What would happen if we all had our own graviational pull? Nah I’m just messing around.
Who esle is currently suffering from “broke, tired and school work over my head” syndrome, thanks to university? Here the sounds of the ambulances ringing in my ears right about now.
Adaora a.: I have so got the feeling of impending doom thanks to the end of my first year of university…Finals are sooooo close here! Gravitational pull? That would be awesome! Man, Nathan, only 20 minutes to get three comments! I’m glad I was here right after the post was up. ManiacScribbler
Hey, any suggestions on how to survive homesickness for one more month?
broke tired and school work over my head? oh yes. it’s finals week. argh! (okay, high school finals, so I can’t complain that much. but ap classes!) at least spring break is one and a half days away!
Anon: I know the feeling of high school finals…I think that they are sort of more pressuring, because once you’re in a post-secondary, you’re in (as long as you still keep your grades up once you’re there)…but acceptance depends on those finals. Blech…Maniac
And by the way, about the university I’m in? Yeah, they’re not going to allow students to pay tuition with their credit cards anymore…Which I don’t totally understand (beyond the fact that it will save them quite a bit of money…I wonder if I’ll ever see any of it?). Maniac
Nathan how kind of you to give open thread … I just returned from two weeks in Italy and I completed a total revision on my first novel.
It was the most amazing thing – I really understand why so many writers through history have written in Rome. It’s a fabulous place.
It’s the first time I have traveled abroad and I did it alone. My brave husband let me spend my 39th birthday there and he and the kids stayed behind. I can’t wait to take them back.
I also came up with a great story line or two that I’m working on. So many books to come may have been created in Italy.
Can’t wait to see the critiques of the brave ones who entered your query critique
Happy Tuesday all – and to those of you longing for Spring Break (as a former Community College instructor for 10 years) Good Luck on your finals and enjoy your time off!
Has anyone here tried working with the Amazon DTP ebook product/initiative/(whatever the hey they call it)? Any word-of-mouth reports, experiences? Success stories, like people who went that route (either with Amazon or elsewhere) and ended up with megabucks and/or major agency representation for one or more “real” books?
And Nathan, if you’re listening: How do agents feel about ebooks? Having plain-old “published” one doesn’t seem like that big a deal, per se. But is there some level of success that would get an agent’s attention?
@ Maniac – I’ve gotta confess; the gravitational pull thing wasn’t my idea. It’s actually from Rupert Grint who play’s Ron Weasley. He told it to Daniel Radcliffe who plays HP. I’m terrible. Oh really? Hang in there. It doesn’t get easier but you adjust to it.
I’ve got a good joke that is all mine. It has to do with my top places for shopping:
What’s the difference between British people and Australian people?
One says “loads” and the other says “heaps.”
Whenever I see a THE HILLS commercial spot I think of a particular blog entry of yours Nathan. Remember when you said how cool it could be if you would be able to answer every question or comment with,
@ jan – I love Italy! you’re so lucky to have just been there! i’ve been there a couple times and it’s just awesome. i can feel that roman sun… glad you had a good time!
Hi All, Not suffering from the broke, tired, and school work over my head syndrome (good luck adora a.), but I am curious if anyone else out there writes — in your day job — for good, old-fashioned newspapers? Wondering if you, too, are feeling sqeezed by newsroom staff cuts and what you plan to do about it… -Cam (who’s been sneezing for nine hours straight with allergies. Could it be because of the same ‘March winds’ wanda b. wrote of? As a result of the sneezing, this post is my only writing today. Achoo!)
An agent’s feeling about an e-book tends to vary with the genre, although certainly success in any platform is cause for taking a closer look. But as with any query, it’s all about the project you’re querying with.
Meggy-
Heidi’s dad’s expressions were seriously priceless. He looked like the Grim Reaper had just shown up.
My brother said he was 99.9 percent sure the smoking guitar player who took Lauren out on the vespa spoke very little english. And watching it with that in mind, that whole part of the show was kind of comical. She would say things to him and he would just kind of stare. And on that note, what is up with Lauren and the ShePratt becoming friends?! It’s too intense.
