tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post1600035625506674932..comments2023-08-28T03:11:38.347-07:00Comments on The Scribblers Cove: Rethinking the Query--What's Between the Lines?Rebecca J. Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13266492065285468391noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-5696597883812774732010-11-09T16:08:56.832-08:002010-11-09T16:08:56.832-08:00Kim, I completely agree with you on the importance...Kim, I completely agree with you on the importance of writer's workshops and conferences. Writers shall not publish by query alone! Even those published (or soon to be published) authors I know who did not meet their current editor and/or agent at a conference DID go to conferences and had met other editors and agents before they landed a sale.Rebecca J. Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13266492065285468391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-32421878485357480092010-11-09T07:01:51.695-08:002010-11-09T07:01:51.695-08:00Great post. I just stumbled upon this blog, and I...Great post. I just stumbled upon this blog, and I'm glad that I did. I agree that query letters are a necessary evil in this world. But even though it seems the only entry pass, it's not. I met my editor and agent at a writer's conference. I can't say enough about attending them. I learned more about the business of writing in two days than I had in fifteen years of querying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-306247475375269272010-11-08T14:09:05.473-08:002010-11-08T14:09:05.473-08:00Um. Which time?Um. Which time?Hermana Mawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743516008894676257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-22298959755238982212010-11-08T11:36:20.878-08:002010-11-08T11:36:20.878-08:00Leisha, you always make me laugh! Is that book of ...Leisha, you always make me laugh! Is that book of yours finished yet?Rebecca J. Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13266492065285468391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-35502956822425971952010-11-08T07:47:23.741-08:002010-11-08T07:47:23.741-08:00I think it's kind of like a speed date. Two mi...I think it's kind of like a speed date. Two minutes (or less) to say, "Hey, this is me. This is what I like to write. Am I cute enough? Give me a shot."<br /><br />But not in those words. Cause those words would get me a rejection. But you are right, it's a first impression, and until we get over the stage fright of, "ACK! how will I ever be able to tell them everything in one paragraph? This is the worst thing to ever happen to me! Stab me in the eye and let me die a slow, painful death instead of writing this stupid query!" we won't be able to make the impression we want in our speed date/query. Maybe. :)<br /><br />Loved the post.Hermana Mawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743516008894676257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-83876957477332779032010-11-07T12:41:31.417-08:002010-11-07T12:41:31.417-08:00Good points. I think the query is like a window in...Good points. I think the query is like a window into our stories. I don't find them as horrific as I used to, but they're not the easiest things to write! :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-70797739992917033432010-11-07T10:34:50.900-08:002010-11-07T10:34:50.900-08:00Sue, I really like what you said about the market,...Sue, I really like what you said about the market, too. A good query letter shows you're in the know. I don't think you have to say things like, "Mermaid stories are selling like hot-cakes so you're going to want to jump on the chance to represent my novel ROMANCE UNDER THE SEA." But I think the way you pitch the book can show you understand what the selling points are.Rebecca J. Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13266492065285468391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-53058004623126084372010-11-07T03:28:17.373-08:002010-11-07T03:28:17.373-08:00@Rebecca I think we're saying the same thing. ...@Rebecca I think we're saying the same thing. :)Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-27159528240335244742010-11-06T23:07:23.353-07:002010-11-06T23:07:23.353-07:00Sue, I agree that I use a different voice for my q...Sue, I agree that I use a different voice for my queries than my prose, but in both cases I strive for a strong and lucid writing style. Still, I'm more confident when the agent wants to see pages.<br /><br />And Jonene, you're probably closer than you think. Much closer than forever.Rebecca J. Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13266492065285468391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-56771658168131039802010-11-06T22:48:01.026-07:002010-11-06T22:48:01.026-07:00Rebecca, you're so right! It seems a query is ...Rebecca, you're so right! It seems a query is a good guage of the maturity of the writer (in writing, not age). I feel so young as a writer and I'm always learning new things. Constructing a decent query feels like taking on a Senior project when you're still in seventh grade. But it seems that each time I write one and learn more about the process, I gain a grade level. I'm still shooting for that Senior status, but it's going to take forever!Jonene Ficklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17571995560551224053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-4704641998493874162010-11-06T16:40:28.944-07:002010-11-06T16:40:28.944-07:00I agree with you. As much as I hate writing them,...I agree with you. As much as I hate writing them, I think it's a valid entry pass. I also agree with Susan - so much of what a query is meant to accomplish can be learned from a bit of research. The rest comes from our own skills - or lack of them.Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-73733801782239042692010-11-06T13:52:04.726-07:002010-11-06T13:52:04.726-07:00Agh! I hate blogger (it ate my comment). Once agai...Agh! I hate blogger (it ate my comment). Once again...<br /><br />I think a query shows how much of the business a writer understands. Have they looked at all into the conventions of query letters? Do they know to include things like word count and genre? I just critted a query that made a bunch of query mistakes, the typical things that they wouldn't have done with any research at all.<br /><br />I'm not sure about the writing style, though. Some queries have lots of voice and some are more business like. Mine tend to the business side, but of course there is some voice in the story description. <br /><br />Since so many agents ask for pages with a query, I think that mitigates the voice issue somewhat.Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.com