tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post1401176214154577842..comments2024-03-25T17:56:01.825-04:00Comments on Insecure Writer's Support Group: Querying a Small PressAlex J. Cavanaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-87615823034488618562015-10-10T08:45:28.611-04:002015-10-10T08:45:28.611-04:00I'm finishing up the polishing stage on my mem...I'm finishing up the polishing stage on my memoir about attending college with five children in tow. These are great tips and I've shared them generously. Thanks, Karen. Victoria Marie Leeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05294868315757138169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-32283005024375056602015-10-03T17:00:16.799-04:002015-10-03T17:00:16.799-04:00Very encouraging....thanks so much for the tips. S...Very encouraging....thanks so much for the tips. SharonSharon Himslhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835934582653243661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-50932830588865753632015-10-02T09:13:25.522-04:002015-10-02T09:13:25.522-04:00Thank you for the great tips.
Shalom,
PatThank you for the great tips. <br />Shalom,<br />PatPat Garciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04204650731843984192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-75372587955863176442015-10-01T18:58:44.369-04:002015-10-01T18:58:44.369-04:00You hit my "teacher bone." There is so ...You hit my "teacher bone." There is so much on this subject and it is so important I devoted a whole chapter in The Frugal Editor (http://bit.ly/FrugalEditor) to interviewing agents for their pet query letter peeves. Turns out they have lots of them and they aren't things your English teacher ever taught you! Carolyn Howard-Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041591136206289558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-12550804857940044392015-09-30T17:26:58.438-04:002015-09-30T17:26:58.438-04:00Very helpful advice. I love to hear that it is not...Very helpful advice. I love to hear that it is not a mystery from someone who knows. Write a good manuscript and someone will notice. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.Kathryn Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07755466843555856661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-45240190095443215112015-09-30T17:10:57.427-04:002015-09-30T17:10:57.427-04:00Pretty basic, but invaluable. Thanks for sharing. ...Pretty basic, but invaluable. Thanks for sharing. Toi Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07493934864387695248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-1291839448867891932015-09-30T15:03:21.721-04:002015-09-30T15:03:21.721-04:00Thank you Karen and Diane! This was full of helpf...Thank you Karen and Diane! This was full of helpful and encouraging information!Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-66532630028732098262015-09-30T11:13:42.269-04:002015-09-30T11:13:42.269-04:00Haha, I liked the unstable personality comment. Al...Haha, I liked the unstable personality comment. All of this is so true. Thanks, Karen. Bodacious tips from a bodacious lady. Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-78944363850169605322015-09-30T09:16:37.705-04:002015-09-30T09:16:37.705-04:00Excellent tips! It certainly is important to have ...Excellent tips! It certainly is important to have a well-polished manuscript before anything else.Sherry Ellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13381887565717348293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-1119031405453852252015-09-30T02:00:23.470-04:002015-09-30T02:00:23.470-04:00Great advice! Thanks Karen.Great advice! Thanks Karen.Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-20068355964508271102015-09-29T17:23:19.377-04:002015-09-29T17:23:19.377-04:00Thanks for the tips, Karen!Thanks for the tips, Karen!Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-24404903484540557562015-09-29T02:22:38.494-04:002015-09-29T02:22:38.494-04:00Thanks Karen. Very helpful hints. I can see those ...Thanks Karen. Very helpful hints. I can see those queries from children tugging at the heart, but at least Allie leaves them with a lesson, and possibly a means to get published when they are ready.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-61372515995876536892015-09-28T19:29:27.658-04:002015-09-28T19:29:27.658-04:00This is excellent advice for people who are starti...This is excellent advice for people who are starting out and some of the info just made me laugh(which movie stars will be great for their characters)Birgithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439720285857050428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-87281033944077433982015-09-28T18:18:26.278-04:002015-09-28T18:18:26.278-04:00Susan, Once the query is checked for spelling and ...Susan, Once the query is checked for spelling and grammar errors, and all cliched phrases removed, as long as it has the basic information requested by the submissions site, there's no need to continually work on it. In fact, that would be a mistake as all the life and personality may then be edited out!<br /><br />Robert, Exactly, let someone else praise your work to the skies!<br /><br />Chrys, I am so thrilled that you're happy with your small press. Those are words I love to hear.