Regarding the curling iron – instead of worrying she had nothing to wear to the ball, shouldn’t Lauren be a little more concerned that she just ruined a designer dress? Were the dresses on loan? Cause if so, she had a little bit of explaining to do.
Everyone has their own gravitational pull: proportional to their mass and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them and the object in question.
My university days are long behind me, but my majors were physics and astronomy and some scars never heal.
Thanks, adaora. I wish I spring break right now, but I had a long reading week in Feb. Oh well. Still, the gravitational pull thing is awesome…Hey, artists always steal the best things. 😉 Michelangelo took many ideas from DaVinci for the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. Haha (I’m studying that in Art History right now.) @ jan: I really want to go to Italy right now! What did you see there? @ Ulysses: My dad’s accidentally thrown out a garbage can. Haha (And I’m so glad that I’m not in the sciences! That would scar me more than certain John Wilmot poems.) Maniac
Nathan… My question is: Why is it so necessary to have a standardized query letter? Is the query letter not an example of the writer’s skill, style and ability to capture an audience? By demanding a specific format, the agent eliminates his best resource for evaluating the writer.
Your blog scares the wannabes into duplicating someone’s work if they assert a prayer of having their work published. Tell me this… How does an agent know if a letter doesn’t follow a particular protocol if it isn’t read? The way I see it; if it’s descriptive enough, includes all necessary data, and doesn’t waste anyone’s time, who cares if it’s a page or a page and a half? Is an agent so busy that he can’t appreciate understanding something clearly at the expense of a paragraph or two?
A book is often a composition involving years of someone’s efforts, and in many instances, worthy of publication. The writer’s query letter will often reflect the exact style of presentation. Read it… If it hooks you, the writer can hook a reader… If it’s believable to you, the story will probably be believable to the reader… If the presentation were explicable, despite the format, why would an agent disdainfully reject it?
@ adaora: Haha. No worries. ^^ (No, I don’t write this when I’m actually presenting my work for query letters or school work.) Art History is so totally awesome! I’m loving the course, even though it’s at 8 in the morning Tues Thurs…Which means 6 am mornings for me those days. Haha Also, about the differences between British and Australians; we were asked to describe Canadians (in History) without using any references to Americans. So, I put up my hand and said “Eh?” And the prof was like, “Fair enough”. It was awesome! Maniac And that was a really rambling post…I love rambling in that sort of thing. Haha
Short of advocating a certain length and pointing out some dos and don’ts, I don’t think I’ve ever suggested a “standardized” query.
The thing about page and a half queries, though, is that they just don’t usually need to be that long. And if they don’t need to be that long, it usually means the author didn’t take the time to tighten it. And that, in turn, usually means the author didn’t take enough time to write it.
Believe me, I’m the last person to want to stifle someone’s creativity. But there’s also something to be said for respecting the process and knowing the industry conventions. An aspiring author is going to need more than just talent alone to succeed as a writer, might as well start now.
Adaora – Hmmph. ‘Gravitational Pull’ – Wait’ll you get to be my age – you’ll see the results of GP!
Tough time in school? – Best of Luck. The last time I had to take a test – I failed it. 5 times. It was the eye exam to get my Florida license, 3 years ago. How the hell did I know I couldn’t see. I don’t have a chart on my windshield anyway. (& lets talk about these word verification things – I never get them right on the first try either)
Ulysses – Trying to throw out a trash can is impossible. This always pisses me off since the reason it needs to be trashed is because of the abuse inflicted on it by the same guys you want to take it away. Forget signs. Best advice, drop it off in front of a neighbor’s house (one that you don’t know) – I guarantee you’ll see that sucker get 3 more years out of it.
Writing? – How the hell can I write when I’m reading these damn blogs?
@jaxpop: Hey, you’re writing blog comments! What more could you want? 😉 Maniac I’m totally lurking when I should be working on a History paper…But my brain is too full of Galileo already!
maniacscribbler: I’m a Canadian. I don’t say “Eh?” I admit to liking back bacon and doughnuts, but I don’t drink (even beer). A Canadian (without reference to the U.S.): A Brit who watches too much television. And one’s brain can never be too full of Galileo. Copernicus, yes, but never Galileo.
jaxpop: You have my admiration, and in the years to come my neighbours (Canadian spelling) will have reason to hate you.
captain ron: “Format?” Is there a format?
