Just finished the double dog final edit/rewrite/go over and instead of feeling great, I'm horrified I have to write a query now. Tell me I'm not standing out here on the ledge alone.
so tell me I'm not the only one...
- Thread starter tiny
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 20,006
- Reaction score
- 5,353
*looks around carefully*
Well--looks like you're the only one on THIS ledge. Excuse me while I go back to mine.
Well--looks like you're the only one on THIS ledge. Excuse me while I go back to mine.
Writing is a form of communication. It becomes something else when it sits, unviewed, in a desk drawer or on a hard drive. Communicate it, Darlin'.
And you can fret over the height of that ledge, or you can appreciate the view it provides--one of a finished manuscript that is ready to spread its wings and fly from that lofty perch.
And you can fret over the height of that ledge, or you can appreciate the view it provides--one of a finished manuscript that is ready to spread its wings and fly from that lofty perch.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2008
- Messages
- 122
- Reaction score
- 9
First of all "Congrats on finishing your novel".
I think I was too ignorant to be afraid the first time I started sending out a novel, seeking an agent. It was only after the initial realization that this was an unhill battle did I begin to lose confidence.
However, once I sobered to the reality I started feeling that trepidation.
I think I was too ignorant to be afraid the first time I started sending out a novel, seeking an agent. It was only after the initial realization that this was an unhill battle did I begin to lose confidence.
However, once I sobered to the reality I started feeling that trepidation.
It's not query letters which horrify me. It's the synopsis.
You have to GIVE AWAY THE ENDING!!
*cringes*
You have to GIVE AWAY THE ENDING!!
*cringes*
The beginning and ending is easy. Now the middle, that's hard!
TT if you pop down to SYW there are stickies on writing a query letter and synopsis.
You can also post the query for a critique. Look forward to seeing you there!
What Mscelina said. I think that pretty much narrows it down to how most of us feel about query letters.
It's okay though. The strange thing is, or at least in my experience, some agents may love your query while others may not. In my latest journey into the wonderful world of submission, I wrote about 7 different queries & sent them out to see what kind of responses they'd get. While some agents requested material off of this or that query, others turned me down flat. So go figure.
Some people suggest queries need to be short. But I've seen longer queries grab agents attention too. So, I wrote both.
I guess the best thing you can do is just to write the very best query, or queries that you can. You can do it.
Donnette Smith
www.freewebs.com/romanceauthor
www.myspace.com/storycreater
It's okay though. The strange thing is, or at least in my experience, some agents may love your query while others may not. In my latest journey into the wonderful world of submission, I wrote about 7 different queries & sent them out to see what kind of responses they'd get. While some agents requested material off of this or that query, others turned me down flat. So go figure.
Some people suggest queries need to be short. But I've seen longer queries grab agents attention too. So, I wrote both.
I guess the best thing you can do is just to write the very best query, or queries that you can. You can do it.
Donnette Smith
www.freewebs.com/romanceauthor
www.myspace.com/storycreater
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2005
- Messages
- 9,907
- Reaction score
- 1,835
- Location
- Hiding in my writing cave
- Website
- www.cathyclamp.com
It's not as hard as it seems. What I found really helped me was to go to the bookstore (or grocery/discount store) and look at the back covers of other books in the genre I was querying. A query letter is very similar to a back cover description (called a 'blurb'). It pares down hundreds of pages of manuscript into a very concise story. Notice that they often focus on ONE character---no matter how many points of view are included in the book. Notice there are no subplots mentioned, or at least very few.
Also, if you pick them up at random, without knowing WHAT genre it is, you'll often discover the word choice tells you:
"Run, chase, danger, fear" is probably a thriller.
"Sweeping, epic, vast" is often historical or literary
"Heart, love, warm" can be a romance
"Mystery, discover, unearth" is a mystery.
"Terror, haunting, tense" is horror.
Etc., etc. You get the idea. Try to describe your book in similar terms. Let's face it . . . if it interests the end reader on the shelf, those are the very qualities an agent is looking for when choosing the book to represent.
Good luck and remember we have a Query Clinic here in the Share Your Work section. They'll help you whip it into shape!
Also, if you pick them up at random, without knowing WHAT genre it is, you'll often discover the word choice tells you:
"Run, chase, danger, fear" is probably a thriller.
"Sweeping, epic, vast" is often historical or literary
"Heart, love, warm" can be a romance
"Mystery, discover, unearth" is a mystery.
"Terror, haunting, tense" is horror.
Etc., etc. You get the idea. Try to describe your book in similar terms. Let's face it . . . if it interests the end reader on the shelf, those are the very qualities an agent is looking for when choosing the book to represent.
Good luck and remember we have a Query Clinic here in the Share Your Work section. They'll help you whip it into shape!
Heh. I practised on tt42's books first and sold them for her so I've never been scared of querying my own novels.
Excited and impatient? Oh hell yeah. Scared? Nah. It's the only way I'll get to where I want to be after all.
Excited and impatient? Oh hell yeah. Scared? Nah. It's the only way I'll get to where I want to be after all.
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2009
- Messages
- 164
- Reaction score
- 24
Congratulations!
When I finish my book, I plan to douse the fear with beer. You just acomplished something most people never will. Enjoy the moment and celebrate!
When I finish my book, I plan to douse the fear with beer. You just acomplished something most people never will. Enjoy the moment and celebrate!
Thanks guys. Never really subbed my first novel because of this ledge. I was going to take a day or two off and sloth around on the couch but woke up this morning thinking oh heck no, I let myself do that the first time and look where that manuscript is.
I'm opening word as we speak.
(Oh, and starting another book.)
Now... I just have to figure out what genre the book is.
I'm opening word as we speak.
(Oh, and starting another book.)
Now... I just have to figure out what genre the book is.
Yeah, queries pretty much suck. But once it's done, you may never have to do it again EVER! Just think of that.
Congratulations!! Most folks who start out on the journey of writing never get this far.
This is not a windy and lonesome ledge. This is the hummock on the mountain where they've set up the base camp for the final ascent. All those brightly colored, humped nylon tents are folks packing for the last stint up the peak. You're not alone.
Further Heartening Note: You have to do a synopsis too.
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2008
- Messages
- 666
- Reaction score
- 52
- Location
- United States of America
- Website
- www.youtube.com
=/ Wait til you write it. And post it on query hell. I was working on my query a couple months ago. Stopped due to the completely harshness of some critiques. I know I'll go back because their advice is invaluable. But damn, it's hard to get them all happy.
Of course, I'm a softy too. Hopefully your skin will be a bit tougher than mine. ^_^
Best of luck!
Congrats on finishing your novel. I haven't even finished my final draft and I'm already terrified. But just think of how exhilirated you'll feel when this is all over.
You can do it!
You can do it!
Congratulations on finishing. No. You're not the only one standing on a ledge. I can't guarantee everyone is on the same ledge.
I had one agent request a chapter outline. You might as well do one of those now, too, just in case you need it.
*Pushes tiny terror off ledge*
"Notice how they do not so much fly, as plummet."
-- Graham Chapman, as Monty Python's farmer of the flying sheep.
That's been my experience, at least.
caw
How true, blacbird.
As far as the harsh criticism on query hell: I'd take the good advice & apply it. Forget the rest. You can't make 'em' all happy. Not possible.
Donnette Smith
www.freewebs.com/romanceauthor
www.myspace.com/storycreater
As far as the harsh criticism on query hell: I'd take the good advice & apply it. Forget the rest. You can't make 'em' all happy. Not possible.
Donnette Smith
www.freewebs.com/romanceauthor
www.myspace.com/storycreater
- Status