Awesome Guide to Writing a Query!

[wordsquid]

It's specific to queries for fiction. And it had me totally cracking up!

How to Write a Query Letter in Five Easy Steps. (http://novelistanon.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-write-query-letter-in-five-easy.html)

-Squid

(Question: is it standard for posters to have a sig showing the progress of works in progress? I mean, is it expected?)

[wyntermoon]

Thanks for the link!

Nope, it's not required to have anything in your sigline, it's simply my "get back to work, you slacker" reminder when I'm on the boards. ;)

[Azraelsbane]

:welcome:

Barb is joking.

The Absolute does not refer to having a mandatory sig. It refers the fact that we only accept writers using close 3rd person limited in their work, and that we will absolutely beat you over the head with a stick for changing POV without express written consent that has been notarized. :D

Actually, I think the only absolute on this site is my extremely bad sense of humor. Welcome to the boards! And thanks so much for this. Every time I even think of writing a query I throw up a little. Maybe this will help me. :)

[RLB]

Great link. My favorite is still this one on Miss Snark's blog:

http://misssnark.blogspot.com/2007/04/yea-this-works.html

I'm guilty of step #16...

[Bufty]

Welcome Squid - :welcome:

Is it expected? Of course - but only if one writes serious fiction. Hence the omission of that data from my own signature.

...Question: is it standard for posters to have a sig showing the progress of works in progress? I mean, is it expected?...

[Elektra]

Just looked at the Greeting section, but I'm a bit wary of anyone who would say this (referring to the greeting portion of a query): "If you blow this part, you're screwed no matter how good the rest of the damn letter is, because no one will read past your screwup."

[Azraelsbane]

Just looked at the Greeting section, but I'm a bit wary of anyone who would say this (referring to the greeting portion of a query): "If you blow this part, you're screwed no matter how good the rest of the damn letter is, because no one will read past your screwup."


I found the fact that he/she stated that if you can't sum up your plot in one sentence then you or your book suck. I understand this is an important point, but I thought it was a bit juvenile. Heh.

[wordsquid]

Elektra, I think that's true, though! I've read more than once about how agents will immediately discard a query that addresses them as Mr. when they should be a Mrs.

And I think the tone is kind of fun! Which is why I posted it here.

(working on a sig, by the way)

[storygirl]

Wordsquid, thank you for that helpful link. And welcome (and yes, we always act this weird. . .I know you have to be wondering).

[storygirl]

Great link. My favorite is still this one on Miss Snark's blog:

http://misssnark.blogspot.com/2007/04/yea-this-works.html

I'm guilty of step #16...
LOL! Seriously. I am at work, in my office, laughing out loud as I'm reading this. Too funny (only because some of it is so true)!

[Elektra]

Elektra, I think that's true, though! I've read more than once about how agents will immediately discard a query that addresses them as Mr. when they should be a Mrs.



Some agents probably do, but from the blogs, most seem to be a pretty forgiving bunch (as far as an honest mistake like that goes). If they like the actual story portion of the query, as well as the sample pages, I don't think a gender mistake will keep them from requesting to read more (I'm going by Miss Snark on that one--she said something along the lines of, 'you can call Killer Yapp a cat as long as the story's good').

In any case, welcome to AW!

[Dave.C.Robinson]

I wouldn't want to call Killer Yapp a cat under any circumstances. But that's just me.

[seun]

It's specific to queries for fiction. And it had me totally cracking up!

How to Write a Query Letter in Five Easy Steps. (http://novelistanon.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-write-query-letter-in-five-easy.html)

-Squid

(Question: is it standard for posters to have a sig showing the progress of works in progress? I mean, is it expected?)

Good link. Welcome to AW. :D

[Shadow_Ferret]

Now I'm really worried about my query letter writing ability. I didn't think that letter in the example was all that good. Seemed to focus more on how the novel was received at some writing conference then explaining what it was about.

[ChaosTitan]

Now I'm really worried about my query letter writing ability.

Don't stress about that blog, Shadow. This Anonymous Author has some very good advice on writing a query, but it also has some advice with which I disagree.

The first bit that caught my attention as wholly untrue was in the blogger's first paragraph:

No big publishing houses will even think about looking at your stuff unless it's submitted by a real, live literary agent.

Not true, not true at all. Some big houses still accept unagented manuscripts. Do agents increase your chance of being read at a big house? Heck, yes. Are you screwed six ways from Sundway without an agent? No.

From part 3:

I don't know how many times I've been warned about saying it's my first novel. The agent doesn't need to know that. If you've been published, say so. If you haven't, leave it out completely.

Also, don't play mind games with the agent. Puffing yourself up could, in the long run, make you look like a fool if the agent ever calls you on your BS. Lying about quotes is dishonest and is a bad foundation for building a working relationship with a prospective agent. :rant: The blogger can call it "stretching" if he/she likes, but it's still lying.

[wordsquid]

Looking at it critically now, there are some things he/she is sort of abrasive about, but it's also not like blowing smoke, if that makes sense (like the anonymous writer has some authority).

ChaosTitan, there's a post on there today that deals with just that. Dunno if I have digested it yet, tho.

[wayndom]

Now I'm really worried about my query letter writing ability. I didn't think that letter in the example was all that good. Seemed to focus more on how the novel was received at some writing conference then explaining what it was about.

Agreed, but that's because the author is unpublished, and if you're unpublished, you have to give an agent a reason why they should look at your work (usually some degree of expertise related to the story).

Personally, I disagree with putting the greeting paragraph ahead of the description of the work. I just find starting a letter with, "I chose to write to you because you represent my favorite author," boring and tedious, so I put it at the end of my queries. I start my queries by pitching the book as well as I can. If they don't like the story idea, they're not going to care who's writing to them.