tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post1962879307334509031..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Workshop WednesdayBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-67820300442399645862011-08-24T07:13:20.706-04:002011-08-24T07:13:20.706-04:00Once you've submitted your query for a worksho...Once you've submitted your query for a workshop it remains under consideration until we get to it (or not).BookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-87423491172692658852011-08-21T22:01:45.316-04:002011-08-21T22:01:45.316-04:00To enter your query, do you need to send it to the...To enter your query, do you need to send it to the e-mail every week or just the one time?<br /><br />ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-337664465645894152011-08-19T21:07:31.163-04:002011-08-19T21:07:31.163-04:00This sounds like she's more worried about maki...This sounds like she's more worried about making sure you understand the history behind the book and the appeal of historical fiction than making sure you understand what the book itself is actually about.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15725049899131699912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-45740356295443908492011-08-18T21:09:21.409-04:002011-08-18T21:09:21.409-04:00I'm not sure I see the plot either--is the plo...I'm not sure I see the plot either--is the plot the year of life in Meadow River, or is the plot the one harrowing night? I like the idea of a plot encompassing one year, but one year of rough living isn't a plot. This is something I've see in other historical fiction queries up for critique--so much focus on the rough times, the differences, that this replaces plot in the query. It's hard to balance the sense of setting with the story, but the setting alone can't carry the story.Rowennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09757364614589686606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-44842857352339938132011-08-17T23:38:58.788-04:002011-08-17T23:38:58.788-04:00As a beginner with the queries, I'm walking aw...As a beginner with the queries, I'm walking away with some good infomation. One of my present goals is to make my book more era relevant. Very helpful-Off to look up historical fiction and historical romance-Wondering if they can cross lines-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-73993453523313841182011-08-17T21:03:13.348-04:002011-08-17T21:03:13.348-04:00Two comments: (1) I think your critique is too kin...Two comments: (1) I think your critique is too kind, and (2) if I were an agent I would want to see pages before rejecting this. My intuition is, this lady may have a book here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50752574138205487912011-08-17T16:34:31.972-04:002011-08-17T16:34:31.972-04:00Cool post! Thanks for sharing.Cool post! Thanks for sharing.essay onlinehttp://paramountessays.com/essaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57712455344929268422011-08-17T15:00:39.980-04:002011-08-17T15:00:39.980-04:00Good critique Jessica but you may want to change a...Good critique Jessica but you may want to change a couple of nasty typos: "there's a way to die that she hasn't yet *scene*" and "Stephen King, like Geraldine Brooks, no longer *rights* in a genre."Jonathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-11737975015860743802011-08-17T14:10:44.824-04:002011-08-17T14:10:44.824-04:00I agree that the last two lines of the first parag...I agree that the last two lines of the first paragraph really threw me off, even before I read the critique. They seem randomly inserted, and the logic might flow better if you went straight from the first sentences to describing the terror of being stuck in your house with outlaws. Even without the local girl with the grudge, wouldn't this make your MC fear for her life? Then you could mention all the other things she's dealing with, and maybe describe the isolation of the frontier in a way that both builds setting and increases the scariness of her situation. You'd probably be in great shape then. Best of luck!Kristin Laughtinhttp://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-81805345757980293932011-08-17T12:57:41.609-04:002011-08-17T12:57:41.609-04:00I agree the point of the novel isn't clear. I ...I agree the point of the novel isn't clear. I do have a question though about the ballads the author says have been woven throughout. <br /><br />Old ballads might not be an issue since they've probably long been in the public domain. But if a writer inserted, say, one line of copyrighted lyrics into her novel, then permissions, etc., would have to be attained. Right?<br /><br />— MaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-22174656975511545492011-08-17T11:46:47.013-04:002011-08-17T11:46:47.013-04:00There are various ways that readers connect to sto...There are various ways that readers connect to story--plot, character, setting, and language. In your query letter, you seem to be emphasizing plot, character, and setting. Perhaps if you just focused on one or two and in separate paragraphs. Emphasize the emotions that your character goes through, thereby connecting the agent with the heroine of your story, and then focus on plot--showing your agent that the story has a purpose... an interesting purpose. Or vice versa. The order doesn't so much matter as long as you are separating them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-71791578820223888192011-08-17T11:12:15.883-04:002011-08-17T11:12:15.883-04:00I agree with Kristan, by focusing on the heroine&#...I agree with Kristan, by focusing on the heroine's journey in the query letter, the emotion will come through. I also wondered if in revising the ms. and cutting words this might work as a romance along the lines of Jill Marie Landis' historicals. They are, I think, very well written and there seems to be a market for them.Robena Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18389730409379890816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-70323930103849657942011-08-17T11:00:47.724-04:002011-08-17T11:00:47.724-04:00I agree that the last 3 info paragraphs are strong...I agree that the last 3 info paragraphs are stronger and more compelling than the first 2 summary/hook paragraphs. I think the writer may have been trying too hard to evoke a mood and setting rather than explaining what actually happens in the story. I suggest a revision that focuses on Jane's arc -- who is she, what does she want, and what's standing in the way.<br /><br />It's halfway there!Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9989434227676635952011-08-17T09:56:23.157-04:002011-08-17T09:56:23.157-04:00I think it's a really good point you make conc...I think it's a really good point you make concerning King/Brooks and other big-name authors. (Jessica, you meant "no longer WRITES in a genre", right?) I mean - if William Gibson wasn't previously published and came to someone with something like Pattern Recognition or Zero History today, I sincerely doubt he'd be published, because the thing that makes those books commercial is the Gibson brand.<br /><br />I think it's a solid query, but I agree that the plot doesn't really shine through. Find a hook, and run with that. <br /><br />Furthermore, I don't think the writer's voice comes through enough. Dear writer - try to define what your voice is and push that. Good luck!Beckynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-65012191939307798012011-08-17T08:48:26.035-04:002011-08-17T08:48:26.035-04:00interesting thoughtsinteresting thoughtsessay writerhttp://anyessays.com/writing/essaysnoreply@blogger.com