tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post6730861546869452076..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Workshop WednesdayBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-41128348000834133652011-03-27T15:44:13.816-04:002011-03-27T15:44:13.816-04:00Was this not a query for a query?
I think Jessic...Was this not a query for a query? <br /><br />I think Jessica demonstrated very well that the agent will look at the text sent in the email and not the attachment, which is why we don't get to see the query critique.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-51917146816116037412011-03-24T15:49:23.660-04:002011-03-24T15:49:23.660-04:00I just took a business writing course through my w...I just took a business writing course through my work and was told that Sincerely always works and is appropriate for business communication. Anything else is suggested to use with caution since it can sound hammy or insincere. I know I personally cringe when I see less formal send-offs in work-related communication, complete with quotes and different colored font.Stephscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06328839483008086049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-11371219755412183932011-03-23T21:45:31.741-04:002011-03-23T21:45:31.741-04:00I never thought about the time management issues i...I never thought about the time management issues in opening attachments for every e-mail. I see the point though. So much easier to flick that scroll button.<br /><br />I don't think I've put more than two lines in the personalization portion of a query - emailed or snail mail.<br /><br />I prefer to get to the heart of the query as quickly as possible so I don't lose the Agent's interest. There are so many different ways to catch the attention.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing the tips.<br /><br />.....dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-49517015628715305062011-03-23T19:47:07.944-04:002011-03-23T19:47:07.944-04:00The letter sounds like an apology for querying. Be...The letter sounds like an apology for querying. Be brave, stalwart author! As a writer, you're <i>way</i> scarier than any agent could be. Fear them not.<br /><br />Also, if you want to workshop your query more (since it didn't get done here), there are--in addition to the Query Shark--sites like <a href="http://evileditor.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Evil Editor</a>, <a href="http://phoenixsullivan.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Phoenix Sullivan</a> and <a href="http://querygoblin.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">The Query Goblin</a> to help you.<br /><br />Good luck!jjdebenedictishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16950592240599703771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5154532670741580272011-03-23T16:16:09.366-04:002011-03-23T16:16:09.366-04:00@Anonymous
Austin here. I’m a “she,” but no worri...@Anonymous<br /><br />Austin here. I’m a “she,” but no worries. ☺ <br /><br />Yes, I did intend that part of the correspondence to be private, so it is jarring to see it posted for public consumption. However, that said, if this is the worst thing that can happen today, I’m golden. (I work with scary news editors. Think really thick skin!)<br /><br />I do apologize to Ms. Faust for the sign-off. “Fond regards” is used in business communiqués, but it is apparently regional. I’ve been reading your blog for so long, I felt I owe you for your insight – and did wish to express that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-17036955489063596512011-03-23T15:41:06.600-04:002011-03-23T15:41:06.600-04:00Not only would it take extra time to read and resp...Not only would it take extra time to read and respond to attached queries, they also collect on your computer's hard drive and have to be cleaned out later. What a nuissance.Karen Duvallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01839711547501582977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-82514786384869143442011-03-23T14:57:08.623-04:002011-03-23T14:57:08.623-04:00Thanks author for offering your work, and I'm ...Thanks author for offering your work, and I'm sorry we didn't get to critique the actual query letter.<br /><br />Your mistake was of assuming a familiarity when there was none. Plus, not reading the Agency requirements. <br /><br />Also, by inserting a disclaimer (apologizing up front) for the query letter sounds passive, and that initial feeling might carry over to reading the query. You don't want that to happen. <br /><br />Publishing is a tough world. You have to own your work. You have to believe in yourself. Humility is good, in some respects, but too much is as bad as bragging that you've written the next great American novel. Better luck next time.Robena Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18389730409379890816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-24087021394052947592011-03-23T12:41:22.918-04:002011-03-23T12:41:22.918-04:00Gosh, I was hoping to see the critique of the quer...Gosh, I was hoping to see the critique of the query itself.Mastering Investmentshttp://www.masteringinvestments.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-75694044388446648372011-03-23T12:31:34.330-04:002011-03-23T12:31:34.330-04:00I have a friend in Europe who started to sign his ...I have a friend in Europe who started to sign his letters to me: Beware- (his name). After a few I emailed him and asked what was up with that. He told me that he noticed I ended my letters "Take Care- Eileen." <br /><br />He looked up Take Care in his English to Dutch dictionary. He used Beware because it meant the same thing. I had to explain that while technically they mean they same thing they have a different feel. <br /><br />I think it might be fun to start signing my notes- BEWARE.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07967828178034612278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66940336585796422142011-03-23T12:27:48.727-04:002011-03-23T12:27:48.727-04:00Actually, now I'm interested in the sign-off. ...Actually, now I'm interested in the sign-off. Is "Sincerely" too pedestrian? Is there actually an industry standard? In the military the standard was "Very Respectfully" and sometimes I still use that.Stephen Kozeniewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185600045044927669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-74738538747581486572011-03-23T11:42:15.968-04:002011-03-23T11:42:15.968-04:00Isn't it some kind of unwritten publishing rul...Isn't it some kind of unwritten publishing rule to sign off with "Best Wishes?" (Or "Best")<br /><br />I always do it, but I'm not fond of it. Way too cliche.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-24838417291752441172011-03-23T10:03:49.548-04:002011-03-23T10:03:49.548-04:00@Anon 8:46 -
Regardless of how improvement the su...@Anon 8:46 -<br /><br />Regardless of how improvement the submitter could have made if the actual query had been posted here, learning to follow the rules is the greater lesson.<br /><br />On a different note, I hate 'Fondest Regards.' I feel fondly for my children or my close friends. Not business associates. Seth Godin says to use 'With Respect' because that is the feeling you should want to convey in a business relationship. (also fondest is too close to fondle)Lehcarjthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17171145477602995121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-51159302640183781282011-03-23T09:10:04.693-04:002011-03-23T09:10:04.693-04:00great feedback, and thank you for sharing it!
And...great feedback, and thank you for sharing it!<br /><br />And while this was not your intent, I choked on my coffee over the "fond regards" bit, then laughed outright, then went to get some water. <br /><br />("Warm regards" is my personal eeuuw for a sign-off. To me, it just sounds like a sticky handshake.)m----- h----------https://www.blogger.com/profile/10816424995465508297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-3151834974012885382011-03-23T08:59:07.659-04:002011-03-23T08:59:07.659-04:00Though I agree "manuscript" should be sp...Though I agree "manuscript" should be spelled out, I would also point out that the correct abbreviation is "MS."Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-53904851262110418972011-03-23T08:46:51.237-04:002011-03-23T08:46:51.237-04:00Well, personally, I feel a little sorry for Austin...Well, personally, I feel a little sorry for Austin (I'm assuming he's a person, and not simply someone who lives in Texas!).<br /><br />My guess is that the only thing he did wrong was attach a query he thought was going to be critiqued in a workshop, instead of putting it in the body of an email. <br /><br />What you've posted here is simply a personal message that I assume he never meant for public viewing. At least, that's how I read it. Correct me if I'm wrong, Austin!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-55189620611167540632011-03-23T08:07:54.841-04:002011-03-23T08:07:54.841-04:00Good points about the time management issue. Do yo...Good points about the time management issue. Do you get many queries that are too chatty? When your schedule is so tight, is there a suggestion for how brief to keep any opening remarks?Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17158114738303231773noreply@blogger.com