tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post1254546738841765169..comments2024-03-28T00:28:02.920-07:00Comments on Navigating the Slush Pile: January Query Time: FAQsVickie Motterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15791034462866079818noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-20090830027858689712012-05-27T22:44:51.343-07:002012-05-27T22:44:51.343-07:00Thank you so much for these entries! I have been r...Thank you so much for these entries! I have been researching about queries for a week and your January blog series are honestly one of the better resources I have found. <br /><br />Comparisons and the questions about series and the author's bio were my biggest blanks that I could not find an answer for. <br /><br />From your previous posts, I even checked out that Cupid Literacy contest to view the queries you had mentioned. They were very well written. <br /><br />Thank you again for taking the time to write this.<br /><br />And yes, I am very well aware it's May! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17342533849945823335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-19590831911121521912012-02-07T14:16:55.277-08:002012-02-07T14:16:55.277-08:00One of the best takeaways of this post for me is h...One of the best takeaways of this post for me is how important it is to know the agent you're querying. A lot of the things here Vickie wrote are not accepted by other agents. Some of those other agents tell you to NEVER do some of the things Vickie suggested.<br /><br />Which goes to show, you should always research the agent and know what they like or don't like. Treating them all the same could cost you.<br /><br />Thanks, Vickie.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01235832553786202667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-24423600960833785652012-02-02T12:25:24.361-08:002012-02-02T12:25:24.361-08:00It would be awesome if you could do a month of adv...It would be awesome if you could do a month of advice on writing a synopsis. I am really struggling in that area, and have a couple of questions I'd love to ask. In fact, I'll just ask one of them here:<br /><br />My novel is made up of two connected stories (each could stand alone, but they work well together and feature the same cast of characters). Although the total length is well within standard range, I feel like this is going to be hard to handle in the synopsis without going over 5 pages. Any advice would be appreciated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-6610997280312673792012-02-02T10:05:49.244-08:002012-02-02T10:05:49.244-08:00For the question about querying a 130K book (which...For the question about querying a 130K book (which btw is a drop in the bucket for me), I was advised at Pitch University to emphasize high stakes and a grand, sweeping, saga-length scale and plot trajectory instead of emphasizing things that might be important but look minor in comparison. I was also advised to leave word count out, since you want any potential rejections to be based on opinion of the writing or story, NOT prejudice against deliberately saga-length books (which were very popular and the norm not too long ago).Carrie-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810154378449825641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-8044042188542496792012-02-02T09:18:43.200-08:002012-02-02T09:18:43.200-08:00Thank you for this list. Very helpful. It answered...Thank you for this list. Very helpful. It answered a few questions I had for my current query package.Eric J. Krausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05774468607814244185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-39330261179576229602012-02-01T17:16:13.248-08:002012-02-01T17:16:13.248-08:00Thank you so much for focusing on the dreaded quer...Thank you so much for focusing on the dreaded query letter. They feel so daunting, but you've broken it down nicely.-Jo-https://www.blogger.com/profile/03994731857058276539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-47359414262589087052012-02-01T17:00:18.892-08:002012-02-01T17:00:18.892-08:00Thanks for posting this information. Crafting a r...Thanks for posting this information. Crafting a request-worthy query is such a challenge! I wish I'd know this about a year ago, but it's never too late to edit, polish, and make it shine.<br /><br />I also appreciate the update etiquette tip at the end. It would be nice to have the opportunity to use that bit of advice someday!<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />DanaDanahttp://www.sieders.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-85093876169634723502012-02-01T10:08:52.918-08:002012-02-01T10:08:52.918-08:00Thanks for answering my question, Vickie. I was re...Thanks for answering my question, Vickie. I was really unsure about that.J. Freelandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-42820701240395162702012-02-01T07:27:13.620-08:002012-02-01T07:27:13.620-08:00I'll add my thanks to the mix. These posts wil...I'll add my thanks to the mix. These posts will be incredibly helpful to me as I work on my query and prepare to send it out. And I'm always happy to hear comments like yours about dedication and skill. It's a great reminder that if I give it my all and do my research, I'll probably be a step ahead of many queriers. (Is queriers a word?