Killing Me Slowly: Queries

If you've ever written a query, you know how painful they are. Summarizing your 80,000 word book in 250 words is no easy feat. Plus you have to make it interesting!

Ugh.

Nonetheless, I spent last week working on my query for Underland. Which put me in a terrible mood.

                             

Which is also why I didn't do a blog posts.

The words were not flowing. At least, not the way I wanted them to. So I turned to the Internet, the familiar of writers all over the world. I typed in "examples of successful queries," and boy did I get a lot of results! Mixed feelings at this. Yay, success! Boo, my query sucks!

                                      

But I didn't give up. I kept reading and writing and taking frequent breaks to mope. Not the best method, I know. Though, through the negative bits, it was a learning experience that I can now pass on to you. And lucky you, you get only the positives...

How To Write a Query Letter (According to Emily Layne):

1. Don't look at your book for awhile (this way you'll only remember the important parts).
2. Read examples of successful queries on Query Shark and Agent Query Connect.
3. Write your entire query before you go psycho-analytical on it.
4. If you start to get frustrated, take a break.
5. If you really like your query and think it's perfect, take a break.
6. Give it to someone to review. A lot of websites offer free query critiques.
7. Edit then let it lie for a few days.
8. If you read it again and like what you see, you're ready to hook an agent. Good luck!

A long list, I know. But a query letter is the most important thing you'll ever write--besides the manuscript of course. Except the only way your MS will see the light of an agent's eyes? That's right, your query.

                                 

So take the time, and make sure it's perfect!

Oh! And don't forget about my contest going on. A $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble could be yours!

Vlog #1: Who is Emily Layne?

What's the Point?

Last weekend I did something I'm not proud of.

Okay, PAUSE. Pull your mind out of that dark place it no doubt went to. What I did wasn't illegal or immoral. All right, all right...a little immoral. Or "not nice" is the term I'd prefer to use.

Last weekend I was at a Barnes & Noble with my three younger sisters, and I happened to see a book. But not just any book. This novel was a young adult twist on "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." And the writing was really, really good.

                                       

I will admit that I wallowed.

I collapsed in front of the shelf and stared at the book in  my hands: traditionally published, pretty (if slightly creepy) cover, and four stars--FOUR STARS (do you have any idea how hard that is?!)--on Goodreads.

                                          

In this moment I questioned my WIP, "Underland," and the very framework of why I wanted to be a writer.

My youngest sister snatched the book out of my hands (title which shall remain anonymous) and put it back on the shelf. She then covered it with other novels. Out of sight out of mind, right?

Except I felt really guilty about it. I  mean, what if that small act had cost the writer sales? She didn't deserve that! So, days later, due to my guilty conscience, I checked her book out at the library. Currently it's sitting on my nightstand, waiting to be read.

And I will be reading it. Why?

Because, after my brief plummet into despair, I realized something monumental.

                        

So maybe her book is already published. And tons of people like it. Okay, so it has a similar premise to mine,  being based off the same classic.

                                           

But you know what? I love my book, my characters, the world I built for them. Weirdly, I find myself missing (yes, actually missing) them when I'm not writing. I owe it to Jenny, Hatter, March, the Duchess, Dory, Theodora... I owe it to them to keep writing.

And I owe it to myself.