Comments on: Secrets Every Writer Should Know About Query Letters http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/ about the craft and business of fiction Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:54:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: [BLOCKED BY STBV] All Top Blogs - Looking for the best blogs? Here they are! http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-132381 [BLOCKED BY STBV] All Top Blogs - Looking for the best blogs? Here they are! Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:14:33 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-132381 <strong>All Top Blogs - Looking for the best blogs? Here they are!...</strong> March 2nd, 2010 at 12: 35 pm Leave a Reply Please no spam, attacking others, trolling, posting off- topic. Thanks.... All Top Blogs – Looking for the best blogs? Here they are!…

March 2nd, 2010 at 12: 35 pm Leave a Reply Please no spam, attacking others, trolling, posting off- topic. Thanks….

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]]> By: Martina Boone http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-132031 Martina Boone Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:39:37 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-132031 Thanks very much for the excellent overview! As other commentors have already pointed out, being able to write a great query letter is necessary not only in getting an agent, but also for determining if you have a problem with your novel. We've been struggling with the art of the queryletter over at Adventures in Children's Publishing, and it is such a confusing process. Some agents advise against trying to synopsise the novel in the query letter. Instead they recommend concentrating on conveying the hook and the tone to intrigue the reader into wanting more. What do you think of that approach? What are the pros and cons? .-= Martina Boone´s last blog ..<a href="http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/03/pre-submission-checklist.html" rel="nofollow">Pre-Submission Checklist</a> =-. Thanks very much for the excellent overview! As other commentors have already pointed out, being able to write a great query letter is necessary not only in getting an agent, but also for determining if you have a problem with your novel.

We’ve been struggling with the art of the queryletter over at Adventures in Children’s Publishing, and it is such a confusing process. Some agents advise against trying to synopsise the novel in the query letter. Instead they recommend concentrating on conveying the hook and the tone to intrigue the reader into wanting more. What do you think of that approach? What are the pros and cons?
.-= Martina Boone´s last blog ..Pre-Submission Checklist =-.

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]]> By: Amy Sue Nathan http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-131863 Amy Sue Nathan Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:50:30 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-131863 Although writers do hire agents, agents have the "power" until they extend the offer. Right now I just want someone to ask me to the party! Although writers do hire agents, agents have the “power” until they extend the offer.

Right now I just want someone to ask me to the party!

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]]> By: e.lee http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-131796 e.lee Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:02:20 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-131796 thanks for posting great tips, most letters tend to be scattershot .-= e.lee´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/E6n1s24-7Armistice/~3/F597rq5N_Ig/users-guide-to-mythological-objects.html" rel="nofollow">A User's Guide to Mythological Objects.</a> =-. thanks for posting
great tips, most letters tend to be scattershot
.-= e.lee´s last blog ..A User’s Guide to Mythological Objects. =-.

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]]> By: Vic K http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-131780 Vic K Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:13:38 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-131780 I've always had this sneaking suspicion if the query isn't coming together, it might be because there is something wrong with my story. Have to say, that has proven to be true in my own case... and Like Bruce, I have started the habit of beginning with the log line and working up from query to synopsis - then writing the first draft. I’ve always had this sneaking suspicion if the query isn’t coming together, it might be because there is something wrong with my story. Have to say, that has proven to be true in my own case… and Like Bruce, I have started the habit of beginning with the log line and working up from query to synopsis – then writing the first draft.

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]]> By: Nancy Y Wade http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-131768 Nancy Y Wade Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:34:56 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-131768 Thank you so much. I was getting really frustrated and discouraged with the entire process. Writing is simple 'query' to me is the same as an intelligence test. Some how I lose all I know. .-= Nancy Y Wade´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.wade-inpublishing.com/2009/10/beads-on-string-americas-racially.html" rel="nofollow">BEADS on a STRING-AMERICA'S RACIALLY INTERTWINED BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY</a> =-. Thank you so much. I was getting really frustrated and discouraged with the entire process. Writing is simple ‘query’ to me is the same as an intelligence test. Some how I lose all I know.
.-= Nancy Y Wade´s last blog ..BEADS on a STRING-AMERICA’S RACIALLY INTERTWINED BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY =-.

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]]> By: Bruce H. Johnson http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-131767 Bruce H. Johnson Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:49:58 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-131767 You can treat the "elevator speech" on up to the multi-page synopsis as part of the initial design process. If you create them first as part of the story structure, you'll have on-going narratives from the very top level down to the detail. This will keep you on track when you're actually writing. If you are unable to do this to start, how many drafts are you going to do before you can? When you draft your query level, you can then pick which narrative to send -- it's already constructed. An agent may then request more detail, so you send them the next lower level (or the most detailed if you wish). Sorry, this won't work very well for organic writers. .-= Bruce H. Johnson´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.freespirituniverse.org/tech-writer-to-fiction-writer-10-truth-revealed/" rel="nofollow">Tech Writer to Fiction Writer 10: Truth Revealed</a> =-. You can treat the “elevator speech” on up to the multi-page synopsis as part of the initial design process.

If you create them first as part of the story structure, you’ll have on-going narratives from the very top level down to the detail. This will keep you on track when you’re actually writing.

If you are unable to do this to start, how many drafts are you going to do before you can?

When you draft your query level, you can then pick which narrative to send — it’s already constructed. An agent may then request more detail, so you send them the next lower level (or the most detailed if you wish).

Sorry, this won’t work very well for organic writers.
.-= Bruce H. Johnson´s last blog ..Tech Writer to Fiction Writer 10: Truth Revealed =-.

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]]> By: Lydia Sharp http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-131766 Lydia Sharp Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:31:43 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-131766 Excellent points! Time to revise mine again... .-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..<a href="http://lydiasharp.blogspot.com/2010/03/benefits-of-writing-short-fiction.html" rel="nofollow">The Benefits of Writing Short Fiction</a> =-. Excellent points! Time to revise mine again…
.-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..The Benefits of Writing Short Fiction =-.

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]]> By: Kathy Teel http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-131764 Kathy Teel Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:49:01 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-131764 It's nice to hear this information from someone who reviews these professionally. I have had people ask me to help them write their synopses, but I don't always know what to do. Kathy Teel It’s nice to hear this information from someone who reviews these professionally. I have had people ask me to help them write their synopses, but I don’t always know what to do.

Kathy Teel

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]]> By: Laura Cross http://writerunboxed.com/2010/03/02/secrets-every-writer-should-know-about-query-letters/#comment-131761 Laura Cross Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:27:49 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2707#comment-131761 @Marc, @Rebecca, @Kristan - thanks for your comments. Kristan is right on-the-mark, the "rules" for query letters exist for a reason and if you want to acquire a literary agent you have to be able to present your story synopsis in a succinct and compelling way with all the elements agents expect. I know it's not easy - you may want to try writing the full extended two-page synopsis and work backward to create your mini two-paragraph version for the query letter. .-= Laura Cross´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TrueStoryInk/~3/TyGH7QIt7A4/" rel="nofollow">3 Secrets To A Successful Book Ghostwriting Career</a> =-. @Marc, @Rebecca, @Kristan – thanks for your comments. Kristan is right on-the-mark, the “rules” for query letters exist for a reason and if you want to acquire a literary agent you have to be able to present your story synopsis in a succinct and compelling way with all the elements agents expect. I know it’s not easy – you may want to try writing the full extended two-page synopsis and work backward to create your mini two-paragraph version for the query letter.
.-= Laura Cross´s last blog ..3 Secrets To A Successful Book Ghostwriting Career =-.

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