Becoming a query wizard
The current Backspace Query Workshop is like a peek behind the curtain of querying, something most of us don’t get until we’re into the real thing. It’s like when Toto tore back the curtain on the Wizard revealing things no chick from Kansas was ever supposed to see.
I’m not saying that literary agents are wizards, or that I or the writers I know are as naive as dear Dorothy, but there is a mystique associated with the query process. We work our tails off — traipsing through forests and many fewer fields full of poppies or Emerald Cities than most of us would like. Like Dorothy, in the end, we writers are charged with feats of bravery in order to get the final prize.
One of the things I consistently thought as I read the submitted queries was something the agents asked some of the writers.
“Who is your audience? Who will read this book?”
The nature of the workshop is that no one answers, we simply (oh, if it were simple!) revise. We rethink and retool and rewrite and repost. And we must do so with our readership, our audience, in mind while reeling in the imagination and enthusiasm of the agent, using the truth of the work wrapped up (in the wise words of Erica Orloff) with a bow, even using bells and whistles to draw attention. Not unlike the wonderful Wizard of Oz.
But behind the glitz, and beyond trotting out horses in every different color, we must reach our audience. Keep our eye on the prize. For Dorothy it was going home — for writers it is publication. We must communicate our story and it must go beyond the sizzle (Erica’s word again). Just like the Wizard’s methods entailed a bit of overkill, I think that writers can also go a bit beyond the sizzle. And as we all know, there is a fine line between sizzle and fizzle.
My suggestion? Don’t forget that it’s your story. Keep the audience in mind, and show an agent you’ll capture them. That is the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of publishing.
I’ve gotten good feedback by the way. Still tweaking and turning and stumbling down the yellow brick road of my work.
I’m glad you did a post about this. I’ve been wondering how it’s going. That’s an excellent point about keeping the audience in mind. It seems obvious, but it’s something I can see myself forgetting when the time comes.
Yep, they wanna know who you’re targeting, and how you plan to to reach them; like what all you’re willing to do to sell books. Like the little munchkins, you’ll need gimmicks and branding too, oh my. With all that in mind, plus writing, editing, tweaking, querying, etc etc etc, I just want to say one thing — “Dorothyyyyy, I’m melting!”
Great post. Right now my querying is reminiscent of those flying monkeys. Unruly to be certain.
Melanie, I think it’s easy to believe EVERYONE will love what we write. Truth is…ain’t so!!
Angie, LOL…don’t worry about marketing with your query letter, . If you have a substantial platform the agents want to know, otherwise all they want is evidence of a great story coupled with stellar writing. The agents did not want to get bogged down in too many details UNLESS the credentials were top-notch. Some of the writers wrote about their blogs and myspace etc and it’s ok to mention — but it doesn’t sell the query, as you know. It also won’t turn off an agent if everything else rocks, of course!!
Travis, I never did like those flying monkeys. You need to your own wicked witch and tame those babies!
I gave you an award on my blog.
Great post – I guess it’s important not to put too much in that letter, no matter how tempting. How well you communicate in a brief page can speak volumes!
I’ve been writing professionally for more than 20 years, and yes, query letters are often where the game is won or lost.
As an aside, with the current economic recession, it is harder than ever to get a book published unless you’ve got a terrific platform, an idea that will sell, and a well-written book that a lot of other people really need to read. Some markets are already saturated, and some topics are even tougher to pitch in rotten economic times. But people will always buy books that have something worthy to offer.
Writer’s Digest has a lot of great tips (online and in their magazine) on how to write great query letters. Good luck to everyone!