There’s a formula that increases the likelyhood of success, but I wouldn’t call that a format: a good hook up front to grab interest right away, a short outline of major characters and plot points, and a few words at the end about your previous credits.
Wrap it up in polite professionalism, and that’s it.
Correct me if I’m wrong.
I doubt an agent would reject anything that hooked them. However, I know that if I had nearly a thousand queries a week to evaluate each and every week of the year, in addition to the work that actually puts money in my bank account (negotiating contracts, dealing with editors and publishers, and advocating for writers who are already clients, etc.) I would waste no time on ones that didn’t hook me right away.
If you have been rejected (repeatedly?) with disdain, I humbly paraphrase the words of Shakespeare: “the fault lies not in the agents, but in our queries.”
Ulysses: Haha. I’m Canadian, too, and I use “like” more than I use eh…Though I do like the word every one in awhile, eh? Sorry…Couldn’t resist. My friend’s doing Copernicus; and once you know where Galileo’s finger is preserved, you know a little bit too much, I think. But the paper’s almost done, so I’m happy. (Part of the problem is that I’ve read too much about just his trials. Blergh.) So, that’s my story right now. I’m going to continue to lurk and work sporadically on my history paper…Haha Maniac
@maniac – I once signed up for an 8 am class at my uni. I immediately dropped it and picked a wonderful course called ‘Life, Love and Labour.’ Best decision I ever made. The best prof, the most amazing T.A., it was fabulous. Plus, living 45 minutes away (if I had a car), and 2 hours by bus (whic his what I am forced to do), it was not an option for me. I’m not made of the stuff that wakes up at, er…4 am, 5? ABSOLUTELY NOT. You live on campus though, so it’s alright.
@jax- Not tough just…alot of stuff to do Thanks! I’ll be sure to carry on. And LOL, I suppose I have a few years yet to feel the effects of the ‘great pull.’
Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look? Based on a novel by a man named Lear. And I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer.
It’s the dirty story of a dirty man And his clinging wife doesn’t understand. His son is working for the Daily Mail, it’s a steady job but he wants to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer.
Paperback writer
It’s a thousand pages, give or take a few, I’ll be writing more in a week or two. I can make it longer if you like the style, I can change it round and I want to be a paperback writer, Paperback writer.
If you really like it you can have the rights, It could make a million for you overnight. If you must return it, you can send it here, but I need a break and I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.
For those of you who want to hear the original Beatles play it.. click on my name.
Maniac – If you’re workin’ on a history paper – lay off the wine. Oh, wait, that would be Gallo, my bad.
Ulysses – When I see Quebec tags, (or white hair on the driver) I usually move over a few lanes. Just kidding – My grandmother moved to the States from Canada back in the roaring twenties. She was married my grandfather for 52 years – They couldn’t stand each other. Wouldn’t ride in the same car for as long as I could remember. I stay in touch with my family members that live in Ottawa. They also have homes in Destin Florida – to get away from that cold up there.
Adaora: I actually don’t live on campus – I’m about a 30 min commute, depending on what time the train comes (it can be up to a 45 min. commute). But I’m living with family, which is better for me. Haha. However, if it weren’t for the fact that the ARHI course is so awesome, I would have dropped it before people could say to drop it. Haha. And I’m done at noon on this days, so I’m happy. Today was that day, though, so that could explain some of my rambling… Maniac The word verification things are are pain!
This vexes me greatly when I am writing my WIP. MS word constantly underlines my words red as if I don’t know how to spell!
Which raises the question:
Nathan, even though I was born in US I’ve been raised in Canada. Do you prefer that a Canadian querying you use Canadian/Commonwealth spelling or should I use American English?
jaxpop: No alcohol in my system, but high on life…Which can actually be worse. Especially after 6 am mornings. Haha Maniac I should actually try some wine…Maybe it would my muse actually want to work…Hm… Or shiny things. That would probably work better.
