You have just entered room "Writers Workshop" May 30, 2002 Karen Strand Topic: Query Letters HOST WRTR WYates: Hi... FoxyGram: Hi, Bill, Karen WordPower7: Hi. Looking forward to a great workshop. FoxyGram: We had a great start on it Tuesday, for sure HOST WRTR WYates: I posted the log... HOST WRTR WYates: Which reminds me... OnlineHost: "DiagoCat" has entered the room. HOST WRTR WYates: Log turned on... FoxyGram: I need to take a quick break before we get started.... be right back HOST WRTR WYates: Better now than later... :) DiagoCat: Hello everyone. Well, WordPower and Bill, anyway. HOST WRTR WYates: Hi, Cat... DiagoCat: Anything new and exciting in your lives? HOST WRTR WYates: My daughter and grandson are coming out for a visit next month. DiagoCat: How old is the grandson now? HOST WRTR WYates: he's 5-1/2. FoxyGram: I'm back... Hi, Cat DiagoCat: Hi Peg. That's a great age, Bill. Inquiring minds. HOST WRTR WYates: Visit is too short, though. Only 5 days. FoxyGram: Bummer WordPower7: Where are they visiting from, Bill? HOST WRTR WYates: Ohio FoxyGram: Hi, TMyers... HOST WRTR WYates: Hi, TMyers7311... TMyers7311: Hi DiagoCat: Our paper had an amusing headline today. I think my brain is wired wrong since my husband got the meaning right away. It said, "Farm program cuts sow discontent." WordPower7: LOL HOST WRTR WYates: LOL!!! DiagoCat: I was glad all those sows were not longer discontent. HOST WRTR WYates: Happy pigs... DiagoCat: They were cutting the FFA program at the high school and the school kids were not happy HOST WRTR WYates: Bless the farmers, but I couldn't be one... HOST WRTR WYates: Well, if we don't get any more, we'll keep this real informal... FoxyGram: Nor I, Bill. I lived on a small 'family farm' for sixteen years... hated it. FoxyGram: Cindy will be here shortly... DiagoCat: We are losing farms in our area to shopping malls at an alarming pace. HOST WRTR WYates: I'm reading John Grisham's "A Painted House". Picking cotton is WORK! DiagoCat: I love Grisham, but not that one, I guess. HOST WRTR WYates: He's a great writer. WordPower7: Our farms are going to housing developments. Then they call them "Jones Farm" or "Cate Farm!" FoxyGram: Ha DiagoCat: That book, I meant. Not that Grisham. HOST WRTR WYates: They're growing houses... DiagoCat: Hey, maybe I could sell our place and they would call it Cat Farm. HOST WRTR WYates: Meow... FoxyGram: We have a place here called McDonald Ranch... it's a senior housing development. HOST WRTR WYates: I was wondering - do they grow hamburgers? DiagoCat: Only in Oxynard. (Sp.) FoxyGram: Don't know that anyone ever did any ranching there, though. Mostly just desert, sagebrush & tumbleweed. HOST WRTR WYates: Oxnard WordPower7: I meant to add an "s." We have Jones Farms, Cate Farms, Jackson Farms..." ! HOST WRTR WYates: Maybe they grow prickly pear and roadrunners. FoxyGram: That, too! DiagoCat: Sounds like they are trying to fool us all WordPower. All the farms will be gone and we won't even know it. FoxyGram: Even Joshua trees! HOST WRTR WYates: Roadrunners are OK. DiagoCat: Did you know roadrunners are Cuckoo Birds? HOST WRTR WYates: Yep. HOST WRTR WYates: Related. DiagoCat: I just learned that. Never heard it before. HOST WRTR WYates: I lived in Tucson for a while. HOST WRTR WYates: Well, until Cindy shows up, we're it... HOST WRTR WYates: So.. FoxyGram: she just signed on HOST WRTR WYates: Welcome to the Christian Writer's Workshop... DiagoCat: Can't hide from Foxy. FoxyGram: Nope... HOST WRTR WYates: Our guest tonight is Karen Strong who will answer questions about query letters... and maybe other stuff, too! DiagoCat: Strong? HOST WRTR WYates: Peg, would you open in prayer for us? HOST WRTR WYates: Strand!!!! WordPower7: Ha ha. Well, they're close. FoxyGram: Father, thank you for another day and thank you for bringing us together with Karen so we can learn more about our craft. In Jesus' name, Amen. HOST WRTR WYates: AMEN! DiagoCat: amen. WordPower7: Amen. DiagoCat: Hi, Lee. TMyers7311: Amen Loriendil: Sorry I'm late... FoxyGram: Hello, Lee Loriendil: Greetings all! HOST WRTR WYates: Karen, thanks for being our guest Tuesday. HOST WRTR WYates: Are you ready? WordPower7: My pleasure! ga WordPower7: ! HOST WRTR WYates: OK, guys... Questions on query letters first... HOST WRTR WYates: Karen... WordPower7: I'd like to focus a little more, on general structure of a query. ga HOST WRTR WYates: Go ahead, please... FoxyGram: Hello, Gay RitersRus: hi Karen WordPower7: Preferably 1 page. 3 or 4 paragraphs. Open with a lead or a "hook" that gets the editor's attention. Then give title and word length. Then tell how you will handle the article or story, and why their readers need to read it. WordPower7: A good ending, is to say "I've enclosed a SASE for