Hatrack River Writers Workshop   
my profile login | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Hatrack River Writers Workshop » Forums » Open Discussions About Writing » Queries

   
Author Topic: Queries
Lynda
Member
Member # 3574

 - posted      Profile for Lynda   Email Lynda         Edit/Delete Post 
I've just read some of Uncle Orson's articles on this site, and this one on who to query said something different than I've been hearing/reading in my research so far. http://www.hatrack.com/writingclass/lessons/1999-01-29.shtml This article is from 1999, and in it, OSC says if you're marketing sf or fantasy, to query publishers, not agents. Is this advice still accurate now in 2007? I'm going to be sending out queries in a few weeks, and need to know which way to go with them. Thanks for any answers you may have!

Lynda


Posts: 415 | Registered: Jul 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
kings_falcon
Member
Member # 3261

 - posted      Profile for kings_falcon   Email kings_falcon         Edit/Delete Post 
Some of the publishing houses will take unagented submissions but most houses won't. The market has changed a lot since 1999. For novels, you really do need the agent if you aren't going to try for a handful of houses or self publishing.

If you can get an agent, you are out of the publisher's slush pile. The agent will know which editor/ house likes the kind of story you wrote and can direct the novel to that person.


Posts: 1210 | Registered: Feb 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Lynda
Member
Member # 3574

 - posted      Profile for Lynda   Email Lynda         Edit/Delete Post 
That's what I thought. Thanks a lot! OSC needs to update that post!!

Lynda


Posts: 415 | Registered: Jul 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Spaceman
New Member
Member # 9240

 - posted      Profile for Spaceman           Edit/Delete Post 
In 2005 bootcamp it was still true. You get around the roadblock with a pre-query query.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Aug 2010  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Survivor
Member
Member # 213

 - posted      Profile for Survivor   Email Survivor         Edit/Delete Post 
Short fiction paves the way.
Posts: 8322 | Registered: Aug 1999  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Statesman
unregistered


 - posted            Edit/Delete Post 
No I disagree. When was the last time you saw fantasy short fiction as a large medium? Fantasy must start in the novel format, almost always.


IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Survivor
Member
Member # 213

 - posted      Profile for Survivor   Email Survivor         Edit/Delete Post 
Ah, but writers often start out in short fiction. No, it won't pay the bills, but it will get you noticed, and looks good on your query letters. Any number of degrees, memberships, interests, or whatever else "qualifies" you to write fantasy novels fades to insignificance beside a publication credit for a good story in a known market.
Posts: 8322 | Registered: Aug 1999  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Skribent
Member
Member # 5143

 - posted      Profile for Skribent   Email Skribent         Edit/Delete Post 
I just happened to stumble across this (somewhat) older post.

quote:
In 2005 bootcamp it was still true. You get around the roadblock with a pre-query query.

What is a pre-query query?


Posts: 52 | Registered: Mar 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Spaceman
New Member
Member # 9240

 - posted      Profile for Spaceman           Edit/Delete Post 
Simply a brief letter with a back-cover-length pitch for the novel. You offer the outline and sample chapters, making it a 3-step process instead of a 2-step process.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Aug 2010  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
mommiller
Member
Member # 3285

 - posted      Profile for mommiller   Email mommiller         Edit/Delete Post 
The best advice I can think of for querying, comes from Miss Snark. A literary agent who blogs regularly.

She basically says to do your research on the Agents, using their web pages, Writer's Market, etc. Agents have guidlines, such as whether they take e-subs, or not and what they want in a query, whether it be sample pages a first page etc.

Her biggest rule is to just follow the directions for the particular agent that you are querying. No more, no less.

Nathan Bransford's blog, (another agent who blogs,) lists some pretty nifty reasons certain queries catch his eye too. Check out last Thursday's words of wisdom on this topic for inspiration.

[This message has been edited by mommiller (edited March 24, 2007).]


Posts: 306 | Registered: Mar 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Skribent
Member
Member # 5143

 - posted      Profile for Skribent   Email Skribent         Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks, Spaceman. That's good to know.
Posts: 52 | Registered: Mar 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

   Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Hatrack River Home Page

Copyright © 2008 Hatrack River Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2