Don’t forget grey and gray! Yay, Canadian spelling, how I have to love you! My homeschool curriculum (I was homeschooled grade 1-12) was American (gr. 2-8), so I had to learn Canadian spelling starting in gr. 9. Haha Maniac
Maniac – 6AM!!! The day is almost over by then! I leave my house at 5:15 AM, drive 83 miles one way, do my job, drive 83 miles home, do whatever – no particular routine, & get to bed around midnight.
Glad you’re high on life – that’s awesome. I’ve lived my life that way & it’s been a blast. Enjoy it kid – it goes by fast. Don’t Blink
jaxpop: Haha. Thanks. I would be dead if I ended up actually staying up ’til midnight and then getting up at six the next day…Yeah. Kyah, I’m a kid! 😉 And I know about the speed – this first year has gone by ZOOOM! Maniac Life is totally awesome to be high on. ^^ … And shiny things…And smiles…And cat-cats…and books…(list goes on…)
Tiffany – Montreal. I love that city. I spent a couple of weeks there when I was barely 18. I had a VW bus, long blonde hair, & a poor excuse for a beard. At the border they emptied the van & checked through the guitars & cases. I was clean, never did that stuff. The trip was memorable. Made lots of friends. I can picture it all. Thanks for bringing it up. More smiles for the old guy. Now the hair is short & turning gray (or grey if you prefer) the beard is neatly trimmed with white streaks & I gave my guitar to my oldest son, born 2 years after that trip in 1974. Make great memories – you will smile lots more when you get to be older. Life is good.
I tend to write in American standard instead of Canadian/British, although I don’t enjoy it. The Canadian company I work for uses American standard exclusively, and it’s becoming a habit.
And I get sick of seeing little red lines under my Canadian words in MS Word.
Jaxpop: Reminds me of Monty Python’s “Four Yorkshiremen:” “6am? We used to dream about getting up at 6 am!” “Luxury. My Dad used to wake us up half an hour before we went to bed. . .”
When I was in the final stage of university, some people removed me from their MySpace friends list for not logging in. I’d like to complain that they removed me for having a life, followed by ‘what’s with that?’ But considering my final year project was a multi-player graphical RPG, and I was busy programming it, I’m not sure the life bit applies.
Still, I did get the game done. And most of my MySpace friends didn’t notice I was gone. I’m not sure if that’s better than noticing I was gone, and removing me…
Adaora A. says
What would happen if we all had our own graviational pull? Nah I’m just messing around.
Who esle is currently suffering from “broke, tired and school work over my head” syndrome, thanks to university? Here the sounds of the ambulances ringing in my ears right about now.
ManiacScribbler says
Adaora a.: I have so got the feeling of impending doom thanks to the end of my first year of university…Finals are sooooo close here!
Gravitational pull? That would be awesome!
Man, Nathan, only 20 minutes to get three comments! I’m glad I was here right after the post was up.
ManiacScribbler
Hey, any suggestions on how to survive homesickness for one more month?
Meggy says
Lauren, Lauren, Lauren….
I wouldn’t have given her another dress if I was Designer Dude.
Anonymous says
broke tired and school work over my head? oh yes. it’s finals week. argh! (okay, high school finals, so I can’t complain that much. but ap classes!) at least spring break is one and a half days away!
Dave F. says
Scholastic and RL Stine are re-launching Goosebumps with a new set of stories.
Nathan Bransford says
Seriously. And how about Spencer dropping in on La Casa Heidi? That dinner conversation — IN FRONT OF PARENTS — was priceless.
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
Yeah, we love open threads! Anarchy rules!
I’ll quiet down now. All the March winds today have addled my brains.
ManiacScribbler says
Anon: I know the feeling of high school finals…I think that they are sort of more pressuring, because once you’re in a post-secondary, you’re in (as long as you still keep your grades up once you’re there)…but acceptance depends on those finals.
Blech…Maniac
Tiffany Kenzie says
It’s a big day in the world of romance.
Rita and Golden Heart finalists get the call today, and the list is published tomorrow.
Just thought I’d share.
It’s been a crazy day on romance blogs.
Nathan Bransford says
Tiffany-
On that note I should mention that I’ll be attending RWA this year.
Tiffany Kenzie says
Well you live right next door! Of course you’re going. Dang it! You’d have been fun to meet.
