tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post8280913422512543261..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: Querying: In HindsightNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-63778850424898133382009-12-23T10:19:00.735-08:002009-12-23T10:19:00.735-08:00Fantastic post, thanks for writing it. I'm def...Fantastic post, thanks for writing it. I'm definitely going to have to re-read it before (and probably during) my querying stage if I ever finish editing. Thanks again for taking the time to look back and help others out, you're pretty amazing like that!<br /><br />Also, I gave you an award on my blog the other day. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12294516011395206412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-51292249612444555442009-12-15T13:52:00.162-08:002009-12-15T13:52:00.162-08:00I'm so glad I'm out of the trenches too. ...I'm so glad I'm out of the trenches too. Just reading about them again makes me cringe. But your points are right on and very good advice. Especially the point about not comparing your journey to someone else's. I still do that. I need to stop.Kasie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14169629001145903361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-14730756426054487832009-12-15T08:59:50.023-08:002009-12-15T08:59:50.023-08:00Thanks for the insight, Natalie!
I'm currentl...Thanks for the insight, Natalie!<br /><br />I'm currently neck-deep in the query process (for the second time) and finding it still the same dreaded landscape I did the first time around - perhaps even more so because I should know a LITTLE more about what I'm doing!<br /><br />The rejections keep coming in, but no truer words have been spoken: "It only takes One." We all have to keep that in mind.<br /><br />So thanks again!<br />GeoffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-19470070563893833022009-12-15T08:23:20.094-08:002009-12-15T08:23:20.094-08:00#2 is my problem--they love the query, but they do...#2 is my problem--they love the query, but they don't love the ms! So that's what I'm working on now.Josiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11745370676930629418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-16971595162041240282009-12-15T06:07:08.972-08:002009-12-15T06:07:08.972-08:00So true, Natalie...such great advice. I would add...So true, Natalie...such great advice. I would add to keep REALLY good records of who and when you query and with what. I think that's the only time in my life I've ever used an excel spreadsheet and, dang, it's a good long spreadsheet.K. Marie Criddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08591374827185284413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-50279886661332144302009-12-15T05:28:18.773-08:002009-12-15T05:28:18.773-08:00This is just what I needed to hear. I'm going ...This is just what I needed to hear. I'm going to start querying Jaded at the beginning of the year. Wish me luck!Candicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658962630981643176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-81967089747858089642009-12-14T22:45:50.170-08:002009-12-14T22:45:50.170-08:00You just reaffirmed why I'm not ready to query...You just reaffirmed why I'm not ready to query. I totally understand why you queried too soon though; we get so excited about our projects, and we want them to be ready. Writing and revising take such a long time! Unless you're a robot ;)Myrna Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-13429113876862888672009-12-14T21:39:57.267-08:002009-12-14T21:39:57.267-08:00Thanks for a wonderful post. And you landed a pret...Thanks for a wonderful post. And you landed a pretty incredible agent, Nathan, whom I secretly call "Dream Agent" (not so secret anymore).Yamilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08769312615756253197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-66437526910890473852009-12-14T20:24:30.851-08:002009-12-14T20:24:30.851-08:00Insightful and encouraging as always!Insightful and encouraging as always!Claire Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14354840714847021685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-12179683004509644512009-12-14T20:00:46.045-08:002009-12-14T20:00:46.045-08:00I totally get what you've said about the frust...I totally get what you've said about the frustrations that go hand-inhand with querying. And I agree with the points you've made about the process.<br /><br />One thing I don't think can be stressed enough is to do your homework! Check out the agents editors and publishers to whom you plan to query. See what their product line is like, ask yourself what are they missing from it (and why). Look at how you fit into their roster or catalogue. <br /><br />In many cases, a rejection comes because you're just not what their looking for (i.e. we've published four romances in a row, so we're looking for a mystery now... or we're trying to build our YA titles...)<br /><br />See what they have on their lists and try to determine if your work complements their existing line-up.<br /><br />Cheers, Jill<br />"Blood and Groom" is now in stores!<br />www.jilledmondson.comJillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152599507268946811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-73967870885838381802009-12-14T19:46:56.995-08:002009-12-14T19:46:56.995-08:00Ditto what Susan Quinn said.
