Blasted Query

What’s the purpose of a query letter? I always say it’s your penned advertisement as a writer. What does a query letter show/prove? That you know how to string words together. What it must perform? It needs to grab the agent or publisher’s attention.
It’s not easy to summarize a whole novel into a few short paragraphs, but the higher ups – or whoever it was that invented the query – requests yet another task for a writer to comply with.

That query not only needs to give the gist of your book, but must also show why you are the best one to write it; your credentials/resume to prove you are able to market it. These tidbits paint your professionalism.

Overall, from a simple query, many agents/publishers can determine if your book is salable to the general public. Yes, folks, that’s the name of the game: SALABILITY. Get used to it. Publishing houses are in the market to sell, so, unfortunately, if you’ve penned the perfect and flawless book, if it’s not salable in today’s market you risk a rejection. Is this fair? I’ve debated on numerous posts about this. I’m swayed to defend both sides:

1- the writer who has taken the necessary time to improve his skills only to be rejected over and over again – totally unfair, then again, a perfect book does not make for an interesting read all the time

2- publishers need to survive and they’ll go with what their surveys tells them readers are seeking – then again it’s a real piss off when you read Mr. or Mrs. Starlet or Mr. Famous now has a book about to be released and it’s reached the best sellers list, and it’s their first penned book. Hmm…can it be the old ‘who you know to open doors for you?’ ploy? Then again, they have paid their dues and have a following behind them that has pushed their book to this new height.

So, as you can see, you can debate and debate and debate as much as you want. There are always two sides to a coin. But I’ve gone off topic…

We writers – many of us, not all of us – fear the query. I believe once we understand what it’s purpose is then maybe we can write it without our hands shaking, without the sweat wetting our paper, and without the sailor words coming out of our mouths. What? Oh, okay, just me then with the sailor mouth.

YOUR TURN:
What is it about a query that has you all in knots?

Karen and Robyn - Writing for Children: Tips and What's to Come

Came across Karen's blog post today and thought many of you may be interested.
Karen and Robyn - Writing for Children: Tips and What's to Come

Short Tips

Short Tip
Get reviews and brag about them. Post them in your site, newsletter, twitter and offer a link, Facebook it, blog about it. Get testimonials from your readers and also promote them. Don’t be shy. Bragging is part of being a writer.

Short Tip
Make it a point to update your website and blogs often to offer new material and keep readers coming back for more. Remember that a website is not only your billboard to promote your own stuff, but also an area to offer something to your reader. On my homepage – in case readers don’t click on my blog – I offer the title and link to one of my blog posts that I believe are interesting reads.

If you’ve written a nonfiction book, offer short articles on that subject to keep them coming back for more.

Short Tip
I know these take time but as I’ve posted numerous times, dedicate a day a week just for blogging, twittering, updating sites, Facebooking (that a word?) answering group emails. If once a week is all you can offer then make sure you spend all day doing just that. My time limit only allows me once a week, but at night I sit down and try to write up some blog posts and accumulate them for future use.

For those who have more time then dedicate perhaps an hour a day cold calling bookstores and other venues to get booksignings. Don’t forget to send out releases on any new events you’ll be participating in.

Be smart. Use your time wisely.

Short Tip
Don’t neglect your first published books. I know it’s hard to promote all of them, but even though the first one may have been published five years ago there is still an audience waiting to discover it.

For your older books, maybe consider packaging a few together and offering a discount for mass purchase. Whatever your creative mind comes up with, always bring each and every single title with you on any event you partake in.

For more areas to avoid, go HERE.

Biggest Beef- Hate Queries

I’m raising my hand with no shame (okay, I'm hiding behind this skeleton) to say I am one of those writers who hate queries. However, let me explain further what I dislike:

• we writers write the manuscript
• we writers write the cover letter
• we writers write the query letter
• we writers write the synopsis
• we writers fork out the $$$ to send our stuff in a SASE to the agent/publisher
• we writers are the ones who get a response such as “If you don’t hear from us within an x amount of time assume your manuscript is not right for us.”

Is there something wrong with this picture? I call it disrespect for the writer’s time because, after-all, we don’t do nothing, right? I know I’ll get stoned for this post but need to rant and rave.

This post has nothing to do with bashing an agent or an editor. I do know the time invested in reading the good stuff mingled with the crap out there. But does this justify not sending in a form rejection letter? How does the writer know their manuscript arrived?