I’m not 🙁 I’m waiting for NY… I’m doing NJ’s conference in October.
ManiacScribbler says
And by the way, about the university I’m in? Yeah, they’re not going to allow students to pay tuition with their credit cards anymore…Which I don’t totally understand (beyond the fact that it will save them quite a bit of money…I wonder if I’ll ever see any of it?).
Maniac
Jan says
Nathan how kind of you to give open thread … I just returned from two weeks in Italy and I completed a total revision on my first novel.
It was the most amazing thing – I really understand why so many writers through history have written in Rome. It’s a fabulous place.
It’s the first time I have traveled abroad and I did it alone. My brave husband let me spend my 39th birthday there and he and the kids stayed behind. I can’t wait to take them back.
I also came up with a great story line or two that I’m working on. So many books to come may have been created in Italy.
Can’t wait to see the critiques of the brave ones who entered your query critique
Happy Tuesday all – and to those of you longing for Spring Break (as a former Community College instructor for 10 years) Good Luck on your finals and enjoy your time off!
Jan
John says
Has anyone here tried working with the Amazon DTP ebook product/initiative/(whatever the hey they call it)? Any word-of-mouth reports, experiences? Success stories, like people who went that route (either with Amazon or elsewhere) and ended up with megabucks and/or major agency representation for one or more “real” books?
And Nathan, if you’re listening: How do agents feel about ebooks? Having plain-old “published” one doesn’t seem like that big a deal, per se. But is there some level of success that would get an agent’s attention?
Adaora A. says
@ Maniac – I’ve gotta confess; the gravitational pull thing wasn’t my idea. It’s actually from Rupert Grint who play’s Ron Weasley. He told it to Daniel Radcliffe who plays HP. I’m terrible.
Oh really? Hang in there. It doesn’t get easier but you adjust to it.
I’ve got a good joke that is all mine. It has to do with my top places for shopping:
What’s the difference between British people and Australian people?
One says “loads” and the other says “heaps.”
Whenever I see a THE HILLS commercial spot I think of a particular blog entry of yours Nathan. Remember when you said how cool it could be if you would be able to answer every question or comment with,
“sweet, now get out of my car.”
I’m pretty sure I laughed for 5 minutes.
Anonymous says
@ jan – I love Italy! you’re so lucky to have just been there! i’ve been there a couple times and it’s just awesome. i can feel that roman sun… glad you had a good time!
Cam says
Hi All,
Not suffering from the broke, tired, and school work over my head syndrome (good luck adora a.), but I am curious if anyone else out there writes — in your day job — for good, old-fashioned newspapers? Wondering if you, too, are feeling sqeezed by newsroom staff cuts and what you plan to do about it…
-Cam
(who’s been sneezing for nine hours straight with allergies. Could it be because of the same ‘March winds’ wanda b. wrote of? As a result of the sneezing, this post is my only writing today. Achoo!)
Meggy says
Nathan, didn’t you love the facial expressions Heidi’s dad made?
Nathan Bransford says
John-
An agent’s feeling about an e-book tends to vary with the genre, although certainly success in any platform is cause for taking a closer look. But as with any query, it’s all about the project you’re querying with.
Meggy-
Heidi’s dad’s expressions were seriously priceless. He looked like the Grim Reaper had just shown up.
natalie says
My brother said he was 99.9 percent sure the smoking guitar player who took Lauren out on the vespa spoke very little english. And watching it with that in mind, that whole part of the show was kind of comical. She would say things to him and he would just kind of stare. And on that note, what is up with Lauren and the ShePratt becoming friends?! It’s too intense.
Nadine says
Regarding the curling iron – instead of worrying she had nothing to wear to the ball, shouldn’t Lauren be a little more concerned that she just ruined a designer dress? Were the dresses on loan? Cause if so, she had a little bit of explaining to do.
Ulysses says
Everyone has their own gravitational pull: proportional to their mass and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them and the object in question.
My university days are long behind me, but my majors were physics and astronomy and some scars never heal.
Has anyone ever tried to throw out a garbage can?
Anonymous says
Ah Open Thread. Does anyone here Twitter? I would love to follow some fellow writers.
