BookingIt

For the past year I've been living in Query Land. It's a strange place full of valleys and peaks, shadows and sunbeams. Where have you been living lately? What's it like?

I dipped my toes in the query ocean and noticed the changes. While the agents I want to query haven't really changed, some of their policies have. For the better, in my opinion. Two agents who have a no response policy (meaning no rejection letter, just silence if they're not interested) now send an automated confirmation that they've received my query. I love that. Two years ago I queried the same agents and had to hope my e-mail reached them. Now I can KNOW for sure that the agent got my query and just isn't interested when I don't hear back. Have you noticed any changes since the last time you queried? What things do publishing professionals do that you appreciate?

Well, I've done it. Sent out five queries for a story that's been waiting patiently to be released. I'd forgotten how horrible the waiting feels, and it's only been a few days! Are any of you querying right now? Care to share in my sweaty palms and dreadful imaginings? When was the last time you queried?

The consensus, I think, is that queries are tough to write, but make all the difference in garnering a request. In my opinion, the blurb is everything. Of course make the other parts of your query polite and professional, but what sells your story is not how many contests you've won, not how long you've been writing, the classes you've taken, the theme of your story, etc. Eventually we sell ourselves. But for first glance, it's all about the story. So how do you go about writing a great blurb? And what should be in it? A Plot Catalyst : This is super important. Agent Kristen Nelson did an in-depth series on this. Your blurb should start with the plot catalyst and cover what happens in the first 30-50 pages. Then you end on a hook. The Hook : What is the danger (emotional or physical) that your character is going to face? The major decision he or she has to make? In the words of Miss Snark , a good query contains the following formula: Who is the protaganist? What dilemm...

As most of you pointed out in the comments of Part 1, creating a query is hard work. Thank goodness for cyber space. Here are some links for great places to learn the ins and outs of query writing. Elana has an awesome exercise she employs when writing queries. Author Nancy Parra wrote a four-part series on writing queries. Agent Janet Reid hosts Query Shark , a raw, brutal place for learning how to write an awesome query. There are tons of other places full of information on writing a great query. Agent blogs are incredible founts of information. When did you first realize you had to write a query before you could submit a manuscript? What's your favorite site for gleaning query information?

Most of us don't look forward to writing the query, but in my opinion, it's the most important part in snagging an agent or editor's attention. This is really hitting me because I'm a judge in a contest that includes the query as part of the submission. Brace yourselves: Several queries were not good. Not horrible, but not anything that would entice me to read more. Imagine my surprise when some of the entries were really, really good. Solid writing, intriguing plots...yet I would've never guessed by the query. If an agent doesn't read pages, they have nothing to go by but the query. And if the query doesn't dazzle: form rejection. What do you know about writing queries? Have you written yours and was it easier than you thought, or more difficult?

For the past year and a half, I've been submitting a historical romance. While it garnered a few requests, it has also garnered its share of rejections. The last rejection was filled with good advice and an invitation to resubmit. I think I'm going in a new direction though. My other manuscripts are contemporary romances. If an agent sells my historical, there's a good chance I'll be expected to continue writing historicals. Right now my heart is with contemporaries. Thus, the historical is done making the agent rounds. One of my contemporaries is ready to be queried and I think that will be my new direction. Which direction are you headed in? What's your favorite genre to read? Do you realize that you may expected to continue writing whatever you first submit? Thanks to Diane for inspiring this post

Lately it seems I've been sending them out, but not getting them in. I'm beginning to wonder if my e-mail address is hitting the spamguards and getting chucked to the spam box. Ironically, the snail mail SASES come back sooner than the e-mail. Just in case you haven't begun formulating your query, here are a few good links. Seekers - Make sure to read this post and the next day's. They're both very informative. Miss Snark -She's always a good read. This particular post deals with one of the most important things about your query letter. Janet Reid -And this is from the agent herself. Can you believe it? I'll definitely take this advice. LOL Rachelle Gardner - She posted this very recently, just like the Seekers. It's good to know that in the end, it's the story (and all it entails) that ultimately hooks the agent. Charlotte Dillon - More samples of real queries that sold the story. And there's tons more info all over the net. Are any of you in th...

I've been watching my inbox for weeks now, waiting for agents' replies. I have about eight queries out. Yesterday one came back. Rejected. At first there was the sinking of my hopes, but then it was followed by relief. An answer at last. Time to target my next unsuspecting agent. Hehehehe, I actually like this part of the game. The thrill of the hunt, I guess. The rejection letter confused me. I'm pretty sure it's a form one because I addressed a particular agent and received a Sincerely, The Agency reply. But then the letter said the plot didn't resound with them. I like to do Thank Yous on personalized rejections but can't figure out if this is one or not. Oh, well. Time to send out another query.