quote:The really good writers give themselves away on page one
...and the thirteen line concept is once more validated.
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
Let's not have that argument here. The really good writers give themselves away on every single page, not just page one. Which is the point of that answer on the quiz, to get the slush reader to keep reading, you have to write like a writer.
Anyway, that "quiz" was kinda fun.
Posted by Kolona (Member # 1438) on :
A single post agreeing with a concept can hardly be construed as an argument. However, saying let's not argue and then posting a disagreement seems both a little disingenuous and argumentive. (But I love you, anyway. )
But who said only page one? That quote says slushers will use page one to winnow out lesser writers. Sure, they'll give up on page two or ten or whatever if the quality fizzles, but page one better be good. And I agree. I may not like it, but I agree.
Posted by HSO (Member # 2056) on :
As I neared the end of the quiz, I realized I've got absolutely no clue how to write a proper cover letter / query to go along with my submissions.
Is there a topic here I can read about that, and does anyone have a few good links to recommend? I'm looking for both novels and magazine submission tips and advice.
Thanks in advance.
HSO
Posted by punahougirl84 (Member # 1731) on :
Ok, so I did fine on the quiz - thanks to all the reading I've done about writing and publishing.
Now I just need to write for 10 more years, and I might get a ss published!
Posted by goatboy (Member # 2062) on :
HSO, I'm not sure I've ever seen anything that explained how to write a cover letter. Perhaps we should start a thread where people can post successful letters, so the group can see what works and what doesn't?
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
The following article gave me a bit of an "aha!" moment on the art of cover letter writing. It contains a lot of advice I intend to follow once my novel is finished.
Thanks for the link Jules, it does provide some helpful hints.
I'm curious though. I've always been warned about starting anything with a question. If the reader answers "No." to your question, then they may write-off the rest of what you have written.
Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing, positive or neagative? What have you found that works/does not work in your cover letters?
