tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post7493961712440604006..comments2024-03-16T01:00:59.945-04:00Comments on Query Shark: #242Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-83104449334822114522014-01-27T13:41:03.964-05:002014-01-27T13:41:03.964-05:00Immediately, I notice this does not follow the for...Immediately, I notice this does not follow the format of query letters as regimented by the forums. But, it STILL works. Why? Because it makes you want to know more. And the quirkiness tells you the author is witty and concise enough to make long explanations with few words. This is a good lesson on how you can be yourself in your query and still win. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05600850361854460667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-44910620400623168372013-07-06T22:50:59.068-04:002013-07-06T22:50:59.068-04:00It's straightforward, plot-centered, and simpl...It's straightforward, plot-centered, and simply well-written.Jeff Shanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04304255957778763541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-70575043572589732952013-05-20T14:44:14.119-04:002013-05-20T14:44:14.119-04:00Ok. I'll bite - I'd like to hear Query Sha...Ok. I'll bite - I'd like to hear Query Shark's reasons why it's a win.<br />Thank you.remedypeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13279668850477857737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-7965914827727654052013-05-06T08:05:54.894-04:002013-05-06T08:05:54.894-04:00Sorry, but no thanks. Yes, I see that this query ...Sorry, but no thanks. Yes, I see that this query grabs ones attention and is well written, but I don't read sci-fi. Why? Because such a plot is too exaggerated and ludicrously improbable. And "Kangaroo"? I would be chuckling while I shoved the book back on the book store shelf.<br /><br />At 115,000 words, this ain't no pocket novel!ojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07656728055039814631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-23002470780554508872013-04-27T14:51:18.116-04:002013-04-27T14:51:18.116-04:00I would say, it catches your attention, tells us w...I would say, it catches your attention, tells us what actually happens in the story, and tells us there's an antagonist. I like it and I want to read the book. Publish please. :) Kim Kouskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15988055024196149433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-24151765223014610112013-04-19T15:27:57.201-04:002013-04-19T15:27:57.201-04:00I deleted my comment because it sounded too negati...I deleted my comment because it sounded too negative, and I had no intention of being negative. My query has been getting rejections so I have no room to criticize(I am in the midst of reworking it). Congrats on getting a winning query! CavalierdeNuithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09862976676163347369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-4891101358346388292013-04-18T18:04:53.938-04:002013-04-18T18:04:53.938-04:00The rules are to help you achieve one goal. When y...The rules are to help you achieve one goal. When you boil it all down only one thing matters. She want's to read more. <br /><br />The fact that this person ended with a question, uses a lot of colons, or may not have chosen the perfect word in every instance - immaterial.<br /><br />Get the reader to want more. Period. B Henwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241627302685030946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-719832205762464582013-04-18T00:17:51.210-04:002013-04-18T00:17:51.210-04:00At #62 in comments, I have nothing new to say, exc...At #62 in comments, I have nothing new to say, except...I want to read this one!<br /><br />Cool gadget and sucks at being a spy? I know he is going to learn how to be a spy, and I want to be along for the ride.<br /><br />I may not quite get every word that made this a win, but I want to read this story, and that is, if I've read the archives correctly, the point of a successful query. pegjethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15255191759031800811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-69348494221032019932013-04-17T13:52:29.146-04:002013-04-17T13:52:29.146-04:00@Taeryn: according to the author's Twitter, QS...@Taeryn: according to the author's Twitter, QS requested the full about a week ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-89761251094291357462013-04-16T16:17:25.486-04:002013-04-16T16:17:25.486-04:00The author puts the protagonist front-and-center i...The author puts the protagonist front-and-center in simple terms, describes the challenges he faces, and hints at the potential consequences if he fails. Period. No extraneous backstory or subplots, no superfluous details, no character soup.<br />I don't like sci-fi personally, but I don't have to like it to understand why it's a great query. pcwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16600883560611069711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-41178285262770339592013-04-16T14:59:14.432-04:002013-04-16T14:59:14.432-04:00This is a Win because it does everything a query i...This is a Win because it does everything a query is supposed to do(character,conflict,voice,genre, word count, entice) without wasting a single word which is amazing considering it's got to world build too. Great job! <br /><br />PS I'm not a big sci-fi fan-but I don't find any of this confusing. If you've read any good sci-fi, say Ender's Game, you can visualize this world based on the bits the query gives- I'd read this. My husband would love it. I hope it makes it to print, soon.