Cinco de Mayo

[mrockwell]

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!

Comments

[sheriffjoe.livejournal.com]

Let me ask YOU a question. Is having your character loosely based on a catholic saint REALLY vital to understanding the premise of the novel? I think it truly depends upon which market you are attempting to sell the book to. Will the readers to whom you are marketing the book be offended or even interested? Can you market the story without referencing the religious aspect and, most importantly, can the character be presented within the context of the premise without the religious background?

I don't think you are likely to turn off an agent unless that agent represents a market wholly unsuitable for a religious/catholic character. Finally, I wouldn't suggest mentioning it simply because the editors probably just don't care, as long as it doesn't affect the bottom line. Again, however, it truly does depend on who you are marketing the story to, I would think. Certainly it wouldn't matter one way or another if you were marketing such a story to Wizards of the Coast.

Ask yourself what you would do if you worked for the company you were querying and you received such a letter.

Does any of the make sense?

[hewet-ka-ptah.livejournal.com]

I'd start with the quotes only if the quotes kick tushie. Ones where you read them and get a rush. Then kick in with the plot, then credentials.

[kriz1818.livejournal.com]

From what I've read about queries, I believe that editors' and agents' priorities when reading queries goes something like this:

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.

[kythiaranos.livejournal.com]

There are some good blogs by editors and agents out there. Lori Perkins', which I think may be an RSS feed, and arcaedia's. I think Miss Snark has done a hook contest a couple of times, where she has people send in their queries, posts them anonymously, and says whether or not she'd ask to see more and why.

Good luck!

[e-cunningham.livejournal.com]

My vote is to leave out the quotes, and here's why. Recently I ran several story ideas past my agent, Don Maass. He observed that warning flags go up whenever writers, particularly those with a strong background in history, start off by talking about the topic, era, or even historical character. What he's looking for is a good story. I doubt he's unique in this regard. Starting with quotes puts the emphasis strongly on the historical character and may well cause eyes to glaze over before they get to the story itself.

There are several things that you MUST have for a query: genre, target market (in case the genre is not specific enough; i.e., "young adult fantasy," not just fantasy or YA), word count, and a finished manuscript. But you know all this. Your only other task in the query is to sell the story, so weigh all other elements with that goal in mind. If you want to mention Catherine, do so toward the end of the query, so the connection will not overpower the story itself.

$.02,
ec

[mysanal.livejournal.com]

Catherine of the Catherine Wheel? You've intrigued me.