ManiacScribbler says
Thanks, adaora. I wish I spring break right now, but I had a long reading week in Feb. Oh well.
Still, the gravitational pull thing is awesome…Hey, artists always steal the best things. 😉 Michelangelo took many ideas from DaVinci for the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. Haha (I’m studying that in Art History right now.)
@ jan: I really want to go to Italy right now! What did you see there?
@ Ulysses: My dad’s accidentally thrown out a garbage can. Haha (And I’m so glad that I’m not in the sciences! That would scar me more than certain John Wilmot poems.)
Maniac
Kim says
What in the world did I miss?
Lauren burned a dress?
Please tell me Heidi sent Spencer back to CA.
Did Heidi’s lips looked artificially plumped to anyone else?
And that Brody.
Bummer.
I missed the second half of the show – I’m going to try for the rerun tonight.
Allison says
adaora said:
What’s the difference between British people and Australian people?
One says “loads” and the other says “heaps.”
True. But if you’re really fair dinkum, you go for “big mobs” instead…
Adaora A. says
@maniac – No problem! I’m pleased to be of service to you. True! Never let it be said that I cheat!Art history sounds very interesting.
@Cam- Thanks!
Captain Ron says
Nathan… My question is: Why is it so necessary to have a standardized query letter? Is the query letter not an example of the writer’s skill, style and ability to capture an audience? By demanding a specific format, the agent eliminates his best resource for evaluating the writer.
Your blog scares the wannabes into duplicating someone’s work if they assert a prayer of having their work published. Tell me this… How does an agent know if a letter doesn’t follow a particular protocol if it isn’t read? The way I see it; if it’s descriptive enough, includes all necessary data, and doesn’t waste anyone’s time, who cares if it’s a page or a page and a half? Is an agent so busy that he can’t appreciate understanding something clearly at the expense of a paragraph or two?
A book is often a composition involving years of someone’s efforts, and in many instances, worthy of publication. The writer’s query letter will often reflect the exact style of presentation. Read it… If it hooks you, the writer can hook a reader… If it’s believable to you, the story will probably be believable to the reader… If the presentation were explicable, despite the format, why would an agent disdainfully reject it?
ManiacScribbler says
@ adaora: Haha. No worries. ^^
(No, I don’t write this when I’m actually presenting my work for query letters or school work.)
Art History is so totally awesome! I’m loving the course, even though it’s at 8 in the morning Tues Thurs…Which means 6 am mornings for me those days. Haha
Also, about the differences between British and Australians; we were asked to describe Canadians (in History) without using any references to Americans. So, I put up my hand and said “Eh?” And the prof was like, “Fair enough”. It was awesome!
Maniac
And that was a really rambling post…I love rambling in that sort of thing. Haha
Nathan Bransford says
captain ron-
Short of advocating a certain length and pointing out some dos and don’ts, I don’t think I’ve ever suggested a “standardized” query.
The thing about page and a half queries, though, is that they just don’t usually need to be that long. And if they don’t need to be that long, it usually means the author didn’t take the time to tighten it. And that, in turn, usually means the author didn’t take enough time to write it.
Believe me, I’m the last person to want to stifle someone’s creativity. But there’s also something to be said for respecting the process and knowing the industry conventions. An aspiring author is going to need more than just talent alone to succeed as a writer, might as well start now.
JaxPop says
Adaora – Hmmph. ‘Gravitational Pull’ – Wait’ll you get to be my age – you’ll see the results of GP!
Tough time in school? – Best of Luck. The last time I had to take a test – I failed it. 5 times. It was the eye exam to get my Florida license, 3 years ago. How the hell did I know I couldn’t see. I don’t have a chart on my windshield anyway. (& lets talk about these word verification things – I never get them right on the first try either)
Ulysses – Trying to throw out a trash can is impossible. This always pisses me off since the reason it needs to be trashed is because of the abuse inflicted on it by the same guys you want to take it away. Forget signs. Best advice, drop it off in front of a neighbor’s house (one that you don’t know) – I guarantee you’ll see that sucker get 3 more years out of it.
Writing? – How the hell can I write when I’m reading these damn blogs?
