Query-ing Away

So I've been writing out my query letters recently and am loving it. I wrote quite a few queries back in the day but none at the right time. You see, I've never actually had my novel completed before writing a query out. Big mistake. Lesson number one: Write your damn book before sending out any queries! So any way I am writing out my queries and wanted to share some things I've learned.

So here we go:

                                                                         First write your name
                                                                        Address line one
                                                                        Address line two
                                                                        Phone number
                                                                        Email address

Agency's name
Address line one
Address line two
Phone number
Email address


Dear (Whoever is the agent you're contacting),

Then say something very small about yourself. Then tell them a bit about your book. After that jump right into your book synopsis.

Second paragraph tell them how grateful you are for their time. Then let them know you have the whole book done and that you'd be glad to send it.

:)

Again, this is just a theory one so far. I still must send them out but all this information is supported by many articles on the internet. Especially ones by successful Literary Agents on Writer's Digest's website.

The Works

So for those of you who are familiar with my blog, you will notice I've changed a few things here and added some things as well. I changed the layout and the design as well as the name of my blog as well, to 'The Works'. So as to be more clear as I don't actually have a production company called Fool or anything like that. It just sounds simple and more streamlined to me and plus it goes more with my URL as well.
I've added some pages and changed some around as well. Check them out in your leisure, I will be adding things to them as regularly as possible. Thank you for your patience. I hope to have some cool stuff to share soon.
Some of the new things are the Book Excerpts page which will feature the first chapter of every novel I write as well as the first short story or poem in any anthology I create. Also the Works page which will consist of pictures of all of my books that are available for purchase. I changed from having multiple galleries to just one so as to make everything more manageable as I do multiple different medias and no longer see any need to separate them. I'll post as much new stuff as I can. There is also the video portion of my blog where I post my professional work as well as my own comedy sketches that has been updated. In any case, check it all out. Leave some love and let me know what you think.

The Game of Kings

Chess or Chaturanga as it was originally called, literally meaning Four Divisions is a game as old as civilized society invented somewhere between c. 280-1000 into the modern era. Many histories and treatises have been written about it for ages. It is indeed a powerful game and is of course known to be a favorite of strategists and intellectuals. The great thinker Benjamin Franklin had this to say of the game:

"The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want of it. By playing at Chess then, we may learn:
I. Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequences that may attend an action.
II. Circumspection, which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: – the relation of the several Pieces, and their situations.
III. Caution, not to make our moves too hastily."

Thusly I've begun to play a chess game with myself each day/week to strengthen my mind and open up more doors of creativity. As a writer I am hoping this practice will increase my ability to think for multiple characters at once and to have strategy in defining a plot that is both satisfying and entertaining. As an actor, the same principles apply, by having to play two sides at once and with multiple pieces to move I am hoping this will help with defining character wants and needs or motivation for movement. Now, as an artist, I don't see much practical use into the strategy portion of the game as art is meant to feed on chaos, not order, but I do however see the beauty of the juxtaposition of the pieces as well as the layout of the board, they are all indeed aesthetically pleasing, so I think in some way unbeknownst to me this will help. Well, we'll see.
On the news of the project front, I finished scene one of act two of my play last night and I hope to write most of scene two of act two tonight possibly. The best thing about this play is that I have it all played out for myself in my mind so the effort of it is to just get it written so then I can read and rewrite as needed and then share my creation with those whose opinion I respect.
Also, tonight the wife and I got some great vegetables from my parents. A blog on that will be coming up.

Quick Sketch

Quick Daily Sketch 

Finding the time

Lately I've been finding a better way to use my time wisely. Since my mind is always so concentrated on so many different projects at a time it helps me now that I carry around this little grey notebook. I've been able to draw, write and read more efficiently. It's like finally my brain always has a place to put the ideas that flee across it in the passing hours. Because usually my mind is bouncing so much between all the thinks I want to do I often lose track of what it was I was thinking at from one moment to the next. 

