tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post1835658446796970408..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Query Don'tsBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-37090138901873499772011-04-21T11:27:51.367-04:002011-04-21T11:27:51.367-04:00Wow... George has been dead for ten years and some...Wow... George has been dead for ten years and someone playing golf with him wouldn't be enough to capture your attention, Jessica? You're a tough nut to crack!<br /><br />You raise a really great point. I've always thought of a query as a tease of your novel. Just whet the agents appetite with a hook and just enough detail to leave them wanting more. <br /><br />I think about it like this... why would an agent, whose job it is to sell your book, care about any personal information about the author that doesn't pertain to the book she is trying to sell?Tony DiMeonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-1104027569176125932011-04-19T16:48:34.233-04:002011-04-19T16:48:34.233-04:00I was thinking along the same lines as Richard Gib...I was thinking along the same lines as Richard Gibson: if someone wrote to me and told me they play golf with George Harrison, I'd definitely want to know more of that story, particularly if this person writes horror. Golf Of The Dead has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Or perhaps non-fiction: Teeing Off With Non-Corporeal Beings.<br />Heck, I don't even like golf, and I'd still be interested in one of those! :)The English Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14982031308501442156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9835161816081295302011-04-19T08:51:26.469-04:002011-04-19T08:51:26.469-04:00A bit harsh but useful piece of advice. Publishers...A bit harsh but useful piece of advice. Publishers always emphasis the power of the opening paragraph and the flow and pace of the query.<br /><br />Yet you say there are no rules. I think those guidelines are still rules put together in a flexible way.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11873064463647552733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-55818578281372403882011-04-18T18:47:46.199-04:002011-04-18T18:47:46.199-04:00@ Mary Vensel White
Actually, I have seen an agen...@ Mary Vensel White<br /><br />Actually, I have seen an agent do that, though I can't remember who it is now. I'm not in love with the practice: it feels a bit too much like applying to your insurance company and hoping they don't turn you down because you checked the wrong box.<br /><br /><br />@ Ben<br /><br />I've never heard writing described as a Buddhist Sport, but that's a perfect way to put it. :)Lucynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-13881062656233067212011-04-18T18:24:23.522-04:002011-04-18T18:24:23.522-04:00Great post Jessica. Thanks for sharing! Although s...Great post Jessica. Thanks for sharing! Although since we are all competing with 'ten-zillion' other potential authors, I'd assume brevity would rule the day. Now to work on not making it too brief...Creative Dungeoneeringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11228743378967280448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-33590306654185528882011-04-18T13:57:44.292-04:002011-04-18T13:57:44.292-04:00*snort* I keep wondering when you'll draw a bl...*snort* I keep wondering when you'll draw a blank when blogging... looks like I'll be wondering for a while.Catherine Bybeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05804889684095619535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-4741871957153876122011-04-18T13:30:37.126-04:002011-04-18T13:30:37.126-04:00I was going to suggest what Mary did, although I&#...I was going to suggest what Mary did, although I'm sure there'd be problems with that, too: "My novel defies genres", "The space isn't big enough for me to say everything I have to say", and so on.<br /><br />@Wry Writer: It might work OK if you are able to show us your themes (although in a form as short as a query, it'll probably be more like hint at them) instead of telling us about them. Maybe you could try something like QueryShark or one of the many writer's forums out there to get some feedback.Kristin Laughtinhttp://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-16994209998946133012011-04-18T12:32:05.672-04:002011-04-18T12:32:05.672-04:00You know what would be great? If agents had an onl...You know what would be great? If agents had an online form, where you just check off boxes. Type of work: literary fiction, length: 90,000 words, etc. Then maybe a place to paste a paragraph-long synopsis, then a place for the first portion of the writing. To try to write queries that will satisfy the caprices of different agents is frustrating. Let the writing stand for itself.Mary Vensel Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553185765882617010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-83103535408316904552011-04-18T12:20:54.141-04:002011-04-18T12:20:54.141-04:00Thanks, Jessica. I was just working on a query let...Thanks, Jessica. I was just working on a query letter and had a paragraph about theme. I'll take it out!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-39047664576024363732011-04-18T11:36:53.421-04:002011-04-18T11:36:53.421-04:00Thanks, Jessica. This is very helpful.
