original Fiction.

Now You Can BUY EVIL!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:53:00 +0000

The Evil League of Evil Writers are auctioning off goods and services to help Crestline Elementary School which burned to the ground.

You can find everything from signed books to the awesome writer mentorship. If you've ever wanted the opinion and help of professional writers, now is your chance to bid on a 3 month mentorship, critiques, and help on your query letters. Go from good to EVIL and AWESOME.
The auction is at http://evilauction.blogspot.com

About Crestline

Crestline Elementary was a fabulous school. How do we know this? Ask Lilith Saintcrow.

In her words:

This is the school where the office staff knows every student’s name and the teachers pour their souls–and most of their paychecks–into every kid in every class, not just their own. This is the school where any adult that’s not known on sight AND carrying a red volunteer badge or sticker is clustered by very polite but inflexible staff and volunteers, to be escorted to the office to sign in. It’s the school a ten-year-old boy loves so much he’s excited on Sunday night because Monday means he can go back. The place was held together by the steady commitment of teachers and office staff, who made it work with spit and baling wire some days, and volunteers who pitched in where they could even after their kids went on to other schools.

This is the school where nobody goes home until all the kids are accounted for at the end of the day.

An extraordinary school indeed.

On Sunday, February 3, Crestline Elementary burned to the ground.

Literally. Nothing's left of the building itself.

The classrooms. The library. Where these kids played and learned, where staff taught and worked.

Everything gone.

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: On Publishing Wait Times

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:23:00 +0000

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: On Publishing Wait Times: On Publishing Wait Times Julie Butcher Stop. Before you hit send on that manuscript submission or query letter, realize what you'r...

Partied Out

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 04:08:00 +0000

We are worn out from the birthday party.

Crazy Winter Blues Busters

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:04:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again. The lovely sugar rush from the holidays is gone, replaced with the slow agony of dropping those cheesecake-filled pounds. Read the rest at Buzzy Mag.

The Joy of Quiet Things and Puppies

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:20:00 +0000

I double-dog dare you not to find Buffy the Vampire-Slayer Von Doom adorable sleeping with her unicorn.

It's the little things.

Holiday Dinner with a Plethora of Badass :: Buzzy Mag – Sci-Fi News, Reviews, Interviews and Original Fiction.

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:22:00 +0000

Holiday Dinner with a Plethora of Badass :: Buzzy Mag – Sci-Fi News, Reviews, Interviews and Original Fiction.

I'm blogging at the Evil League of Evil Writers today

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:37:00 +0000

Evil League of Evil Writers: Baby Evil Writers 101: Queries over the Holidays: Baby Evil Writers 101: Queries over the Holidays
Julie Butcher No. Just no.
Reason One Literary agents and editors are people,...

Baby Evil Writers 101: Tags and Traits

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:40:00 +0000

I'm blogging at the Evil League of Evil Writers today on Tags and Traits. It is Here.

On Patience and Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Butcher) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:13:00 +0000

On Patience and Publishing

The first query I sent received a request for a full in less than five minutes. (I know, right? I had an instant heart-attack.) Upon later enlightenment (much later) I realized that particular manuscript stunk on ice. This was an unfortunate event. Why you might think. Well, because it gave me unreal expectations about the timeline of publishing.

Don’t fool yourself kiddo. Writing is a long-term investment of your mind, and your heart.

What I've come to realize is that you’re going to do your time before you emerge triumphant. You’ll also head down into the Valley of Fail (many times) and work your way back up to the peak of I can do this. (If you want to win)

There will be rejections.

Either you’ll get them at the front from agents and editors or you’ll have them from reviewers. They will be there—in spades. But there will also be moments of pure joy. The day you write THE END on a story and the first time you hand pages to someone to read and you can see them sucked into the world you've created.

The best of all is the day you’re signed by your dream agent. (I was so floaty and flabbergasted that I lost a brand-new phone—seriously, I never found it again. Only Heaven kept me from wrecking the car because I absolutely do not remember driving.)

Everyone has a different experience. Some few go straight to the top. But most of us plug along day after day and take years. Don’t think you’re all alone out there in the dark.

The rest of us are rooting for you. So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get to work. We know you can do this

Here is a hug. *HUGS*