Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!
If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.
This is the first interview with someone who focuses on foreign and other subrights. Thanks to Jess Dallow from New Leaf for giving us her query opinions.
Is there a better or worse time
of year to query?
Around
Christmas is hard because publishing shuts down, but other than that, it
doesn’t really matter. We are always going through queries and looking to find
new material.
Does one typo or misplaced comma
shoot down the entire query?
Nah,
not for me. Of course it’s something to be aware of, but if the story sounds
interesting and I want to know more about the characters, then that’s all that
matters to me.
Do you look at sample pages
without fail or only if the query is strong?
It’s a
difficult question, because query writing is such a different – and often a
much harder – skill for some writers. I need something in the query to grab me,
even if it’s not the best written. A couple of months ago I got a query letter
I didn’t quite understand, but I was also intrigued by it, so I read the pages
and requested it. Of course I would prefer for it to be strong, but if
something grabs me, I’ll read the pages and check to see if I’m drawn into the
world.
Do you keep a maybe pile of
queries and go back to them for a second look?
I’ve
definitely gone back to a few for a second look, but generally, if it doesn’t
grab me right away, I know instinctually it’s not for me.
If the manuscript has a
prologue, do you want it included with the sample pages?
Yes. If
there’s a prologue, I feel that the writer is including it in the novel because
it’s important to the backstory. When I start that first chapter, I want a
taste of that. I want to know who the character was before and where they are
now.
Some writers have asked about
including links to their blogs or manuscript-related artwork. I’m sure it’s not
appropriate to add those links in a query, but are links in an email signature
offensive?
No, I
don’t mind if it’s in the signature. If I finish reading or need a break and
see them, I’ll click it to check it out. I actually love artwork about
manuscripts or little extra things that aren’t included in the manuscript, so
sure, add it into the email signature!
What bio should an author with
no publishing credits include?
Tell me
a little about yourself. If you’re in school, tell me what you’re majoring in. If
you’re working, what you do for a living? Tell me a ridiculous fact about
yourself. I like having a sense of the writer, not just the story.
Should writers sweat the title of their book (and character
names) or is that something that is often changed by publishers?
I think the title should still be intriguing and
catchy, but there’s always a chance it’s going to change (once, twice, a few
times before publication!) The first priority should always be to make sure
your characters are relatable and intriguing, your pace is moving at a good
speed, and your story is strong. I wouldn’t reject something because I disliked
the title or a character name didn’t work.
What’s the strangest/funniest thing you’ve seen in a query?
I love mysteries and serial killer characters, so
my boss passed a query to me where the writer wrote the query as his
character…but there were also some facts thrown in there about himself, so we
weren’t entirely sure if this was a non-fiction story of a serial killer, or
fiction where the person was getting creative. It was one of the ridiculous
moments where we wondered if we were supposed to contact the police or just
chalk it up to a weird query. It made me realize that no one should ever write
their query in character!
What themes are you sick of seeing?
I’m not a huge fan of the weak woman needing a
man to come to her rescue. I am all about a great romance, but I’d love to see
them balance each other out. I’d love to see a woman save herself.
What does ‘just not right mean
for me’ mean to you?
It
usually means that I didn’t connect to the character in the way I was hoping.
When I look for material, I want to get so lost in the story that I forget it’s
not real. I want to come out of a novel feeling like these people are real to
me and I want to miss them when I’m not with them. If I don’t connect on that
level, then I know it’s not the right story for me personally.
Do you consider yourself a
hands-on, editorial type of agent?
Yes,
definitely. I love being able to delve into a story and give notes on it. It’s
one of my favorite parts of the job. I
have such a good time seeing that bigger picture.
What three things are at the
top of your submission wish list?
1. Female-centric
friendship stories! Either taking place over the course of the entire
relationship or something that can show how inspiring women can be to each
other. I am all about ladies supporting ladies and I would really love to see
that message more in novels. It’s always interesting to me how friendships can
change over the course of years, but how certain people are still there for you
no matter what. The movie Beaches is
my favorite example of this. Something along those lines is wonderful, but with
a new and interesting side to it.
2. A great serial killer
novel. If it delves into the psychology of the character, that’s even better.
There’s something fascinating about how some seemingly normal people can be
hiding these psychopathic tendencies.
3. The trials and
tribulations of a family, something along the lines of This is Where I Leave You. There are so many intricacies in
families, so many things that are hidden from the outside world, and I love
seeing how an author can mold that. Even if I haven’t been through the
situation, I want to feel like I can relate to it.
What are some of your favorite
movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes?
· The
Scream trilogy
· The
Graduate
· The
Proposal
· Legally
Blonde
· Enchanted
· Nineteen
Minutes by Jodi Picoult
· If
I Stay by Gayle Forman
· The
Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding
· The
Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
· Heartsick
by Chelsea Cain
The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan
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actually this is very usefull tips for a newbie like me, tnx for share
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