THANK. YOU!
If only...Ditto what Susan Quinn said.<br /><br />THANK. YOU!<br /><br />If only current-sight were as 20/20 as hindsight...Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-60695922363680181872009-12-14T19:13:19.826-08:002009-12-14T19:13:19.826-08:00Thanks for the awesomely helpful post! Definitely ...Thanks for the awesomely helpful post! Definitely tagging this one a "favorite" to come back when I'm ready to query.Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-85376034886943052722009-12-14T18:46:46.481-08:002009-12-14T18:46:46.481-08:00Thank you for this post. I appreciate the assistan...Thank you for this post. I appreciate the assistance around those pitfalls and the reminder to be sure your book is done before focusing on the query.Megshttp://writing.smeganpayne.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-23354683940811172852009-12-14T18:36:33.867-08:002009-12-14T18:36:33.867-08:00Thanks for posting this! I'll need to mark it ...Thanks for posting this! I'll need to mark it for future reference :)<br /><br />Thank goodness querying is at least six months or more off for me--I'm not looking forward to this process at all!Darahttp://inthewritemind.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-12587127140683460482009-12-14T18:27:26.537-08:002009-12-14T18:27:26.537-08:00I'm getting ready to start querying agents on ...I'm getting ready to start querying agents on behalf of a book my husband wrote. I'm nervous as heck. it's not fun to start again, even if it's not your book!Tamara Hart Heinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07562765111202443160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-83787782845459720852009-12-14T18:15:22.575-08:002009-12-14T18:15:22.575-08:00I like #5 the best. And IMO, that's the hardes...I like #5 the best. And IMO, that's the hardest one to get about querying.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-30426694018028873992009-12-14T17:31:33.743-08:002009-12-14T17:31:33.743-08:00I meant all of your "points" are spot-on...I meant all of your "points" are spot-on, but your posts are too!Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-18960172656542760712009-12-14T17:31:11.404-08:002009-12-14T17:31:11.404-08:00Fantastic post. I think all of your posts are spot...Fantastic post. I think all of your posts are spot-on. I also think "soul-crushing" is <a href="http://adamheine.blogspot.com/2009/01/pillar-of-skulls.html" rel="nofollow">particularly appropriate</a>.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-22814707601805641592009-12-14T16:29:36.829-08:002009-12-14T16:29:36.829-08:00Natalie, thanks for the perspective!Natalie, thanks for the perspective!Colette Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685539849318739675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-43996735877736080372009-12-14T16:21:06.462-08:002009-12-14T16:21:06.462-08:00Thanks for the words or advice. I on the "ju...Thanks for the words or advice. I on the "just about the query" phase.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-39424979164074548752009-12-14T16:10:18.378-08:002009-12-14T16:10:18.378-08:00Amen sister!!
Thanks for a great post.Amen sister!!<br />Thanks for a great post.Jenna Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07591399291903261245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-50761462377830351762009-12-14T16:03:44.962-08:002009-12-14T16:03:44.962-08:00Thanks, Lois! And I Elizabeth! Genki desu ka?Thanks, Lois! And I Elizabeth! Genki desu ka?Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-10814629674583613402009-12-14T16:02:22.733-08:002009-12-14T16:02:22.733-08:00Great things for us all to keep in mind when we qu...Great things for us all to keep in mind when we query. Elizabeth said to tell you hi.lotusgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663641163048764869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-1337754471201068462009-12-14T15:34:29.923-08:002009-12-14T15:34:29.923-08:00This is a wonderful post. Thanks so much for it. ...This is a wonderful post. Thanks so much for it. I've been in the trenches a while and your perspective and guidance are very welcome. I actually posted on my blog today about one of the things I do to keep myself going in the querying process that might be helpful to others. If you want to take a look, here's the blog<br /><br />http://literaryjules.blogspot.com/2009/12/good-day-for-writing.htmlJuliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04225611074151575663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-52493466470890669022009-12-14T15:21:44.170-08:002009-12-14T15:21:44.170-08:00What a great post :)What a great post :)Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15180833967091158106noreply@blogger.com