Comments on: Help for a query hater http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/ about the craft and business of fiction Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Toni Seger http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-114917 Toni Seger Sun, 24 May 2009 16:10:19 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-114917 Very well reasoned. I'd followed much of this through instinct, but I really appreciated having it laid out so well. I would only caution query writers to keep it as short as possible. In this case, I'd probably shorten the synopsis. If we think we don't like writing queries, the recipients like them even less... Otherwise, excellent post. Very well reasoned. I’d followed much of this through instinct, but I really appreciated having it laid out so well.

I would only caution query writers to keep it as short as possible. In this case, I’d probably shorten the synopsis. If we think we don’t like writing queries, the recipients like them even less…

Otherwise, excellent post.

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]]> By: Edie http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-112627 Edie Tue, 05 May 2009 21:18:10 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-112627 Therese, great query! And great advice to go with it. Therese, great query! And great advice to go with it.

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]]> By: S.D. Eric http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-112414 S.D. Eric Sun, 03 May 2009 23:10:02 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-112414 Thank you, for this. Though it was recommended as good advice for screenwriters, I'd advise screenwriters to shorten it up. But otherwise your tenants hold true. Thank you, for this. Though it was recommended as good advice for screenwriters, I’d advise screenwriters to shorten it up. But otherwise your tenants hold true.

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]]> By: Lorna Suzuki http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111818 Lorna Suzuki Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:41:03 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111818 Hi Therese, as for your question regarding the synopsis: I was asked to provide one for the film producer. One page per chapter. I found this much easier than writing a query letter. As for my agent Jenoyne Adams of Bliss Literary Agency, no query letter was necessary. We met at a writers conference, she took one of my books and read it. Her decision to represent me was based upon the contents of my novel! So, phew! Dodge the bullet with this one! Hi Therese, as for your question regarding the synopsis: I was asked to provide one for the film producer. One page per chapter. I found this much easier than writing a query letter.
As for my agent Jenoyne Adams of Bliss Literary Agency, no query letter was necessary. We met at a writers conference, she took one of my books and read it. Her decision to represent me was based upon the contents of my novel! So, phew! Dodge the bullet with this one!

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111763 Therese Walsh Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:08:55 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111763 Jael, good point. The dreaded synopsis is an entirely different beast than the query. I know that some agents like to see a five-page synopsis, others a three-page synopsis, still others a one-page synopsis. One-page. One page! How is that done? (Now I will have to find out and write a blog post about it. Sigh.) I'm glad you found the info useful, Marianne. Best of luck with your wip! Jael, good point. The dreaded synopsis is an entirely different beast than the query. I know that some agents like to see a five-page synopsis, others a three-page synopsis, still others a one-page synopsis. One-page. One page! How is that done? (Now I will have to find out and write a blog post about it. Sigh.)

I’m glad you found the info useful, Marianne. Best of luck with your wip!

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]]> By: Marianne http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111758 Marianne Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:21:44 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111758 Not even close to querying yet, or I promise I would share, but I found this a really helpful (and generous) post which I'll file for future reference. Thanks! Not even close to querying yet, or I promise I would share, but I found this a really helpful (and generous) post which I’ll file for future reference. Thanks!

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]]> By: Jael http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111734 Jael Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:22:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111734 I never liked writing queries but I liked them better once I realized that the query isn't for summing up the whole book... that's where so many people get stuck, I think. (Whereas that IS the point of the synopsis, which is why I hate hate hate writing synopses.) When I went back to look at my successful query, I had the same reaction as you did to yours, Therese -- it's not perfect. Mine is way too short and really only has about four or five sentences about the book itself. But at that point Elisabeth had read a previous MS of mine, so she knew I could write, and so the pitch (newly orphaned, socially awkward young woman discovers she can invoke ghosts by cooking from dead people's recipes) was the main thing. I think "wrap it up" is a really important part of this too! Writers want to make a case for themselves, or apologize that this is only their first book, or explain that their critique group likes the book, and all of that is extraneous. It's just you and the book and the agent. I never liked writing queries but I liked them better once I realized that the query isn’t for summing up the whole book… that’s where so many people get stuck, I think. (Whereas that IS the point of the synopsis, which is why I hate hate hate writing synopses.)

When I went back to look at my successful query, I had the same reaction as you did to yours, Therese — it’s not perfect. Mine is way too short and really only has about four or five sentences about the book itself. But at that point Elisabeth had read a previous MS of mine, so she knew I could write, and so the pitch (newly orphaned, socially awkward young woman discovers she can invoke ghosts by cooking from dead people’s recipes) was the main thing.

I think “wrap it up” is a really important part of this too! Writers want to make a case for themselves, or apologize that this is only their first book, or explain that their critique group likes the book, and all of that is extraneous. It’s just you and the book and the agent.

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111727 Therese Walsh Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:30:28 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111727 Katie, I think that's a great idea--start with the query and/or synopsis and/or outline. Start small, then go big. It's great to have a roadmap, even if you decide to veer off the beaten track now and then to create a new path. Aww, thanks, Chris! Lorna, it can be hard to hone in on the few details you want to emphasize in a query. How do you feel about synopses? Katie, I think that’s a great idea–start with the query and/or synopsis and/or outline. Start small, then go big. It’s great to have a roadmap, even if you decide to veer off the beaten track now and then to create a new path.

Aww, thanks, Chris!

Lorna, it can be hard to hone in on the few details you want to emphasize in a query. How do you feel about synopses?

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]]> By: Lorna Suzuki http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111669 Lorna Suzuki Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:43:53 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111669 I find writing a novel way easier than writing a query letter and I've used many of the tips you've employed, Therese. I've had interesting experiences when it comes to agents. My first one from a New York agency decided to pursue a career in film and didn't bother to tell me for over a year. I had a personal manager who blew a multi-picture film deal at the eleventh hour when the project was basically greenlighted. Needless to say, he's no longer my manager. I've also had at least two agents I can recall of who asked me to contact them once movie negotiations were under way. If that was the case, why would I call on them after the fact? Instead, I used a very good lawyer specializing in entertainment law to deal with the option agreement! I find writing a novel way easier than writing a query letter and I’ve used many of the tips you’ve employed, Therese.
I’ve had interesting experiences when it comes to agents. My first one from a New York agency decided to pursue a career in film and didn’t bother to tell me for over a year.
I had a personal manager who blew a multi-picture film deal at the eleventh hour when the project was basically greenlighted. Needless to say, he’s no longer my manager.
I’ve also had at least two agents I can recall of who asked me to contact them once movie negotiations were under way. If that was the case, why would I call on them after the fact? Instead, I used a very good lawyer specializing in entertainment law to deal with the option agreement!

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]]> By: chris eldin http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111662 chris eldin Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:51:01 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/28/help-for-a-query-hater/#comment-111662 This is a terrific query!! And I can't wait to read your book---I LOVE being at the beginning of the journey toward publication. It really is exciting!!! :-) This is a terrific query!! And I can’t wait to read your book—I LOVE being at the beginning of the journey toward publication. It really is exciting!!!
:-)

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