tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-308214465210382791.post706706900633166212..comments2024-03-26T01:28:27.414-04:00Comments on It's In The Details: Summer Query Extravaganza #12Michelle 4 Laughshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06876457259362839114noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-308214465210382791.post-25691831152957099632013-07-22T15:46:20.303-04:002013-07-22T15:46:20.303-04:00In case anyone is curious, I've updated my que...In case anyone is curious, I've updated my query here: <br />http://cozytailmom.blogspot.com/p/hollow-history.html <br />Thanks!<br />ChristieChristina Acker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00956789120847101216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-308214465210382791.post-46847235644779637272013-07-13T13:26:33.293-04:002013-07-13T13:26:33.293-04:00Thank you both for the advice. I think the thing t...Thank you both for the advice. I think the thing that I have struggled with, in the selling part of this process, is that my protag has one main conflict (with complications) until she realizes that, THAT conflict wasn't really the problem at all. She has something bigger to deal with, and she doesn't learn what it is right away, though it's hinted at via deceased ancestor's cryptic messages. So, I agree that I really have to step out of the story a bit and look at the big picture. <br /><br />The genre is YA. In the letters, I already sent to agents, I included the genre in my sentences regarding why I chose to send my letter to them, based on what they are looking for individually. I just didn't include it my sample here. <br /><br />I will definitely pull out the names and move the word count to the bottom. Actually, I plan to implement all the changes suggested. :> <br /><br />Thank you Michelle and Rena! Christina Acker https://www.blogger.com/profile/00956789120847101216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-308214465210382791.post-27959280851365418442013-07-13T11:36:22.409-04:002013-07-13T11:36:22.409-04:00I like the premise that you're working with fo...I like the premise that you're working with for this query, but I wonder if you've gotten lost in the nitty gritty of your world. I recommend that you take a step back and look at the basic conflict of your novel: Main character wants X; if she doesn't get it, consequences. Usually this has some details that need to be explained first, and that's where the rest of your query letter comes in play. If your main character's goals don't make for enough interest, add in the antagonist for the formula: Protag wants X; antag wants Y; if protag doesn't stop antag from Y while also getting X, consequences will ensue. <br /><br />The reason I'm pulling back to such basic advice is that you've presented three pieces of conflict, but I have no idea which one is really important. Pick one, give us more details about it, and that should be all the time you have for your query letter. For the synopsis part of a query, you only get about 150-200 words, so you don't need to cover every subplot. Renahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02767762370997304308noreply@blogger.com