I've been able to write down the scenes I'm thinking about for my novel every time I think of them. In able to sketch out quick ideas for my comic or for my random illustrations. It's great! Try it out. 

Setting up a schedule for the old blog here

Had a thought recently to start organizing what it is I talk about on this blog so as to better take care of it and use it to its fullest. I'm constantly shifting focus between my many many passions and at times on a blog like this it can get confusing for audience members as well as the blogger himself. So as to better serve all of my passions I've decided to break up the days into what it is I will post about. What I came up with is this:

Sunday-Art
Monday-Art
Tuesday-Writing
Wednesday- Acting
Thursday-Art
Friday-Writing
Saturday-Acting

I believe that this schedule will not only bring a needed focus to the blog but also organize my time better as well. I've always been a person who needed structure in my life otherwise I seem to flounder about and do things to sporadically. Its important as an artist to be creatively spontaneous but that doesn't mean to only do things at the spur of the moment. You can harness that surprising creative burst energy into a managed slot of time where you focus your mind. At least that's what I think. We'll see. So tonight expect a blog geared toward writing.

Happy May the 4th!!

Some Star Wars day smurfy smurfette fun for ya!! Pencils and inks n words all me! Boom baby!! 

Why winter? Why?!

Winter continues to swallow up spring...but soon it shall end!! Soon!! And then vengeance will be mine!! 

Tree Decorating Party

 

Each and every year my good friend over at www.unconventionalmakeup.blogspot.com hosts a lovely little holiday party called a "Tree Decorating" party. Essentially its exactly what it sounds like but its more just like any holiday party. I'd like to tell you about this lovely thing and suggest that you and your friends have one as well.

 

How it works:

 

1. One individual hosts the party.
2. Each person brings an ornament for the tree under $5
3. The host provides party food, drinks and entertainment
4. Invite only unless approved by the host
5. Everyone has a grand time

Easy as Christmas no-bake cookies! Happy Holidays my friends! Cheers!

Happy Holiday Illustrations

Christmas is coming! Soon all shall be merry and cheery and white! So naturally the season to gifts that are straight from the heart is upon is all! I have decided to give certain members of my family who live in a far off land illustrations to commemorate my feelings and theirs as well toward certain things.

The main illustration is for my step-mom/whole family. You see, recently their dog had to be put down because of medical complications. We all took it hard of course but my step mother seemed to most of all. My father and I thought it would be a terrific idea to do a sort of portrait of our beloved, Buddy.

Here I share with you the pencils of the Buddy illustration I call, "Saint Buddy". Also some shots of the other ones as well. I plan on doing individual blogs on each so look forward to those! And shhhh don't tell my family this is on my blog! Happy Holidays! Cheers!

Architectual Illustration Idea

These that you see before you are two inspirational architectural designs for rooms. Why you ask? I have recently been inspired to create design concepts like this of a childhood friend of mines living room from when I was young. I shall be using these two design concepts as a sort of layout for how I will tackle this illustration.

I'm doing this illustration as sort of an ode to my own memory of a happy time in my life. A time when it seemed like possibilities were endless for us all, especially myself with my art. I realize I still have a shit ton of growth to do as an artist and luckily I still have lots of time! But I do need to start being more disciplined with all of my talents (art, writing and acting).

Hopefully I will take some good process shots of this whole procedure along the way. I will try, occasionally I mean to do this but then end up going full blown out and finishing the whole thing that night without taking a break. We'll see kids! Stay tuned!

New Photography Study

"Industrial Structure"-Artist: Mike D. Burke. Industrial objects in an urban setting. Shot in color. 

Indie Diversity

I've mentioned it many times before, the need to have multiple revenue sources is very important. Especially those of us with entrepreneurial tendencies. A friend of mine makes hats like the one I'm wearing here! All sizes all colors! Designs galore! Not just hats either! Scarfs too! If interested in any email me: ananamifdmb@yahoo.com and I will get in touch with her and she will contact you! Help support indie creators! 

Batman perhaps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7-x3V1ieW8&feature=youtube_gdata_player