| Everything to do with Querying | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Everything to do with Querying Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:05 pm | |
| Trying to write that all important query - need avice or can you give advice. Here is the place to share your experience about the most important letter of a writer's life!
*phew* No pressure then | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:09 pm | |
| Ah, those query letters...a necessary evil. I'm still on five rejections, although I think I still have about eight queries floating around the desks of those fancy agent people. It's really difficult to write a decent query letter. Sometimes you can't even find the guidelines on the agent's site or they're really confusing. Some of them want a page, some of them want a paragraph, some of them want final WC, some of them don't...I got a headache sifting through all the guidelines. I did find this really great site about writing a decent query letter, though: Query Letter Do's and Don't's. | |
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sdficklin Outlining the plot
Number of posts : 47 Location : Colorado Registration date : 2009-02-09
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:24 am | |
| I've queried over 30 agents/publishers. I've had 15 partial requests, 4 full requests, and one request for editing and resubmission. Currnetly there are 3 agents and 1 publisher looking at Foresight. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It's so tough to break in and get looked at, especially with the pressure of the economy right now. Houses are being forced to only publish what they know will sell well, and that mostly means established authors, so it's hard for us newbies.
Is anybody else shopping their MS? | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:28 am | |
| I'm about to start writing and sending out the second wave of queries. I think that the fact that I've made it this far is pretty amazing. And sdficklin? You make my head hurt with all that awesomeness. 3 agents AND a publisher...Seriously. Luck to you. | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:14 am | |
| SD - thats amazing!! Congrats, i'll keep my fingers crossed - i'm currently at the beg of the first draft stage so it will be while before i'm shopping around! | |
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sdficklin Outlining the plot
Number of posts : 47 Location : Colorado Registration date : 2009-02-09
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:01 am | |
| *laughs*
I don't think it's as impressive as it sounds. I am SO GLAD most everyone accepts e-mail queries now. There's nothing quite as nerve wracking as those white envelope assassins waiting in my mailbox. (rejection letters) It's especially bad when you get a partial request and they look at and are like...um, no. LOL!
I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. I still have a few more agents in the wings I can submit to if it all goes south from here. | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:06 pm | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:41 am | |
| Well, I just got another rejection letter. *Sigh* Ah well. | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:00 am | |
| aw Novel *hugs*
What did it say? | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:02 am | |
| It was just a "it's not right for us at this time" thing. Eh. | |
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Lapillus Informatio consuasor
Number of posts : 125 Age : 37 Location : California Registration date : 2009-02-19
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:19 pm | |
| That's a bummer, Novel, but keep at it! | |
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daeonica Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 369 Age : 33 Location : Scotland Job/hobbies : on my gap year! Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:43 pm | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:53 am | |
| I got my reply from Nathan Bransford...and it was a no...*sigh*
Ah, well. I'm home sick today, might as well put it to good use. I'm off to write more queries... | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:57 am | |
| wow that was very quick wasn't it? maybe you should try and post the query up on queryshark or one of those other blogs anonymously and see what they think? cause your writing is brilliant I even mentioned you on a thread at absolute writehope you don't mind. Chin up, i know your a writer | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:30 pm | |
| Aw, thanks. That makes me feel a lot better. And submitting to QueryShark is looking better and better and better...I might give in. | |
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daeonica Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 369 Age : 33 Location : Scotland Job/hobbies : on my gap year! Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:35 pm | |
| Is posting the query here in you sharing thread a possibility? Or have you had lots of opinions on it from friends already? | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:41 pm | |
| I *could* share it here...maybe...and, no, I haven't had *any* input from my non-Internet friends. | |
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daeonica Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 369 Age : 33 Location : Scotland Job/hobbies : on my gap year! Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:55 pm | |
| Have you had input from anyone?
Because, a query is just as important as the novel. If an agent doesn't like the query, then they won't be interested in the book. Your query letter should be as good as you can possibly make it, so if that means having other people offer opinions on it, then I'd suggest sharing it with someone, at least, even if you don't want to pass it round everyone here. | |
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sdficklin Outlining the plot
Number of posts : 47 Location : Colorado Registration date : 2009-02-09
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:03 pm | |
| Hey, also, if you haven't yet, query Joanna Volpe. She rocks! And I hear she's in the market for some new stuff... | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:51 pm | |
| Ooh, thanks, sd! And Dae -- if I don't share it here, I might ask my friend Josh to critique it. He's not a writer, but he's on the debate team and he writes a mean business letter, to boot. And even though the notion makes my teeth hurt, I may show it to my English teacher. He's sent out a lot of query letters (and has his first rejection framed and hanging on the classroom wall). Thanks, guys! | |
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daeonica Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 369 Age : 33 Location : Scotland Job/hobbies : on my gap year! Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:13 am | |
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Anne Gilbert Outlining the plot
Number of posts : 37 Registration date : 2009-05-05
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Thu May 07, 2009 1:34 pm | |
| Novel-Goddess: I guess you just have to keep trying. Sooner or later, you will sell something,and all your hard work will be justified. Anne G | |
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daeonica Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 369 Age : 33 Location : Scotland Job/hobbies : on my gap year! Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:50 am | |
| There is a very good post about submissions here: "Submissions 101"It covers the very first things you should know, not just about submitting a query, but before you do that, to make sure you are ready to query. | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:54 am | |
| Thanks for the link, Dae. | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: Everything to do with Querying Sun Aug 09, 2009 11:47 am | |
| excellent links! I may post a few links and excerpts when my laptop is better too! | |
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