Sometimes...Thanks, Jessica. This is very helpful. <br /><br />Sometimes I set a story in a country, (other than the USA) and make the mistake of spending half of my query showing setting and no plot. I always have a plot but the way I enter a story, what causes me to want to write it in the first place, always has something to do with having been in that setting. It's my Achilles heel. And, it has taken a lot of years for me to hold back on the descriptions, and just name the country...trust the reader to envision the setting. <br /><br />Loved your comment, Suzan.Robena Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18389730409379890816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-52711353738469660252011-04-18T11:30:32.701-04:002011-04-18T11:30:32.701-04:00Thank you for posting this. It's timely as I&#...Thank you for posting this. It's timely as I'm getting ready to write my first round of letters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-25250925819525302032011-04-18T11:27:24.918-04:002011-04-18T11:27:24.918-04:00Enjoyed the post. Query letters are the most diffi...Enjoyed the post. Query letters are the most difficult thing for me to write, therefore, usually the poorest piece of my writing. I am always up for some advice. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01211512381536699167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-77440141305360016892011-04-18T11:10:38.248-04:002011-04-18T11:10:38.248-04:00Good post. I find the hardest thing to do in a que...Good post. I find the hardest thing to do in a query is to show and not tell. I've reread and redone my query about 8 times LOLWhimsical Prompt and Other Musings.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05692544989887688567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-73687384592355561662011-04-18T10:21:54.235-04:002011-04-18T10:21:54.235-04:00Makes things a lot simpler, thank you.Makes things a lot simpler, thank you.Jessica Mhhttp://atombaby.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-46730243837764596962011-04-18T09:59:48.366-04:002011-04-18T09:59:48.366-04:00Playing golf with George Harrison in 2011 might be...Playing golf with George Harrison in 2011 might be an interesting novel, though. :)Richard Gibsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03330538991049552829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57651716891813635422011-04-18T09:51:44.262-04:002011-04-18T09:51:44.262-04:00Susan Harden, now I get it, thanks.Susan Harden, now I get it, thanks.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-26778878262745968272011-04-18T09:31:36.947-04:002011-04-18T09:31:36.947-04:00I find it interesting that a lot of your list of e...I find it interesting that a lot of your list of errors are highlighting a lot of ego-driven mishaps. I still know very little about writing, but I know it's a Buddhist Sport.<br /><br />"Must have no need, but to write this goddamn story. No need for acceptance, no need for status"Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483490020980574428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-6157941693886612452011-04-18T09:31:04.921-04:002011-04-18T09:31:04.921-04:00@Wry Writer, think about it this way:
If you have...@Wry Writer, think about it this way:<br /><br />If you have a eight-ish son or nephew who's just seen Transformers, what's he going to tell his best friend about the movie?<br /><br />"The theme of this movie is sacrificing yourself for the good of everyone."<br /><br />OR<br /><br />"It's about this kid Sam who doesn't know he has the info on the location of the Allspark, and these evil robots are after him and they can turn into cars and then the good guy robots..."<br /><br />Except you'll want to do the adult version. *grin*Suzan Hardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600258874634909988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57252682198108581572011-04-18T08:45:05.756-04:002011-04-18T08:45:05.756-04:00Well, I guess the opening paragraph of my query, s...Well, I guess the opening paragraph of my query, so perfectly relating a theme interwoven throughout my novel, will have to be scrapped. <br />Funny how becoming fixed on something which feels so right, but considered by those in the know as ancillary, kind-a makes me feel dumb. <br />Jeez, I really thought it worked.<br /><br />But wait, there are ‘no rules’, does that mean I can take a chance and go with my gut?<br />Chewing nails and wondering.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.com