tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post7766946889735522174..comments2024-03-11T16:14:49.158-07:00Comments on Don't pet me, I'm writing: The query that hooked my agentTAWNA FENSKEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468819219529035563noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-35905785805038890902011-07-25T10:51:52.757-07:002011-07-25T10:51:52.757-07:00I just found this post and thank you so much for s...I just found this post and thank you so much for sharing! You are such a fun writer, and your words are both enlightening and entertaining! As a newbie autor just mailing out querys, I was in dire need of comedic relief amidst my automated rejection notifications ;) Keep up the good work, I can't wait to pick up one of your books!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-32033617161104465842010-10-24T17:21:03.979-07:002010-10-24T17:21:03.979-07:00Thanks for letting me know that I can be myself in...Thanks for letting me know that I can be myself in my queries. Some people make you think you might drop the pin to the handgrenade if you don't follow the rules exactly to the letter. <br />I actually feel free now.Sebastianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285686487582369491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-45842383765164324352010-10-02T14:39:53.622-07:002010-10-02T14:39:53.622-07:00I must say you certainly grabbed me with your firs...I must say you certainly grabbed me with your first line.<br />Sincerely,<br />James Blunt.....<br /><br />Seriously, a marvelous start and makes me wonder about the lack of publisher acumen. I add my voice of thanks for your willingness to share.Juvenal2010https://www.blogger.com/profile/06346008409866634533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-76318499545417280322010-09-14T12:48:14.041-07:002010-09-14T12:48:14.041-07:00Ok, that's just wrong. You can't leave me ...Ok, that's just wrong. You can't leave me hanging like that for the rest of this tale!!! <br /><br />If you don't sell it, might I suggest waiting until you are not going to annoy anyone to whom you have a contact obligation, and then release it as an eBook? This is precisely the sort of tale that may not sell to conventional publishing, but would gather a huge following online.Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15715761180494476618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-66444262438620847632010-09-12T19:03:30.738-07:002010-09-12T19:03:30.738-07:00That first line IS hilarious!That first line IS hilarious!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-27515771491023615892010-09-09T15:15:10.470-07:002010-09-09T15:15:10.470-07:00You had me at "finding a man who's not af...You had me at "finding a man who's not afraid of a woman with a desire to find the perfect embalming solution."CKHBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17741681893677604323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-85919331241056372522010-09-09T10:41:23.951-07:002010-09-09T10:41:23.951-07:00I know the post was geared more towards the query ...I know the post was geared more towards the query letter (awesome, btw, both letter and breakdown) but I have to join the chorus of disbelief that A TRICKY UNDERTAKING hasn't been sold yet. WOE! I very much want to read the rest of not just that book but whatever you've cooked up to follow. Simply awesome.Bonnie Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-79053391979660695642010-09-09T09:05:03.381-07:002010-09-09T09:05:03.381-07:00Yikes! I got swamped yesterday and totally forgot ...Yikes! I got swamped yesterday and totally forgot to reply to blog comments. Forgive me?<br /><br />Thanks so much to everyone for your kind words about the query and the pages. I know you aren't supposed to have favorite children, and you DEFINITELY aren't supposed to have a favorite child who isn't one of the three scheduled for publication (er, the analogy just fell apart, didn't it?) but that's kind of how I've always felt about A TRICKY UNDERTAKING. I love that book more than any of my others, which is probably why I've never given up hope it'll sell someday.<br /><br />Thanks so much for reading, and for all the nice things you've said here!<br /><br />TawnaTAWNA FENSKEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468819219529035563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-81638978020371070342010-09-09T06:56:51.193-07:002010-09-09T06:56:51.193-07:00Love the excerpt--and, believe it or not, your com...Love the excerpt--and, believe it or not, your complications only make me more determined to work hard and keep trying. <br /><br />I hope your persistence (and your agent's persistence) pays off in a big way over the coming decades!Dr. Cheryl Carvajalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15323455180953109460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-7211159672761952482010-09-08T21:38:10.146-07:002010-09-08T21:38:10.146-07:00Oh, what a lovely thing to share! Thank you both!...Oh, what a lovely thing to share! Thank you both! That was insightful and hilarious, and I really want that book to sell now too!Elizabeth Ryannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12706539983177924875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-86792444972973266512010-09-08T16:34:32.106-07:002010-09-08T16:34:32.106-07:00Dear Michelle,
