Awesome Guide to Writing a Query!

Status
Not open for further replies.
wyntermoon

wyntermoon

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 6, 2006
Messages
4,633
Reaction score
2,237
Website
threeseasagency.com
Thanks for the link!

Nope, it's not required to have anything in your sigline, it's simply my "get back to work, you slacker" reminder when I'm on the boards. ;)
 
Azraelsbane

Azraelsbane

Agony is defeat
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
2,202
Reaction score
1,917
Location
In front of the Almighty, on the wrong side of the
Website
www.granitewindstarr.com
:welcome:

Barb is joking.

The Absolute does not refer to having a mandatory sig. It refers the fact that we only accept writers using close 3rd person limited in their work, and that we will absolutely beat you over the head with a stick for changing POV without express written consent that has been notarized. :D

Actually, I think the only absolute on this site is my extremely bad sense of humor. Welcome to the boards! And thanks so much for this. Every time I even think of writing a query I throw up a little. Maybe this will help me. :)
 
Bufty

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
16,767
Reaction score
4,662
Location
Scotland
Welcome Squid - :welcome:

Is it expected? Of course - but only if one writes serious fiction. Hence the omission of that data from my own signature.

wordsquid said:
...Question: is it standard for posters to have a sig showing the progress of works in progress? I mean, is it expected?...
Click to expand...
 

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 11, 2006
Messages
894
Reaction score
166
Just looked at the Greeting section, but I'm a bit wary of anyone who would say this (referring to the greeting portion of a query): "If you blow this part, you're screwed no matter how good the rest of the damn letter is, because no one will read past your screwup."
 
Azraelsbane

Azraelsbane

Agony is defeat
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
2,202
Reaction score
1,917
Location
In front of the Almighty, on the wrong side of the
Website
www.granitewindstarr.com
Elektra said:
Just looked at the Greeting section, but I'm a bit wary of anyone who would say this (referring to the greeting portion of a query): "If you blow this part, you're screwed no matter how good the rest of the damn letter is, because no one will read past your screwup."
Click to expand...


I found the fact that he/she stated that if you can't sum up your plot in one sentence then you or your book suck. I understand this is an important point, but I thought it was a bit juvenile. Heh.
 

wordsquid

Elektra, I think that's true, though! I've read more than once about how agents will immediately discard a query that addresses them as Mr. when they should be a Mrs.

And I think the tone is kind of fun! Which is why I posted it here.

(working on a sig, by the way)
 
StoryG27

StoryG27

Miss Behave
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
10,394
Reaction score
4,062
Location
TN
Wordsquid, thank you for that helpful link. And welcome (and yes, we always act this weird. . .I know you have to be wondering).
 

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 11, 2006
Messages
894
Reaction score
166
wordsquid said:
Elektra, I think that's true, though! I've read more than once about how agents will immediately discard a query that addresses them as Mr. when they should be a Mrs.
Click to expand...

Some agents probably do, but from the blogs, most seem to be a pretty forgiving bunch (as far as an honest mistake like that goes). If they like the actual story portion of the query, as well as the sample pages, I don't think a gender mistake will keep them from requesting to read more (I'm going by Miss Snark on that one--she said something along the lines of, 'you can call Killer Yapp a cat as long as the story's good').

In any case, welcome to AW!
 
Last edited:
Shadow_Ferret

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 26, 2005
Messages
23,708
Reaction score
10,661
Location
In a world of my own making
Website
shadowferret.wordpress.com
Now I'm really worried about my query letter writing ability. I didn't think that letter in the example was all that good. Seemed to focus more on how the novel was received at some writing conference then explaining what it was about.
 

ChaosTitan

Around
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
15,463
Reaction score
2,886
Location
The not-so-distant future
Website
kellymeding.com
Shadow_Ferret said:
Now I'm really worried about my query letter writing ability.
Click to expand...

Don't stress about that blog, Shadow. This Anonymous Author has some very good advice on writing a query, but it also has some advice with which I disagree.

The first bit that caught my attention as wholly untrue was in the blogger's first paragraph:

No big publishing houses will even think about looking at your stuff unless it's submitted by a real, live literary agent.
Click to expand...

Not true, not true at all. Some big houses still accept unagented manuscripts. Do agents increase your chance of being read at a big house? Heck, yes. Are you screwed six ways from Sundway without an agent? No.

From part 3:

I don't know how many times I've been warned about saying it's my first novel. The agent doesn't need to know that. If you've been published, say so. If you haven't, leave it out completely.

Also, don't play mind games with the agent. Puffing yourself up could, in the long run, make you look like a fool if the agent ever calls you on your BS. Lying about quotes is dishonest and is a bad foundation for building a working relationship with a prospective agent. :rant: The blogger can call it "stretching" if he/she likes, but it's still lying.
 

wordsquid

Looking at it critically now, there are some things he/she is sort of abrasive about, but it's also not like blowing smoke, if that makes sense (like the anonymous writer has some authority).

ChaosTitan, there's a post on there today that deals with just that. Dunno if I have digested it yet, tho.
 
wayndom

wayndom

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 21, 2007
Messages
775
Reaction score
130
Location
San Francisco
Shadow_Ferret said:
Now I'm really worried about my query letter writing ability. I didn't think that letter in the example was all that good. Seemed to focus more on how the novel was received at some writing conference then explaining what it was about.
Click to expand...

Agreed, but that's because the author is unpublished, and if you're unpublished, you have to give an agent a reason why they should look at your work (usually some degree of expertise related to the story).

Personally, I disagree with putting the greeting paragraph ahead of the description of the work. I just find starting a letter with, "I chose to write to you because you represent my favorite author," boring and tedious, so I put it at the end of my queries. I start my queries by pitching the book as well as I can. If they don't like the story idea, they're not going to care who's writing to them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.