tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post8963894926424136315..comments2024-03-08T20:57:25.380-08:00Comments on Julie Musil, Author: Insecure About Queries? #IWSGUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-22217135246338077702015-02-09T09:18:33.769-08:002015-02-09T09:18:33.769-08:00Like everything to do with this writing business, ...Like everything to do with this writing business, the more you practice, the better you become. cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-52802063901038314232015-02-08T17:22:38.460-08:002015-02-08T17:22:38.460-08:00I'm a million times better at writing queries ...I'm a million times better at writing queries for other people. It's cray cray trying to disseminate all the story points in one's head and decided how to boil them down. Just say query makes my blood pressure spike. Don't get me started on synopsis.Leslie S. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122865337924270039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-91222046821400814802015-02-05T22:19:52.778-08:002015-02-05T22:19:52.778-08:00Query writing is difficult. Glad you landed an age...Query writing is difficult. Glad you landed an agent with it. I'm still working on the one for my first novel, but I have had a few short stories published off those queries.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-10186236905752529822015-02-04T18:08:41.549-08:002015-02-04T18:08:41.549-08:00It's been awhile since I've queried, but y...It's been awhile since I've queried, but yeah, it can be so hard. What has helped me is to read good queries, especially if I can find some for books I've read. I like the idea of writing a query that is also going to work as your back cover text. A good query can usually do both jobs.Shell Flowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08127004188099765270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-38507553370230709422015-02-04T14:03:31.383-08:002015-02-04T14:03:31.383-08:00I've used all those sources! And over at Agent...I've used all those sources! And over at Agent Query Connect, there's a great forum for getting help with your query. :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-32425824118018671722015-02-04T13:37:17.972-08:002015-02-04T13:37:17.972-08:00I dive in like you do for queries and blurbs. Writ...I dive in like you do for queries and blurbs. Write one no matter how crappy. Then delete, add, fix, and keep working until I get it right. Or at least make it better than crappy.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-60468607524291619792015-02-04T09:51:45.853-08:002015-02-04T09:51:45.853-08:00I think every time we start a new query or story, ...I think every time we start a new query or story, we always forget how hard it was to get started the last time. Get used to the feeling. With a little work, your next query will probably be even better than your previous ones.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-36042140912186410822015-02-04T09:24:31.430-08:002015-02-04T09:24:31.430-08:00I hate queries. Feedback helps. I hate queries. Feedback helps. E. Arroyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06634213563563094173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-49468570658116406282015-02-04T08:57:29.274-08:002015-02-04T08:57:29.274-08:00And feedback, feedback, feedback!!! I hate queries...And feedback, feedback, feedback!!! I hate queries. It is one of the reasons I am most upset there is no more ABNA--that pitch piece forced me to really get my pitch down.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-90328503163467756972015-02-04T08:46:44.573-08:002015-02-04T08:46:44.573-08:00I don't have too difficult a time with queries...I don't have too difficult a time with queries. I know the importance of them is heavily stressed, but the way I look at it is if I point out the exciting parts of the story and it piques an editor's interest, then the manuscript will do the talking. The blurb on the other hand...*head desk*Kai Strand, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10012304963642303041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-60605145209436935212015-02-04T08:45:03.826-08:002015-02-04T08:45:03.826-08:00I'm ready to "dive in" to a synopsis...I'm ready to "dive in" to a synopsis but it seems every time I look at the water it's frozen over, which does the same to me! AAACK! But I'll crack through into safe, warmth, and calm. I have to take that leap of faith.Dean K Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02585231102949370872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-85470936611106062312015-02-04T08:07:57.373-08:002015-02-04T08:07:57.373-08:00Trying to write the perfect query letter is tough....Trying to write the perfect query letter is tough. I've actually haven't had success with any of my query letters yet. With my small press, only a small cover letter is all I need, which is a relief, but I still have a series I'm trying to get an agent for.<br /><br />Good luck with your query! Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-58848362965653061122015-02-04T07:59:11.125-08:002015-02-04T07:59:11.125-08:00Querying terrifies me! I had to write one for a co...Querying terrifies me! I had to write one for a contest and it just did not go well at all. I'm hoping once my manuscript is in a good place maybe the words will come more easily to me. Good luck with yours!<br /><br />February IWSG Co-hostSarah Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481750127533816819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-22670489957365528852015-02-04T07:46:20.858-08:002015-02-04T07:46:20.858-08:00Queries are mind-boggling. A catchy hook is import...Queries are mind-boggling. A catchy hook is important. I knew my one query was right-on because the agent, Jodi Reamer asked for a partial. YAY! But that was with my debut novel, which needed a haul over. She passed, but eventually it did get published with a small press. Good Luck with the process again!!! Cathrina Constantinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16960849263181625782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-87364505858173561452015-02-04T06:51:50.899-08:002015-02-04T06:51:50.899-08:00Woot! Thanks for the reminder and good luck queryi...Woot! Thanks for the reminder and good luck querying. It's so good to remember that the first thing you put on paper doesn't have to be perfect. Just get something down and then work on it. Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-49220211744186184832015-02-04T05:32:31.591-08:002015-02-04T05:32:31.591-08:00Queries are tricky. But you have to just get the w...Queries are tricky. But you have to just get the words down or else you won't get anything done. Michelle Athyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01143019809716476693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-47662198105804817152015-02-04T05:24:47.094-08:002015-02-04T05:24:47.094-08:00I love Elana's book on query writing. I spent ...I love Elana's book on query writing. I spent SO many hours on my query for my first manuscript that I ended up shelving. My second one isn't done but the draft of the query I did when I started it went much smoother. Maybe because it was an easier story to get down in those few paragraphs. But I really dislike how much effort we have to spend on the query letter. It's a letter, after all.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-76796348828866938912015-02-04T04:41:56.341-08:002015-02-04T04:41:56.341-08:00You're right. If you just dive in and get the ...You're right. If you just dive in and get the words on the paper, you have something to work with, something you can fix. Can't fix no words though.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-81562506868290645382015-02-04T04:09:26.988-08:002015-02-04T04:09:26.988-08:00Hi Julie! Thanks for the links. Diving in really c...Hi Julie! Thanks for the links. Diving in really can be the hardest part. I've re-written my query letter about a dozen times now, and am still having trouble letting it go. Best of luck to you with yours!randi leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14207001299508931034noreply@blogger.com