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-49067475898172877722012-01-31T19:27:22.443-08:002012-01-31T19:27:22.443-08:00Awesome tips. Thanks!Awesome tips. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09413777557796110450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-33718173520994298412012-01-31T19:20:48.927-08:002012-01-31T19:20:48.927-08:00I appreciate your honest answer to that last quest...I appreciate your honest answer to that last question. I've read other agents' answers to similar questions, but you're the first I've read to give reasons why you don't want to know the name(s) of agents who offer on a ms. A great FAQ, Vickie. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-87049572503431540332012-01-31T18:29:17.337-08:002012-01-31T18:29:17.337-08:00Thanks for an informative series on queries. How ...Thanks for an informative series on queries. How about the ever popular first pages for next month?Eric Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09283567940889742918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-34459448753831062832012-01-31T17:34:42.104-08:002012-01-31T17:34:42.104-08:00This was a really fantastic series on queries. I ...This was a really fantastic series on queries. I enjoyed it and looked forward to each post.Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17323788304469008867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-78206662921512932912012-01-31T16:50:19.985-08:002012-01-31T16:50:19.985-08:00Great information! Thanks for sharing your insight...Great information! Thanks for sharing your insights!! :DCortney Pearsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00774060537148628453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-65803954484204534112012-01-31T15:38:25.605-08:002012-01-31T15:38:25.605-08:00That was so helpful! Thank you! :)That was <i>so</i> helpful! Thank you! :)Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-38759472843565052982012-01-31T15:33:52.252-08:002012-01-31T15:33:52.252-08:00Love the 'Happy Feet meets Gangs of New York&#...Love the 'Happy Feet meets Gangs of New York'. Though... I think a gang full of penguins might be kind of cute...hahaKelley Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06373650788799372118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-18583557075935049912012-01-31T15:12:09.405-08:002012-01-31T15:12:09.405-08:00Excellent info - thanks!Excellent info - thanks!mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-44226292885409398312012-01-31T14:55:17.871-08:002012-01-31T14:55:17.871-08:00This was extremely helpful. (I never thought to in...This was extremely helpful. (I never thought to include a Twitter address, for instance.) Thanks so much for posting it!Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349631448644661717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-45422406399016934372012-01-31T11:53:26.232-08:002012-01-31T11:53:26.232-08:00These are some great tips. The query letter seems ...These are some great tips. The query letter seems rather formulaic - (though condensing the story's info into the formula is fairly difficult.) Your sample from an earlier blog appears to be the norm for what agents are looking for. The answers to these questions are very helpful. Especially the numbers one. Everyone wants to know the odds. The whole query month was helpful. Queries are about as fun as resumes! Ha!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-19057936354499539312012-01-31T11:40:07.043-08:002012-01-31T11:40:07.043-08:00Some great questions! I saw Rick's tweet abou...Some great questions! I saw Rick's tweet about Happy Feet meets Gangs of New York and spewed Mountain Dew all over my computer. :)<br /><br />Thanks for answering these! Lots of great stuff to keep in mind.<br /><br />*makes note to self: do not go into dog inspiring book*Cassie Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17706774393186819619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-13141493353486271342012-01-31T11:31:10.715-08:002012-01-31T11:31:10.715-08:00"...and for the love of the world, don't ..."...and for the love of the world, don't explain to me how you came up with the name." Hahahaha! Oh, I can only imagine the explanations an agent might get in regards to pen names! Thanks for the giggle (okay, it was more of a hearty laugh but...). And thanks for the great (and thorough) info!<br /><br />:0)Mary Weberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13105702811351449027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597446736200108024.post-84386523779992805222012-01-31T11:06:49.497-08:002012-01-31T11:06:49.497-08:00Thanks. This is such great information!Thanks. This is such great information!Jenny S. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482342313938669366noreply@blogger.com