your convenience. May I send you this, on speculation? ga HOST WRTR WYates: ? HOST WRTR WYates: WTYates... HOST WRTR WYates: Would it help to compare your work to those on the market and say how yours is different? ga WordPower7: Hmm. Clarify, please. Not sure what you mean? ga HOST WRTR WYates: If you have a book on prayer for women, say, tell how your approach makes your book different from the dozens out there already. HOST WRTR WYates: ga WordPower7: Oh. Got it. Yes, that's a good idea, to show that you will Absolutely. Tell how you will handle it differently from others. ga HOST WRTR WYates: It would also show you have researched the market. ga WordPower7: You're right. ga HOST WRTR WYates: Next question, anyone? CHICKY11: ? FoxyGram: ? HOST WRTR WYates: CHICKY11... CHICKY11: If there is no response to your query letter, what should you do? CHICKY11: How long should you wait? ga WordPower7: Check your writer's market to see how soon they normally respond. If it goes beyond, ask whether they received it okay, and the status. ga HOST WRTR WYates: FoxyGram... FoxyGram: What are some of the "Don'ts" in query writing? ga WordPower7: Don't mention payment. Don't say you are a first time writer. Don't be careless with spelling or grammar. ga WordPower7: Don't guess on the editor's name. If not sure, call them and ask. ga DiagoCat: ? RitersRus: ? CHICKY11: ? HOST WRTR WYates: DiagoCat... DiagoCat: How should you address the editor in a query letter (assuming that you have researched a bit and discovered his or her name.)? Dear Sir, Dear Mr. Jones... ga WordPower7: Dear Mr. Jones, unless you've already exchanged correspondence with him several times. Then it can be "Dear Tom" ga HOST WRTR WYates: RitersRus... FoxyGram: ? RitersRus: I came in late. Maybe this has been answered, but is it absolutely necessary to keep it to one page? ga WordPower7: A page and a half. They have many to read, and we need to be able to say what we want in that length. ga HOST WRTR WYates: CHICKY11... CHICKY11: If the guidelines read: Usually answers within six weeks, on week eight, would it be okay to call if they have not replied? WordPower7: They hate phone calls. E-mail or write a brief letter. ga HOST WRTR WYates: FoxyGram... FoxyGram: Can you give us an example of a GOOD opening sentence? Is it a good/bad idea to start with "I"? ga WordPower7: "She clung to the sheer rock face, her fingers tightly gripping the ledge that separated her from certain death." ! ga HOST WRTR WYates: LOL! WordPower7: OR - quote a statistic. "Did you know that 100% of home accidents happen at home?" ga LongTallTexun: Y'all just getting started? PJ506: Hello everyone! WordPower7: OR, use the first sentence of the good hook you already have, in your story. ga Literates: hi CHICKY11: > FoxyGram: HOST WRTR WYates: Karen Strand (WordPower7) is answering questions on query letters. HOST WRTR WYates: ? HOST WRTR WYates: WTYates... HOST WRTR WYates: Are there books on writing query letters? ga FoxyGram: ! RitersRus: ! WordPower7: Don't know of any book, off-hand. But plenty of articles, and they can be found on the Internet. ga HOST WRTR WYates: My inputs are taking a LONG time to show up. HOST WRTR WYates: FoxyGram... FoxyGram: I have just received (Writer's Digest) "How To Write Irresistible Query Letters" by Lisa Collier Cool. Haven't opened it yet... can't give an opinion. ga Literates: is that in their new magazine? FoxyGram: HOST WRTR WYates: RitersRus... WordPower7: On the Internet, use your favorite search engine, and enter "query letters." My favorite is www.google.com PJ506: ! RitersRus: I was just going to say the same thing. Writers Digest Book Club advertises a few. Literates: the whole mag is devoted just to queries? HOST WRTR WYates: PJ506... PJ506: I got a book from WD Book club by John Wood on Queries and Cover letters which was pretty good. HOST WRTR WYates: What you got was a book, wasn't it, Peg? PJ506: But I have to admit I am still intimidated by query letters! ga FoxyGram: Yes, a book ordered from Writer's Digest Book Club. PJ, I think I have that one, too...better go look! Literates: what does "ga" mean? HOST WRTR WYates: Go ahead... it means you're done talking. ga HOST WRTR WYates: ? HOST WRTR WYates: WTYates... Literates: k HOST WRTR WYates: What types of manuscripts should query letters be used for? Books, I know, and articles. I don't think they are used for poetry, though. Short stories? ga WordPower7: Not poetry. It can go with a cover letter. Short stories - yes. ga HOST WRTR WYates: Are there any more questions on query letters? WordPower7: Now, about a NASCAR query letter... HOST WRTR WYates: :) PJ506: ? HOST WRTR WYates: PJ506... PJ506: Karen, how do you get over that fear of the query? I'd much rather just submit an