<br /><br />Anne, Thank you! And thanks for sharing. Every bit of information that goes out can help writers and publishers find each other!<br /><br />Ann, I'm definitely not against agents. WiDo has worked with several. Unlike a real estate agent who will readily take on a client, literary agents are much more discriminating. This is where many writers become discouraged and try submitting on their own to a publisher who accepts unagented submissions.Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378428503220197256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-18700871945320601412015-09-28T16:28:40.004-04:002015-09-28T16:28:40.004-04:00Thanks so much, Karen! Great post and wonderful to...Thanks so much, Karen! Great post and wonderful to see you featured here today.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05614478740889477584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-36362765201060253332015-09-28T15:06:38.375-04:002015-09-28T15:06:38.375-04:00Solid common sense-advice that sadly, many aspirin...Solid common sense-advice that sadly, many aspiring authors don't hear enough. Thanks, Karen. Sharing! Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-85330628158790694202015-09-28T13:11:28.027-04:002015-09-28T13:11:28.027-04:00Always great info. I've seen more than a few p...Always great info. I've seen more than a few people who like to pronounce themselves as "the greatest writer since sliced bread" with the "best book you'll read this year" and I always just giggle to myself like "Yea, not worth my time." because 99 out of 100 times it always seems to be subpar somehow.H.R. Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01462784064936801201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-40777245281028018452015-09-28T12:54:16.381-04:002015-09-28T12:54:16.381-04:00You do have to put your business cap on. I see the...You do have to put your business cap on. I see the advantage of an agent. When I sold a house, I used a real estate agent. It is hard to step back from something so close to your heart. These are good points. Thanks for the link to Gowen's blog.Ann Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17759967601352382204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-69724851796596403482015-09-28T12:25:52.914-04:002015-09-28T12:25:52.914-04:00Oooh, great post. I don't think of publishing ...Oooh, great post. I don't think of publishing companies as the bad guy. They have to pick what will be best for profit, and I understand that. One thing you can't do is assume the market will stay the same. <br /><br />The letters from the young people wanting their books published tugs at my heart. :) <br /><br />Teresa T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-4526966213226656882015-09-28T12:08:44.965-04:002015-09-28T12:08:44.965-04:00Excellent post, Karen. We forget that those readin...Excellent post, Karen. We forget that those reading our query letters are real people wanting to welcome us into the fold. They're not just some faceless being. Thanks for your wise advice. Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-29345259268474497972015-09-28T11:40:03.497-04:002015-09-28T11:40:03.497-04:00I queried a small press with Hurricane Crimes and ...I queried a small press with Hurricane Crimes and I'm so happy that I did. I'm still with them and have future projects in mind for them. :)Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-24183749368620585682015-09-28T10:45:41.986-04:002015-09-28T10:45:41.986-04:00Man, staying informed about this industry is so ha...Man, staying informed about this industry is so hard when it seems to change weekly. Thanks for the tips though! I have been thinking more about small publishers.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-31214976237417448392015-09-28T10:43:12.392-04:002015-09-28T10:43:12.392-04:00I know writers who have spent weeks and weeks tryi...I know writers who have spent weeks and weeks trying to perfect their query letter. I think they use it as a delaying technique because of the fear of sending their book out. Thanks for sharing some of the amusing and misguided type of queries.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-44537091776363239512015-09-28T09:42:46.459-04:002015-09-28T09:42:46.459-04:00Thank you, IWSG, for this opportunity to get more ...Thank you, IWSG, for this opportunity to get more information out about submitting your book to a small press. I'm not sure why so many writers still think their only options are going the agent route or self - publishing. With smart research and a good manuscript, it's quite possible to get a traditional publisher without an agent.<br /><br />Many small publishers like WiDo are eager to see good submissions and to sign new authors.Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378428503220197256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-86518642144366411242015-09-28T09:42:28.187-04:002015-09-28T09:42:28.187-04:00Karen, excellent tips. I'll Bookmark this as I...Karen, excellent tips. I'll Bookmark this as I'll be going through this process again next year with a new series.Stephen Tremphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10387553613827257304noreply@blogger.com