ManiacScribbler says
@jaxpop: Hey, you’re writing blog comments! What more could you want? 😉
Maniac
I’m totally lurking when I should be working on a History paper…But my brain is too full of Galileo already!
Ulysses says
maniacscribbler: I’m a Canadian. I don’t say “Eh?” I admit to liking back bacon and doughnuts, but I don’t drink (even beer). A Canadian (without reference to the U.S.): A Brit who watches too much television. And one’s brain can never be too full of Galileo. Copernicus, yes, but never Galileo.
jaxpop: You have my admiration, and in the years to come my neighbours (Canadian spelling) will have reason to hate you.
captain ron: “Format?” Is there a format?
There’s a formula that increases the likelyhood of success, but I wouldn’t call that a format: a good hook up front to grab interest right away, a short outline of major characters and plot points, and a few words at the end about your previous credits.
Wrap it up in polite professionalism, and that’s it.
Correct me if I’m wrong.
I doubt an agent would reject anything that hooked them. However, I know that if I had nearly a thousand queries a week to evaluate each and every week of the year, in addition to the work that actually puts money in my bank account (negotiating contracts, dealing with editors and publishers, and advocating for writers who are already clients, etc.) I would waste no time on ones that didn’t hook me right away.
If you have been rejected (repeatedly?) with disdain, I humbly paraphrase the words of Shakespeare: “the fault lies not in the agents, but in our queries.”
Furious D says
Right now, I’m glad my TV doesn’t get The Hills.
I used to have my own gravitational pull, then I lost some weight.
(insert drum-shot)
Broke, tired, and over my head… aaah, the sweet innocence of university days.
ManiacScribbler says
Ulysses: Haha. I’m Canadian, too, and I use “like” more than I use eh…Though I do like the word every one in awhile, eh? Sorry…Couldn’t resist.
My friend’s doing Copernicus; and once you know where Galileo’s finger is preserved, you know a little bit too much, I think. But the paper’s almost done, so I’m happy. (Part of the problem is that I’ve read too much about just his trials. Blergh.)
So, that’s my story right now. I’m going to continue to lurk and work sporadically on my history paper…Haha
Maniac
Adaora A. says
@maniac – I once signed up for an 8 am class at my uni. I immediately dropped it and picked a wonderful course called ‘Life, Love and Labour.’ Best decision I ever made. The best prof, the most amazing T.A., it was fabulous. Plus, living 45 minutes away (if I had a car), and 2 hours by bus (whic his what I am forced to do), it was not an option for me. I’m not made of the stuff that wakes up at, er…4 am, 5? ABSOLUTELY NOT. You live on campus though, so it’s alright.
@jax- Not tough just…alot of stuff to do Thanks! I’ll be sure to carry on. And LOL, I suppose I have a few years yet to feel the effects of the ‘great pull.’
Captain Ron (linked to song) says
Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
Based on a novel by a man named Lear.
And I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.
It’s the dirty story of a dirty man
And his clinging wife doesn’t understand.
His son is working for the Daily Mail, it’s a steady job but he wants to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.
Paperback writer
It’s a thousand pages, give or take a few,
I’ll be writing more in a week or two.
I can make it longer if you like the style,
I can change it round and I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.
If you really like it you can have the rights,
It could make a million for you overnight.
If you must return it, you can send it here, but I need a break and I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.
For those of you who want to hear the original Beatles play it.. click on my name.
JaxPop says
Maniac – If you’re workin’ on a history paper – lay off the wine. Oh, wait, that would be Gallo, my bad.
Ulysses – When I see Quebec tags, (or white hair on the driver) I usually move over a few lanes. Just kidding – My grandmother moved to the States from Canada back in the roaring twenties. She was married my grandfather for 52 years – They couldn’t stand each other. Wouldn’t ride in the same car for as long as I could remember. I stay in touch with my family members that live in Ottawa. They also have homes in Destin Florida – to get away from that cold up there.
ManiacScribbler says
Adaora: I actually don’t live on campus – I’m about a 30 min commute, depending on what time the train comes (it can be up to a 45 min. commute). But I’m living with family, which is better for me. Haha. However, if it weren’t for the fact that the ARHI course is so awesome, I would have dropped it before people could say to drop it. Haha. And I’m done at noon on this days, so I’m happy. Today was that day, though, so that could explain some of my rambling…
Maniac
The word verification things are are pain!
