tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post8832572247483442566..comments2024-03-29T04:41:13.129-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: Query Letter Writing - First and LastElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-37222305131924747292010-02-06T17:25:09.955-07:002010-02-06T17:25:09.955-07:00You are so fabulous for sharing your insights and ...You are so fabulous for sharing your insights and HARD WORK! Great letter! I've only written query letters for a nonfiction book I wrote. In light of what you've suggested I'm going to think mine over again.<br />Thanks!Lesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04084288201851073491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-11683495665233424172010-02-05T14:04:25.247-07:002010-02-05T14:04:25.247-07:00You make it look so easy! Thanks for the tips :)You make it look so easy! Thanks for the tips :)Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-38083345359804349772010-02-05T07:38:58.338-07:002010-02-05T07:38:58.338-07:00I have saved this for future reference. I think I ...I have saved this for future reference. I think I "get" query letters, but this breaks it down better than I've seen it anywhere else. <br /><br />Thank you!Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-68522973747392112010-02-04T20:10:57.516-07:002010-02-04T20:10:57.516-07:00That was really helpful. I'm ripping my hair ...That was really helpful. I'm ripping my hair out over my query at the moment. I need to strip it down to the basics.Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11217271340928929622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-83424987926200068532010-02-03T22:50:54.684-07:002010-02-03T22:50:54.684-07:00This is so helpful, Elana. Really clean and clear....This is so helpful, Elana. Really clean and clear. Thank you! Now if I could just figure out a way to manage it with two protagonists, both with really long, but important, titles.VR Barkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927993233682731113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-56092322926659538322010-02-03T20:13:39.034-07:002010-02-03T20:13:39.034-07:00I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I've said it before, and I'll say it again.<br /><br />Thou art the Queen of the Query and I worship at thy feet.ali crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13023009704454279645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-52745863513005987142010-02-03T20:13:22.035-07:002010-02-03T20:13:22.035-07:00Robyn, I have a few saved versions, but mostly wit...Robyn, I have a few saved versions, but mostly with pages after them. I really only changed my paragraphs around once, when I was querying a specific agent. I know, I know, people say to ALWAYS do this or ALWAYS do that. Yeah, I don't ALWAYS do anything. <br /><br />And in a query letter, it makes more sense to me to start with something more personal than the title of my book. Maybe my brain is hardwired wrong, but I don't think anyone is going to reject you if you put your title, genre and word count below the blurb. I think they just want it in there. <br /><br />But do the research. I know of one agent who wants that stuff first. I simply copied and pasted, so it's no big thing. Don't stress!<br /><br />Roni, I've heard of people opening with just the hook. Slamming the agent right into it, so to speak. I think that's just fine. If it "feels right" to you, do it!!<br /><br />Going to check out the awards -- I'm so honored!Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-28670232387297064852010-02-03T19:01:34.811-07:002010-02-03T19:01:34.811-07:00Great tips. What are your thoughts on just openin...Great tips. What are your thoughts on just opening with the hook paragraph? This is what I've typically done and have had good success with getting requests.<br /><br />Also, you have a little gift over on my blog today. :)Roni Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719679344024635326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-88479884559337546542010-02-03T19:00:40.137-07:002010-02-03T19:00:40.137-07:00Oops. Forgot to tell you I've left you an awar...Oops. Forgot to tell you I've left you an award over at my blog :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-88098489543055076462010-02-03T18:30:46.752-07:002010-02-03T18:30:46.752-07:00Great query! Your example will really prove helpfu...Great query! Your example will really prove helpful for everyone trying to write an effective query letter...<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a>Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-60959991070145110332010-02-03T18:03:33.581-07:002010-02-03T18:03:33.581-07:00Elana--Great post! I agree with your post. The m...Elana--Great post! I agree with your post. The more concise my query the more interest I've had in my work. You need to post this over at YALITCHAT.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-56770924341734185492010-02-03T17:59:25.893-07:002010-02-03T17:59:25.893-07:00Couldn't star this is my reader fast enough.
...Couldn't star this is my reader fast enough.<br /><br />Thanks for a brillant post! This actually inspires me to keep writing and finish my ms, because I'm stoked to query!Leigh Hutchens Burchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13974935740527936303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-11050379178371478052010-02-03T17:24:51.092-07:002010-02-03T17:24:51.092-07:00Write the query as you write the book, you say? O...Write the query as you write the book, you say? Oops. I better get on that!Mariah Irvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15181111151756005743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-32174976087692624092010-02-03T17:19:15.529-07:002010-02-03T17:19:15.529-07:00Great example Elana! Thanks.Great example Elana! Thanks.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-22143147223779010882010-02-03T17:16:06.326-07:002010-02-03T17:16:06.326-07:00OK --I just redid mine! thanks!OK --I just redid mine! thanks!Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-80643867531335741842010-02-03T17:04:41.922-07:002010-02-03T17:04:41.922-07:00Thx so much, and keep it coming.Thx so much, and keep it coming.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-7800484276326947382010-02-03T16:57:08.863-07:002010-02-03T16:57:08.863-07:00But Elana, I thought that you were supposed to ALW...But Elana, I thought that you were supposed to ALWAYS begin with the title and word count. So you are telling me that it's different for different agents? ARGH, GAH! <br /><br />Do you advice crafting two query letters then? You know one with it in front and one with it towards the bottom. HELP!Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-19411476347012983382010-02-03T16:37:35.474-07:002010-02-03T16:37:35.474-07:00Super great advice here--I am definitely going to ...Super great advice here--I am definitely going to refer back to this post in the future. In my last query I worked it down to four short paragraphs like this and I think it's helped immensely.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-45137223571749372852010-02-03T16:11:58.777-07:002010-02-03T16:11:58.777-07:00It seems so easy when someone else does it!!
I...It seems so easy when someone else does it!!<br /><br />I've been playing around with my hook & 2nd sentence all week. Haven't got it nailed yet, but it's coming along.Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-81483612769600322952010-02-03T16:04:06.900-07:002010-02-03T16:04:06.900-07:00All I'm going to do is this ((SMOOCHES)). Than...All I'm going to do is this ((SMOOCHES)). Thank you!Steena Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03585255306121495098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-78717733052673364762010-02-03T15:31:14.028-07:002010-02-03T15:31:14.028-07:00I wish you would have posted this stuff BEFORE I f...I wish you would have posted this stuff BEFORE I found an agent. Uber helpful stuff, girl! :)Katie Gansherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09150375338556869812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-43642538692371618812010-02-03T15:14:09.305-07:002010-02-03T15:14:09.305-07:00Of all the info I've read on how to write quer...Of all the info I've read on how to write query letters ... yours is the best. Thanks!Alison Eckelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04963411701395289649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-5939944523451727012010-02-03T15:07:04.606-07:002010-02-03T15:07:04.606-07:00Great advise... you're making query writing se...Great advise... you're making query writing seem 'almost' fun.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01677563505368503476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-38462557815992345712010-02-03T14:46:49.541-07:002010-02-03T14:46:49.541-07:00Great post! I am totally eating this stuff up. I w...Great post! I am totally eating this stuff up. I was on your sight all afternoon using it as a resourse for my query!Christina Farleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03459203755170266842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-31804536823972192862010-02-03T14:26:23.807-07:002010-02-03T14:26:23.807-07:00I'm loving the "Elana" query method!...I'm loving the "Elana" query method! Thank you for helping all of us that are admittedly horrible at this process!Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08188460633615049191noreply@blogger.com