Showing posts with label query letter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label query letter. Show all posts

Saturday, November 5, 2011

How To Decipher Rejections


By Bonnie Harris

So I've done something to my blog and now I can't figure out how to put pictures on the left or right side. Gotta love that! :)

Anyway, I ran across this blog post by Rachelle Gardner, a literary agent for Word Serve Literary, about how to interpret rejection letters. I would try to summarize it, but it wouldn't do the post justice. So here's the link and enjoy! Decoding Query Rejections

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Work In Progress Wednesday

This is going to be a quick one. I managed a shower and eating before the baby began to stir. Now I'm running to get this done. Should have done it last night when I thought about it. Oh well, we live and learn!

Anyway, I'm working hard on my query letter and synopsis for Encoded Secrets. I've had several different opinions on the query letter so I thought I'd ask you. Keep in mind, it's still a "work in progress" but I'd love to know what you think.

The purpose of a query letter is to catch the agent/editor's eye. Think of it as a back cover blurb. Which one do you think is more catchy and if you can explain why that would be great! If not, which one do you like better. Thanks so much!

1. Georgina Blackinsworth is not a typical eighteen-year-old girl. While other girls attend dance and piano lessons, she gets combat, weaponry, and assassination training. Not only that, but her dad puts her through “If this happens . . .” drills to make sure she is prepared for all possible scenarios. Now, as her classmates focus on high school graduation, Georgie finds herself locked in a family battle.


Kent Blackinsworth, Georgie’s dad, leaves town and fails to return. Georgie thinks it’s just another drill and blows off all signs indicating otherwise until she finds a letter which explains why she’ll never be typical and leaves her doubting if her dad is alive. Now she must discover the location of a family vault while avoiding her aunt Edith who will stop at nothing to gain access--including murdering her own sister.


With the help of her best friend Jake, Georgie begins a journey full of clues and discoveries. She finds she is falling in love with Jake and trusting him despite all evidence telling her she is making a mistake. As trust fights against her an ultimatum is set: find the vault she knows nothing about or Dad dies.


2. Georgina Blackinsworth just wants to be normal. She wants to do regular things like fall for a the hot boy in class, go to prom or even get to school without worrying about being attacked, but “It’s not practical for you.” says her dad, Kent Blackinsworth. Now as her classmates focus on high school graduation, Georgie finds herself locked in a family battle.


When Georgie’s dad leaves town on business and fails to return, she thinks it’s just another one of his wacky drills and blows off obvious signs he’s not coming back. It’s not until she finds a letter explaining why she will never be normal and leaves her questioning if her dad is still alive that she realizes it’s not a drill.


Now she must race against the clock, following clues to a family vault while being hunted by her murderous Aunt to save her dad. Not only that but she finds herself battling feelings for her best friend Jake, the hot boy in school who tags along, and trusting him--a big no-no in her family.


3. Georgina Blackinsworth just wants to be normal. Instead she gets weaponry, combat, assassination training and is run through “If this happens . . .” drills at the insistence of Kent Blackinsworth, her dad. Not what she wants to be doing while other girls attend dance and piano lessons.


When Georgie’s dad leaves town and fails to return, she blows it off thinking it’s just another one of his silly drills. Not until she discovers a letter explaining why she will never be normal and leaves her questioning if her dad’s alive does she realize he’s not coming home.


With the help of her best friend Jake, she begins down a path of clues, discoveries and danger while being hunted by her murderous aunt. Not only that, but she finds herself battling feelings for Jake and trusting him--a big no-no in her family. As trust works against her an ultimatum has been set: find the vault or dad dies.