tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post5175720631783509858..comments2024-03-15T09:26:02.796-05:00Comments on PROJECT MAYHEM: TRADING PLACES: NOTES FROM THE PITCHWARS SLUSHProject Mayhemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05154342399869089664noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-13707444898631178072014-01-07T11:21:05.431-06:002014-01-07T11:21:05.431-06:00Terrific post, Joy--such great insight! Terrific post, Joy--such great insight! Tara Dairmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02553180762608936696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-84807338865190835142014-01-07T08:46:53.607-06:002014-01-07T08:46:53.607-06:00Wow. I just left a detailed rant of a comment, and...Wow. I just left a detailed rant of a comment, and it got eaten! Thanks, blogger.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-71336598804131732802014-01-06T22:37:01.743-06:002014-01-06T22:37:01.743-06:00Absolutely! Critiquing others' work is such a ...Absolutely! Critiquing others' work is such a great way to improve in one's own writing. And likewise, critiquing query letters is SUCH a great way to learn the pitfalls and how to avoid them. Joy McCullough-Carranzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499534418217657768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-20421276538056879952014-01-06T19:15:28.682-06:002014-01-06T19:15:28.682-06:00I don't know if this qualifies as a "Frea...I don't know if this qualifies as a "Freaky Friday" experience, but recently I took an online writing class where I got to critique my classmates' work, and vice versa. Seeing some of the issues some of my classmates had helped me to recognize some of those same issues in my own writing. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912167351889969855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-819354142733183912014-01-06T18:55:51.283-06:002014-01-06T18:55:51.283-06:00SO eye opening! I hope you found your character...SO eye opening! I hope you found your character's strong desire!Joy McCullough-Carranzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499534418217657768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-27399083352172389832014-01-06T18:55:03.720-06:002014-01-06T18:55:03.720-06:00Thanks so much, Hilary. Yes, it seems like someone...Thanks so much, Hilary. Yes, it seems like someone who's capable of writing a whole novel ought to be capable of distilling it into a compelling query, and yet that doesn't always seem to translate! Thankfully it's easier to find feedback on the query than the whole manuscript. :-)Joy McCullough-Carranzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499534418217657768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-2882713436142305282014-01-06T18:53:22.738-06:002014-01-06T18:53:22.738-06:00Thanks Dianne! It's been a terrific experience...Thanks Dianne! It's been a terrific experience. I've made some wonderful new writing friends and really feel like I understand the agent/editor process so much better now (and have to remind myself that I only got the tiniest glimpse of what they go through!).Joy McCullough-Carranzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499534418217657768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-52084558465789878952014-01-06T18:13:27.050-06:002014-01-06T18:13:27.050-06:00Joy, this sounds like a really neat experience. An...Joy, this sounds like a really neat experience. And your advice is excellent. Sharing this all over ...Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-72163224856770367902014-01-06T16:15:38.053-06:002014-01-06T16:15:38.053-06:00Query is everything! If an agent is not comfortabl...Query is everything! If an agent is not comfortable with your 250 word query, how can they be comfortable with your 250 page novel? Such great observations! Lots of people favorited this post and for good reason! Thanks, Joy!Hilary Wagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18199287020561210673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-91817905132532462392014-01-06T13:31:00.755-06:002014-01-06T13:31:00.755-06:00I think it's great to get query help from both...I think it's great to get query help from both people who have read the manuscript and people who haven't. People who have read may have a clearer idea of what's important to focus on in the query, etc., but sometimes people who've read the manuscript gloss over confusing bits of the query b/c they understand what really happens.Joy McCullough-Carranzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499534418217657768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-30266331772271454882014-01-06T13:28:51.844-06:002014-01-06T13:28:51.844-06:00Yes, absolutely. I like writing a query fairly ear...Yes, absolutely. I like writing a query fairly early in the drafting process precisely because it can often help identify issues in the manuscript itself. Joy McCullough-Carranzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499534418217657768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-33150881532124610282014-01-06T13:06:43.894-06:002014-01-06T13:06:43.894-06:00When I wrote (and rewrote and rewrote) a query for...When I wrote (and rewrote and rewrote) a query for my second novel, it became apparent to me that my main character lacked a strong desire for something. Wanting to be left alone apparently is not a heart's desire! So I agree with Stephanie, above, the act of writing the query can be eye-opening. And then it's back to revising. Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-34694460728614604632014-01-06T12:05:14.833-06:002014-01-06T12:05:14.833-06:00There is a ton of query help online and even then ...There is a ton of query help online and even then it's still tough! I revised mine so many times. There's not really a perfect query, but as long as you hit the main point of the book--and like you said, not a synopsis-like list of "and then this happens," that's pretty much the key. <br /><br />Another thing I learned (the hard way) was that sometimes a query can reveal weaknesses in a book. If your MC has no main goal and things just happen to them, that could be a sign of a larger issue with the manuscript.Stephscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06328839483008086049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-6151767203383255772014-01-06T11:10:33.304-06:002014-01-06T11:10:33.304-06:00I've never been a judge for a writing contest,...I've never been a judge for a writing contest, but I did a query critique for someone who wasn't a critique partner a couple of months ago and it totally stressed me out. It's hard for me to make suggestions on a query when I haven't read the manuscript, but you're right, Joy~ the query is the first thing agents see, and it goes a long way of helping to get requests if that letter is as polished as your pages.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14121018905141253640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-79142795676112935922014-01-06T10:48:21.442-06:002014-01-06T10:48:21.442-06:00Thanks, Michael! I've sure had fun. I think th...Thanks, Michael! I've sure had fun. I think the best thing to be gained by contests like these is the relationships. Joy McCullough-Carranzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499534418217657768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-37913530285206322232014-01-06T10:47:43.654-06:002014-01-06T10:47:43.654-06:00Yes, and not just an investment of money but also ...Yes, and not just an investment of money but also time! There simply isn't time to read everything I want to read, much less put in the time involved in agenting or editing a manuscript.Joy McCullough-Carranzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499534418217657768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-57951625358186252302014-01-06T10:40:16.526-06:002014-01-06T10:40:16.526-06:00Wonderful post, Joy. I bet you're a great ment...Wonderful post, Joy. I bet you're a great mentor!Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-68249411268896479772014-01-06T08:27:15.383-06:002014-01-06T08:27:15.383-06:00Sometimes I can imagine how an agent or editor mus...Sometimes I can imagine how an agent or editor must feel whenever I'm trying to decide on what books to buy and read. There's an investment at stake so I find myself reading the blurbs and tossing aside best sellers or genre books I'm usually interested in in search for 'the one' I really can't do without. Creepy Query Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115161057496086972noreply@blogger.com