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Cinco de Mayo
Writing
*Rejection (2), Dreams & Nightmares, 5/4 (RT: 1 week)
Okay, writerly friends. I am in need of brains to pick regarding the mystical art known as query-writing.
Seeing as I was offered the contract for Legacy of Wolves without having to write a query, I'm a bit behind the curve in this area. I have a novel I'm working on (the YA-turned women's fiction with a sprinkling of paranormal), and I know I will need to craft an eye-catching query for it. I've read quite a bit about writing queries, and, having seen several examples of ones that worked, I think I have a pretty solid grasp of what needs to be done. However, I have a question that I have not seen answered anywhere, so I was hoping my fellow authors might be able to help me out.
My novel is based (very) loosely on St. Catherine of Siena. Since Catherine is not a household name to non-Catholics, I want to open my query with a couple of quotes about her - one from a "classic" Catholic source, and one much juicier quote from a more academic text that touches on some aspects of her life which make her the ideal inspiration for a YA-turned women's fiction novel (or at least the one I'm writing). I think this information is vital to understanding the premise of my novel (information that wouldn't be necessary with a more widely-known historical figure, such as Cleopatra, where the editor/agent and I would instantly have the same frame of reference).
No matter how intriguing the quotes, are they likely to turn agents/editors off? Will they see the quotes and automatically think I'm querying non-fiction (and probably toss the letter without reading further, thinking I'm an idiot who can't follow guidelines)?
Opinions, O Writerly Ones?
Everything Else
Booked my flight and (uber-expensive) hotel for GenCon today! I shall be leaving my children in the capable hands of my neighbors (or possibly the ILs, if they decide the ignominy of having the neighbors watch their beloved grandchildren is just too much). Watch out Indy, here I come!
*Rejection (2), Dreams & Nightmares, 5/4 (RT: 1 week)
Okay, writerly friends. I am in need of brains to pick regarding the mystical art known as query-writing.
Seeing as I was offered the contract for Legacy of Wolves without having to write a query, I'm a bit behind the curve in this area. I have a novel I'm working on (the YA-turned women's fiction with a sprinkling of paranormal), and I know I will need to craft an eye-catching query for it. I've read quite a bit about writing queries, and, having seen several examples of ones that worked, I think I have a pretty solid grasp of what needs to be done. However, I have a question that I have not seen answered anywhere, so I was hoping my fellow authors might be able to help me out.
My novel is based (very) loosely on St. Catherine of Siena. Since Catherine is not a household name to non-Catholics, I want to open my query with a couple of quotes about her - one from a "classic" Catholic source, and one much juicier quote from a more academic text that touches on some aspects of her life which make her the ideal inspiration for a YA-turned women's fiction novel (or at least the one I'm writing). I think this information is vital to understanding the premise of my novel (information that wouldn't be necessary with a more widely-known historical figure, such as Cleopatra, where the editor/agent and I would instantly have the same frame of reference).
No matter how intriguing the quotes, are they likely to turn agents/editors off? Will they see the quotes and automatically think I'm querying non-fiction (and probably toss the letter without reading further, thinking I'm an idiot who can't follow guidelines)?
Opinions, O Writerly Ones?
Everything Else
Booked my flight and (uber-expensive) hotel for GenCon today! I shall be leaving my children in the capable hands of my neighbors (or possibly the ILs, if they decide the ignominy of having the neighbors watch their beloved grandchildren is just too much). Watch out Indy, here I come!
no subject
1) Is the hook compelling?
2) Does the plot sound complete and well thought out?
3) Are the characters interesting/appealing?
And the "hook" should be directly connected to the plot and characters.
4) Is the market open to a story like this? (i.e., is it already overstuffed with Story Type X?)
In other words, underlying theme and setting don't really come into it - except, as someone else said, if it's obviously contra whatever the editor's or agent's interests are. And I'd call a historical-religious basis for the story thematic, or maybe a part of the setting, or both. So, it should be somewhere in the middle of the query, or perhaps at the end, for emphasis, not at the beginning.
IMHO, of course.
no subject