From the Cheap Seat

Well ... kind of. Every once in a while I like to post tips to writers that are inspired by the editor side of me. Recently, I've had the fabulous and fun opportunity to dabble in acquisitions and some of the things I'm learning are too good not to pass on to you guys!

For instance, you all know things you should do, like write a great query, but do you really know why it's so important? I'm going to tell you, from the Cheap Seat.

Writing a GREAT query

Photo from FreeDigitalPhotos.net (c) anankkml

THIS is drilled into writers time and time again. And sure, you know, on the surface why it's important to get across that your work is good. But, why ...

My Query Letter

Actually, just the last two paragraphs. I've participated in a bunch of stuff to polish up my query of late and it has, seriously, been critiqued to the bone. I've learned something. Queries are much like manuscripts. You will not please everyone, no matter how hard you try. I've gotten so many conflicting opinions -- (Things like, "How did Finna become guardian? We need to know so we understand why she's not very powerful." VS. "How Finna became the guardian is unnecessary. Cut it. Just let us know what her responsibility is. *Ranee` runs screaming from the computer, vowing to NEVER WRITE ANOTHER QUERY AGAIN.*)

Three-Hundred Thursday #2

This week's brave gladiator is coming into the ring with a query letter. Personally, I hate those pesky things, so I'm glad to cause pain to it. :D

*****

Senior Max Sanchez has it all. He’s the star pitcher for Port Fare High’s baseball team. He’s dating the head cheerleader, hottie Emma McKay, and he has a great group of friends. Here I'm concerned with this lead in. Typically the first line or two of a query is the hook -- something that grabs the agent/publisher and says "You MUST read more about this book." This is somewhat generic. A main character who has it all. One line I heard over and over during the query and pitch events at WriteOnCon from the agents and editors was "What makes your story stand out? Focus on that." Having read the first pages of this story (cheater in the house!), this doesn't do justice to the uniqueness.

Bloom Query Letter

**I don't want to post multiple query letters, so after some good comments, I've mixed things up a big and just edited the one below.**

I'm finally ready to query BLOOM again. (Yeah, like I tried really hard the first time.) What do you all think of my query?

Dear :

Born into one of the Big Three families of the Enchanter realm, 17-year-old Finna Claremont’s lineage—yeah, lineage—should mean she’ll make a great guardian.

Right.

Finna’s screwed up everything from transporting to blocking her thoughts since she was little, so when a fairy declares Finna has special responsibilities to protect her world, it shocks everyone, including Finna. To prove she can hack it as a guardian, Finna has to stop an evil politician threatening the rights of all Enchanters. She’ll have to trust the last person she ever expected to befriend (not to mention fall in love with) to pull it off. And trusting Liam Monroe isn’t as easy as it sounds. Because he’s a Monroe. They’ve hated the Claremonts for about a hundred years, and the feeling is definitely mutual. There’s a lot more than family honor riding on the line if Finna fails to measure up. She’ll have to count on her fledgling powers or else watch the world she knows disappear.

BLOOM is a YA fantasy novel complete at 87,000 words. Finna’s sweet but still sassy voice will appeal to fans of Ally Carter’s GALLAGHER GIRLS, and the family elements will draw in readers of Brandon Mull’s FABLEHAVEN.

I am the vice president of my American Night Writers Association chapter and a cold-hearted reviewer. If you would like to consider BLOOM, I’d be happy to forward the complete manuscript to you.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Ranee` S. Clark

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