article. The query is like pulling teeth! PJ506: Just do it? ga WordPower7: I know. I used to only submit to those that didn't ask for a query. In the end, it saves much time. Get over the fear by feeling confident with your letter - then just grit your teeth and go for it. ga HOST WRTR WYates: ? HOST WRTR WYates: WTYates... PJ506: So much easier said than done! :-) Thanks! HOST WRTR WYates: How much of your article or book do you have done when you query? ga WordPower7: I query after I've done a rough draft of my article. Just to be sure I can deliver what I promise! ga CHICKY11: Literates: ? HOST WRTR WYates: OK,, CHICKY... HOST WRTR WYates: Literates... Literates: do u know much about turning novels into movies? Loriendil: ? WordPower7: Nope. ga Literates: k HOST WRTR WYates: Loriendil... Loriendil: Would you say the same with a book - send queries when you have a rough draft? ga Literates: I work from an outline and I wouldn't send something unless I was almost done with it WordPower7: No. By the time you send a query, you'll already have a book proposal ready, and that should set your mind at ease...that you can follow up on it. ga Loriendil: Thanks ga HOST WRTR WYates: ? HOST WRTR WYates: WTYates... Loriendil: ? HOST WRTR WYates: Does having an agent make any difference in making a query? ga HOST WRTR WYates: Not that I have one... WordPower7: Bill, I'm not as familiar with books as with articles. But I imagine an agent would negate the need for a query...ga HOST WRTR WYates: Loriendil... Loriendil: Should you mention that you have ideas for more books in the same series with this first one you are submitting? ga WordPower7: Yes! Those are words they love to hear! ga Loriendil: Yesss *hand pumping in air* Thanks! ga HOST WRTR WYates: Don't everyone ask at once... CHICKY11: Loriendil: ! WordPower7: ? HOST WRTR WYates: ? HOST WRTR WYates: WTYates... HOST WRTR WYates: Do you include SASE? ga HOST WRTR WYates: Loriendil... HOST WRTR WYates: My responses are taking forever to show up Loriendil: The idea of writing a query still scares the snot out of me! I druther write another whole book! ga Wordgrl88: ? WordPower7: Always include a SASE. Folded in thirds, it just fits a business size envelope. ga HOST WRTR WYates: WordPower7... PJ506: Amen! I can identify with that Lori! FoxyGram: ! WordPower7: Lori - or others - I can e-mail you a sample query letter. HOST WRTR WYates: Wordgrl88... PJ506: Wow! Wonderful! Merci! Loriendil: ! Wordgrl88: Is there an average timeline from for a response on a query, and how do you feel about follow-up phone calls? WordPower7: Phone calls definitely frowned upon. After a month - E-mail or write. ga HOST WRTR WYates: FoxyGram... FoxyGram: Re the SASE... a discussion a while ago hinted that if you send your first query, whatever, in a #11 envelope, a #10 will fit inside without folding. Same with a #10 and a #9. HOST WRTR WYates: Loriendil... FoxyGram: ga Loriendil: I would love a sample query letter -- but this addy won't accept emails. I will have to give you my other addy... ga Wordgrl88: thought so....sounds reasonable to me. What's the biggest mistake made in a query? other than poor subject matter..sorry HOST WRTR WYates: Karen, would you give your web site? WordPower7: Foxy - the #10 envelope idea great, when it's a cover letter on top of the ms. But if only a query, then business size. ga WordPower7: Website: http;//www.karenstrand.com Loriendil: Thanks Bill! HOST WRTR WYates: Wordgrl88's is the last question... WordPower7: Biggest mistake; sounding unsure of yourself. Remember, it's your sales letter! ga HOST WRTR WYates: Thanks, Karen! Great session! FoxyGram: Wonderful, Karen. Thank you! Loriendil: Thank you again, Karen! DiagoCat: Thank you Karen. Lots of good advice. PJ506: Thank you muchly! WordPower7: Thank you all, so much. HOST WRTR WYates: I have posted Tuesday night's log to our web site at http://www.billyates.com/cww/ RitersRus: good job, Karen! TMyers7311: Thank you, good info Wordgrl88: thanks :) HOST WRTR WYates: Peg, would you close for us? FoxyGram: Anyone wanting the CWW newsletter, send email to mcphifer@earthlink.net PJ506: Peg, I missed mine this last week...did it get sent out? FoxyGram: Dear Lord, thank You for an informative and very helpful workshop tonight. Be with us as we go our separate ways. In Jesus' name, Amen. FoxyGram: Yes, PJ, it did. Loriendil: Amen! HOST WRTR WYates: AMEN! PJ506: Hmmm DiagoCat: Amen. Good night! WordPower7: Amen. Maranatha! PJ506: goodnight all Loriendil: Good night all! HOST WRTR WYates: We'll check the mailing list,PJ. FoxyGram: PJ. would you like me to email it to you? CHICKY11: Amen PJ506: Yes Please! FoxyGram: You got it! PJ506: Thanks! HOST WRTR WYates: See you Tuesday night! HOST WRTR WYates: Night, all!