#query help

[amytipton]

Gathering invoices for taxes (booooo!) I noticed I did a lot of queries (not surprising, I’m FAST & *blows nails* pretty good) & read partials-separately-for those queries... I got to thinking, maybe some package deal is wanted/needed? Viola!

[blankpaperandme]

New video! I wanted to start making some useful videos, so I started by creating a series about the querying process for authors. 

This is my first video in the series, which is an introduction to query letters and the querying process. 

In this video:

- How do you get your novel published? 

- What is a query letter?

- Literary agents, what they do, and why you need one if you want to publish your novel the traditional way

- What you need to include in your query letter

- How long should your query letter be

- Some resources you can use to find literary agents, and to craft your first query letter

*Btw, I know my puppy stickers behind me are a little distracting. Sorry about that. haha

I hope you like my video! And if you do, please subscribe to my channel! I’m just starting out with this channel, and I appreciate SO much your support. <3

I am uploading new videos on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Next Sunday: 

Episode #2 of my Querying Process series: How to start querying + Query letter DOs and DON’Ts. 

Wednesday’s video: I will review Jenny Han’s YA novel “Ps. I still love you”

I hope to see you there! 

~ Maria 

[amytipton]

So someone at the coffee shop just asked why I was working on the weekend & ~ahem~

[thisliterarylife]

#MondayBlogs: Patience in publishing and healing

#MondayBlogs: Patience in publishing and healing

Patience is something I’ve always had — or at least I’d like to think I’ve always had. Waiting has always been a part of my life. Waiting my turn, waiting for the bus, waiting to get home, waiting to hear back from colleges, waiting for grades… well, you get the picture. These are just micro details; the smaller parts that make up the bigger picture of waiting to figure out who I am and what, or…

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[gloriachaoauthor]

Post WCNV Query Tips

Post WCNV Query Tips for all writers, not just WCNV participants!

It was a pleasure and honor being a reader for the WCNV contest this past week. I enjoyed reading your work and am so excited for all the requests that came in! Your excerpts about the importance of diversity were especially moving—thank you for being vulnerable and telling your stories. First, congratulations to everyone who entered! Sharing your work can be hard, especially #ownvoices that feel…

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[karmenhistory-blog]

ICYMI: "Why is this editor asking me about retail information??"

Originally posted on Monday 3.28.16--

 “You’re the publisher. You should know where all of the stores are.”

It’s a very common statement that I hear from time to time. You’re very right to assume that publishers typically have knowledge of the overall retail scene, but it’s important to think about the underlying reasons why your editor might ask you about sales opportunities.

  We want to know if you have any insider knowledge of other sales outlets that might not fall within the box of a traditional bookstore. Are there any local gift shops? Museum stores? Hardware stores? Fulfilling a query on retail is your opportunity to get creative with proposing ways to reach sales goals. This is especially important if you live in an area with a smaller population and minimal traditional book retail.

You might have the scoop on a new outlet our field sales rep hasn’t come across yet. Sales reps are excellent at scoping out potential retail sources, but it always helps to be able to come to the table with suggestions of places for them to reach out to that might not already be on their list. In addition to demonstrating your knowledge of the area’s retail, you’re indirectly showing off how connected you are with the local area. An author who knows nothing of the area they’re writing about wouldn’t have the same capacity to understand the rise/fall of local retail as an author who is actively engaged would.

  In short, it’s all about what you know rather than what we know. If you realize that you a) don’t know anything about the stores in your area, or b) don’t have any sort of stores in your area, please understand that the concept might be a hard sell to a publisher. This doesn’t mean that you have zero chance, though! You may need to consider expanding the content in order to include nearby populations as well while also staying relevant to the subject matter, or you may need to swap topics entirely. Get creative, because there’s always a way!

[karmenhistory-blog]

Next Week on Widows & Orphans

It's the moment you've been waiting for...

out of my Tito's mug (don't worry, it's sans vodka...)

one slip of paper emerges to claim it's rightful place in the Widows & Orphans lineup....

*Drumroll please*

 Why is my editor asking me about local retail??

 See you Monday!! Also, don't forget to share and comment. Discussion is great!

 -Karmen

[authorchristinabenjamin]

Query Tips

Hey everyone! In case you didn't know, my name is Christina Benjamin and I am the self published author of “The Geneva Project Series”. My books are about a young girl who discovers there’s more to her life as an orphan than seems, as she has a great destiny that is about to unfold before her. Since I have been going through the process of sending out my query letter, I wanted to post a few tips for others who are interested in the process or who are going through it as well. Here goes: 1. Get personal. In everything that I've researched, agents seem to appreciate when the querier knows something about the queried. At the beginning of most successful queries or any advice given from agents, include a little note about how you enjoyed a book the agent represented or a blog post the agent posted is a nice gesture that lets the agent know that they were picked to receive your letter for a reason and that you weren't just shooting blindly hoping for a yes.   2. Keep it short and sweet. Simple works, much better than most people dream. Agents read so many query letters a day there is no guarantee that they will read yours if it includes too much information. Simple really is the best way to go. 3. Be unique. Agents see so many queries that start off with ‘what if’ questions, try to avoid them. Start off with a bang instead. Dive right into your synopsis/summary of your book, and hook them in.  4. Put in awards. It may seem like bragging, but agents need to see how well your book has done on its own so they have an idea of how well it will do if they represent it. And if your book doesn't have any awards, that’s definitely okay too! Just make sure your summary is the best writing you've ever done. 5. Put your information at the bottom of your query. This one may not seem like the most important, but agents are super picky when it comes to query letters. Some don’t mind seeing the contact info at the top, but most want the book information to be what the letter starts off with, and then the author comes second.  That’s all for now! Good luck everyone and I hope these help!