<br /><br />sbjameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06986950185596914217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-91080674884379117962013-04-14T19:27:35.364-04:002013-04-14T19:27:35.364-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.CavalierdeNuithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09862976676163347369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-17138326747505237252013-04-14T16:48:34.651-04:002013-04-14T16:48:34.651-04:00I would really like to see an equivalent update on...I would really like to see an equivalent update on what Agents want to see. If this is ideal then who can you tweak your own work in this direction.<br /><br />My work is equally unique, and complex...but my query just does not show that because it is so HARD to put something like this into the form I have heard repeated ad-nauseum.<br /><br /><br />So does it matter more what your present than, what the agents say they want?<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08352611509055853988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-66184266788291855952013-04-13T16:04:23.113-04:002013-04-13T16:04:23.113-04:00Because 'Win', 'First', and 'T...Because 'Win', 'First', and 'Try' shouldn't be capitalized?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07847171420051568700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-81185119846776903212013-04-11T22:06:50.755-04:002013-04-11T22:06:50.755-04:00I REALLY want to read this. You had me at code nam...I REALLY want to read this. You had me at code name Kangeroo, but I love everything about it.Crystal Chareehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06494533207628369149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-37648273498315671792013-04-10T12:26:00.225-04:002013-04-10T12:26:00.225-04:00Any query you read that you can instantly see as a...Any query you read that you can instantly see as a movie trailer works.<br /><br />I see this in the same vein as <i> True Lies</i>, serious thrills but with a strong undercurrent of humor and comedy.UnEdOpinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04229469681132137263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-9300115689925191802013-04-04T16:39:08.703-04:002013-04-04T16:39:08.703-04:00Oh, PS - NOT an April Fool's Day joke...so sad...Oh, PS - NOT an April Fool's Day joke...so sad that a good query is so rare that...well...lol <br /> <br />The author: https://twitter.com/curtiscchen<br /><br />(only posting this b/c he tweeted it, personally!!!)BPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16407715408242911362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-29621595591677066102013-04-04T16:34:19.106-04:002013-04-04T16:34:19.106-04:00Because...chills!!! :D
And goosebumps are NEVER ...Because...chills!!! :D <br /><br />And goosebumps are NEVER WRONG. <br /><br />Plus, Kangaroo. Which is an awesome name for a book character.<br /><br />So let me know when this sells or anything. I'll just be here waiting with the patience of a starved jackal. BPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16407715408242911362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-52214403230379988542013-04-04T11:29:10.657-04:002013-04-04T11:29:10.657-04:00Well...I assumed it was a children's book on f...Well...I assumed it was a children's book on first go, but second para cleared that up. I get what Susan says, and partially agree, but like the others say, it does entice, and it does seem funny. At least the MS deserves a read for that. While, like I said, I don't normally go in for sci-fi, I put that aside to read the query fairly... and it IS cute. Even though the name Kangaroo is long, not quick to say, and actually means, (I heard) in Aborigine, 'I don't know what you're saying.' (Because the settlers asked what those big hopping things were.)Taerynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16187921213037701918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-5816243260186341722013-04-03T15:46:14.910-04:002013-04-03T15:46:14.910-04:00To be honest with you, I found the plot to annoyin...To be honest with you, I found the plot to annoying in the sense that it is ridiculously implausible. I assume this is a children's book?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00878534990610996109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-7873030027729662612013-04-03T15:10:53.743-04:002013-04-03T15:10:53.743-04:00This query is a Win on the First Try because it do...This query is a Win on the First Try because it does the primary job of a query: it entices you to read on. <br /><br />Just as the goal of a resume is to get you an interview that hopefully leads to a job, the query has to make an agent want to read pages. Then, with any luck, requests for a full ms and a book contract will follow.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14358425273400287355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-3418763464437498392013-04-03T12:42:32.185-04:002013-04-03T12:42:32.185-04:00I may be a bit biased (I love science fiction), bu...I may be a bit biased (I love science fiction), but the concept behind this, as well as the way it's presented, is awesome. The query doesn't beat around the bush, but tells us what's up with Kangaroo, and what's at stake for him.Ellipsis Floodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03097098062834873232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-20729917490109968792013-04-02T18:40:56.164-04:002013-04-02T18:40:56.164-04:00Because it makes you want to read the book! No bac...Because it makes you want to read the book! No backstory, just plot points. Original. No extraneous details that just confuse you... all in all, good job!The Cardboard Crafterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10880426970554225968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-56453697120490316732013-04-02T15:45:51.601-04:002013-04-02T15:45:51.601-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09867114601511724995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-3381344371208261592013-04-02T15:30:00.015-04:002013-04-02T15:30:00.015-04:00Smiling all the way through...Smiling all the way through...jdsperohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16664727014171959065noreply@blogger.com