Query Critiques at Dear Author

Irysangel · Mar 15, 2008

Hi folks,

Just thought I'd point out that DearAuthor.com is a website that has a bajillion romance/urban fantasy authors, editors, and readers. They are also doing a Query Critique every Saturday. Not sure if you've written your query appealingly enough? You can send it to Jane to post and get feedback.

They're definitely looking for more queries for critiquing, and I think it's a helpful (and fun) thing. Here's a sample of this week's:

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/03/15/query-saturday-no-7-at-any-price/

Someone should take advantage of this - I do know editors read her blog. And agents. And some big name authors (Nora Roberts being one of them).

StoryG27 · Mar 15, 2008

Wow, great link. I might actually give this a shot when I'm done with my WIP and ready to query. Thanks!

justme · Mar 15, 2008

Thanks for the link!

Chumplet · Mar 15, 2008

I like the Dear Author site. I sent them my novel six months ago and nada. I'll try again when Bad Ice comes out.

Irysangel · Mar 15, 2008

I think that they do get inundated with books to read, so they pretty much pick the ones they want to read the most. I know I've heard Jane mention that they get boxes and boxes of ARCs. But yeah, I love their site!

author_martina · May 7, 2008

Well just sent in a query to see what they have to say. I have to say I am nervous as to what kind of critique I will receive but any advice good or bad is great help and very much appreciated.

dragonjax · May 8, 2008

I have to point out that the reviewers and readers at Dear Author are coming at the queries from a **reader's** perspective, which is very helpful, yes -- but they are not agents or editors. (Nor do they claim to be, of course.)

Keep in mind that a query is a very specific tool authors use to find representation (or, if querying publishers directly, publication). And while a reader's perspective can certainly be helpful at times, it may not always be the best feedback to receive when polishing a query. Agents and editors don't view the query in the same way that readers do.

In other words, YMMV.

Stacia Kane · May 8, 2008

dragonjax said:
Keep in mind that a query is a very specific tool authors use to find representation (or, if querying publishers directly, publication). And while a reader's perspective can certainly be helpful at times, it may not always be the best feedback to receive when polishing a query. Agents and editors don't view the query in the same way that readers do.

In other words, YMMV.

Totally. While I think it's great that DA is offering the critiques and inviting people to comment, the mere fact that anyone can comment and there really are very few "out" pros who do comment means I've seen some spectacularly bad advice given there (Not from the Ja

nes, it must be said, but from commenters.)

I think it's certainly worth putting your query up, sure, and it can be a lot of fun, but I'd take what you get with a grain of salt, and have a few people you trust look over your query as well to see how much of the advice from the DA commenters was worthwhile.

Robin Bayne · May 9, 2008

A fun blog to read.

Erin · May 9, 2008

I almost sent a query in, but chickened out and had some other writers tear it apart for me. But it's fun to read and provides some useful pointers.

Query Critiques at Dear Author

Irysangel

She of Many Names

StoryG27

Miss Behave

justme

Well butter my biscuit!

Chumplet

This hat is getting too hot

Irysangel

She of Many Names

author_martina

dragonjax

I write stuff and break boards.

Stacia Kane

Girl Detective

Robin Bayne

~writes for Him~

Erin

Listening to my other selves