Guess what I’m getting at is now with the almighty internet and convenience of emails, what if agents and editors placed all of the rejection emails in one lump database and did a mass bcc to every unlucky writer about to get the disappointment of their life. Which brings me to another question: These writers deserve the disappointment or are publishers extremely careful to choose writers with a big platform and a so-so manuscript over the great writers with a wee platform. I know, I know, I’m full of questions today. Woke up in a cloudy mood and now springing my questions to y’all and get you cloudy and riled up. GRIN.

So, what’s your biggest beef with agents and publishers? Hate queries as much as I do or have you figured out a master plan to churn them out like the chicken who laid golden eggs?

By the way, Mr. Agent and Mr. Publisher, I do know how to write a query before you leave a comment and say something like, "The writers that fear queries are the writers who don't know how to write." We writers fear them because we know our careers depend on them. Believe it or not some of us can write up a storm of electrifying storylines to root any tornado in its place. Then there are those who have a hard time to summarize a 100,000 word count tale. As the devil's advocate, however, there are those who don't deserve the time of day because their query clearly marks them as a 'newbie' writer. Now, have I totally confused you as to whose side I'm on? hehehehe

The Beginning and Talking Dirty

No, I'm not going to begin talking dirty. Far from it. I'm a mommy of five and my kids read this blog. GRIN!

However, I am going to turn your attention to a new blog I began for Pen Perfect Associates. I posted two interesting articles in there I'd like your opinions on:

1- The Beginning - I talk about what new writers miss when penning their opening paragraphs.

2- Come On...Talk To Me Dirty - a bit about the erotica genre that many believe is nothing more than porn.

Please take a minute and follow these links to these articles:

Your Beginning
http://penperfectassociates.blogspot.com/2009/11/your-beginning.html

Come On…Talk To Me Dirty
http://penperfectassociates.blogspot.com/2009/11/come-ontalk-to-me-dirty.html

While on Pen Perfect Associates, let me know if the Follow button is working or not. If it is, follow the blog. Tons of goodies heading that way. I've also added on the right sidebar a FREE ebook for you. More to come just for following the blog.

Questions Before Submitting

I want my book on a bookshelf. That’s great, however, is your book finished? Is it contracted? Are you prepared to work your butt off to get it on a bookshelf with tons of legwork? No? Hmm…not going to happen then.

But before you get your tutu all wrinkled with worry there are other things to consider, like:

What’s your genre? Have a clue?
Who’s your target audience?
Have a particular publisher in mind? Checked their published books? Their guidelines?

Have you read several books in the genre you’re writing? Studied famous authors? Picked up on what makes their books tick?

Have you prepared your ‘pitch’ in case you are ever stuck in an elevator with a publisher or that agent you are hoping to get a contract with?

Have you prepared your query and synopsis?

Now comes the biggie: have you fully fleshed out your characters, plot, and edited to the hilt?

Answer all of the questions above and perhaps you are now ready to submit.

The next step in a writer’s life is patience. When you send out your manuscript don’t twiddle your thumbs or wait around. Begin your next writing project.

One thing before I wrap up – be patient when you do get a contract. Some publishing houses don’t release until a year, even two years, down the line. That’s why I wrote begin your next project asap because once a book is contracted comes the other fun…marketing and promotion. Tons of legwork but necessary steps in order to get the buzz about you and your book out to the general public.

Websites

I've had many writers email me asking me what they should include in their websites they are creating. There is really no right or wrong answer. Your website is your world wide web advertisement as to who you are as a writer. We showcase our careers, our books, our awards, our articles, etc.

Here are a few things to consider when building your website:
your bio

--awards/contest placement
--a jpeg of you
--jpegs of your books
--direct purchase links
--blurbs/excerpts
--published work like articles, where they've appeared, if still live then give a link back to the article
--you can also go one step further and put together a sample PDF that includes an excerpt of your book, some of your articles, and offering it for FREE to your readers
--if you offer any other services like editing as I do, then set up a page for this
--a calendar of upcoming workshops, visits, book signings you'll be doing
--subscription for your newsletter
--links to your ezines/blogs
--a contact page where readers can email you
--a links page where you network with other like-minded writers for extra exposure and traffic
--a NEWS page with updates

These are just some of the things you can add to a new site to get you started.

I invite you to leave a comment and add what else you may have added to your website that you feel is a hit with your readers.