Adaora A. says
ulyses
Favour, Favor
Neighbour, neighbor…
armour, armor
behaviour, behavior
Candour, candor
Catalogue, catalog(ue)
Colour, color
Demeanour, demeanor
Honour, honor
and the kicker….
CENTRE and center….
!
This vexes me greatly when I am writing my WIP. MS word constantly underlines my words red as if I don’t know how to spell!
Which raises the question:
Nathan, even though I was born in US I’ve been raised in Canada. Do you prefer that a Canadian querying you use Canadian/Commonwealth spelling or should I use American English?
ManiacScribbler says
jaxpop: No alcohol in my system, but high on life…Which can actually be worse. Especially after 6 am mornings. Haha
Maniac
I should actually try some wine…Maybe it would my muse actually want to work…Hm…
Or shiny things. That would probably work better.
Nathan Bransford says
Adaora-
Canadian/UK spelling doesn’t bother me.
ManiacScribbler says
Don’t forget grey and gray!
Yay, Canadian spelling, how I have to love you!
My homeschool curriculum (I was homeschooled grade 1-12) was American (gr. 2-8), so I had to learn Canadian spelling starting in gr. 9. Haha
Maniac
Tiffany Kenzie says
‘eh’ must be regional throughout Canada(TO)… I say it way too often. I think I say ‘like’ a lot too.
And like the comment of Quebec drivers, but it’s those from Montréal you’ve got to watch out for, and scoot over a couple lanes. *g*
Sorry to any from Montréal… but it’s ‘like’ my favourite vacation spot. And they are much more aggressive than us Torontonians on the road.
Adaora A. says
Thanks Nathan!
——–
Oh Captain Ron, you’ve stolen me! Ha,ha! I love the beatles. That’s one of their best songs. ::sigh::
JaxPop says
Maniac – 6AM!!! The day is almost over by then! I leave my house at 5:15 AM, drive 83 miles one way, do my job, drive 83 miles home, do whatever – no particular routine, & get to bed around midnight.
Glad you’re high on life – that’s awesome. I’ve lived my life that way & it’s been a blast. Enjoy it kid – it goes by fast. Don’t Blink
ManiacScribbler says
jaxpop:
Haha. Thanks. I would be dead if I ended up actually staying up ’til midnight and then getting up at six the next day…Yeah.
Kyah, I’m a kid! 😉 And I know about the speed – this first year has gone by ZOOOM!
Maniac
Life is totally awesome to be high on. ^^
…
And shiny things…And smiles…And cat-cats…and books…(list goes on…)
JaxPop says
Tiffany – Montreal. I love that city. I spent a couple of weeks there when I was barely 18. I had a VW bus, long blonde hair, & a poor excuse for a beard. At the border they emptied the van & checked through the guitars & cases. I was clean, never did that stuff. The trip was memorable. Made lots of friends. I can picture it all. Thanks for bringing it up. More smiles for the old guy. Now the hair is short & turning gray (or grey if you prefer) the beard is neatly trimmed with white streaks & I gave my guitar to my oldest son, born 2 years after that trip in 1974. Make great memories – you will smile lots more when you get to be older. Life is good.
Ulysses says
I tend to write in American standard instead of Canadian/British, although I don’t enjoy it. The Canadian company I work for uses American standard exclusively, and it’s becoming a habit.
And I get sick of seeing little red lines under my Canadian words in MS Word.
Jaxpop: Reminds me of Monty Python’s “Four Yorkshiremen:” “6am? We used to dream about getting up at 6 am!” “Luxury. My Dad used to wake us up half an hour before we went to bed. . .”
Polenth says
When I was in the final stage of university, some people removed me from their MySpace friends list for not logging in. I’d like to complain that they removed me for having a life, followed by ‘what’s with that?’ But considering my final year project was a multi-player graphical RPG, and I was busy programming it, I’m not sure the life bit applies.
Still, I did get the game done. And most of my MySpace friends didn’t notice I was gone. I’m not sure if that’s better than noticing I was gone, and removing me…