Please sell this book. Now. Really...Dear Michelle,<br /><br />Please sell this book. Now. Really. I need to know what happens next. That is all.<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />Janelle<br /><br /><br />Dear Tawna,<br /><br />Best. First. Line. EVER!<br /><br />Love,<br />Janelle<br /><br />PS - Thanks for sharing this, guys! It is really interesting to see the comments!! :o)Janelle Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09856351306821482632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-22367663695522991122010-09-08T16:29:13.760-07:002010-09-08T16:29:13.760-07:00Thank you so much for sharing your query letter an...Thank you so much for sharing your query letter and to your agent for sharing her insight.<br /><br />You are a great writer and I'm looking forward to reading your books. I hope A Tricky Undertaking sells soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-30613094556911426182010-09-08T16:23:11.515-07:002010-09-08T16:23:11.515-07:00You can get the Mug custom printed at Zazzle.com (...You can get the Mug custom printed at Zazzle.com (just an FYI)<br />Awesome and interesting read. I am a new writer and appreciate the help and insight.Joanesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942481571651407226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-60233086635977208982010-09-08T11:29:29.427-07:002010-09-08T11:29:29.427-07:00May I second the t-shirt suggestion? Or maybe mugs...May I second the t-shirt suggestion? Or maybe mugs. Yes, a "for the record..."(don't want to spoil the first line for anyone who hasn't read it yet) mug would be awesome.Taymalinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894922480703350634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-64492907840873561682010-09-08T10:52:36.570-07:002010-09-08T10:52:36.570-07:00Thanks to both of you for sharing this. It's ...Thanks to both of you for sharing this. It's been a great help. I am actually looking forward to working on a query letter now! :)Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16522601750496008817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-36130775067632370302010-09-08T10:20:34.201-07:002010-09-08T10:20:34.201-07:00Michelle + Tawna=superamazingawesome
It's alwa...Michelle + Tawna=superamazingawesome<br />It's always been clear why she picked you, Tawna. This reiterates why.Candylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956196611348299424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-22496087362306358352010-09-08T10:16:32.235-07:002010-09-08T10:16:32.235-07:00Thank you so much for your generosity in posting y...Thank you so much for your generosity in posting your query letter. Your post helps to make this more real and personal. Good luck in selling that book. I'd read it. :)Lisa McQuayhttp://Rockville8.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-12203151016195786242010-09-08T10:15:06.235-07:002010-09-08T10:15:06.235-07:00Tawna and Michelle,
Thank you both for sharing the...Tawna and Michelle,<br />Thank you both for sharing the material and your analysis of it. This kind of post is immensely useful for anyone who is in the midst of querying their work (or those that have yet to start).<br /><br />And Tawna, those pages are hilarious and definitely make you want to read more. Looking forward to seeing this one see the light of day sometimes in the hopefully not-too-distant future!Jen J. Dannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00817943866838270699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-84394291869313035922010-09-08T09:21:56.847-07:002010-09-08T09:21:56.847-07:00I always love to see the query letters that attrac...I always love to see the query letters that attracted the agent to you! Hopefully that book will get published someday!Abby Minardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963640263845561309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-22589106844945478482010-09-08T09:06:46.633-07:002010-09-08T09:06:46.633-07:00I haven't read it yet but sounds like the firs...I haven't read it yet but sounds like the first sentence is the road to salvation. I'll check it out.Dr. Goosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07605967916129162361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-43596527889497248362010-09-08T08:34:53.353-07:002010-09-08T08:34:53.353-07:00I just got out of a meeting and stopped by to see ...I just got out of a meeting and stopped by to see what you'd written today. I clicked one little link. "For what it's worth..."<br /><br />Oh my everloving God, I laughed so hard, I startled a coworker. <br /><br />Thank you both for posting and breaking it down for us. This is pure GOLD! Over on YALITCHAT, I've been going through query letter boot camp and I swear to you, it's the writerly equivalent of eating a potato chip... you can't just stop at one! <br /><br />I love what Michelle said about your voice showing through and it does. <br /><br />Now, I'll put you on the spot and BEG to read the whole story. Please??Patty Blounthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11928111057602279792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-58717426375395946242010-09-08T08:25:24.244-07:002010-09-08T08:25:24.244-07:00How does a manuscript with a first line like that ...How does a manuscript with a first line like that NOT GET PUBLISHED?<br /><br />I kinda want it on a tshirt now but I'd never have the guts to wear it to class.Steph Schmidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975939582442193113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-88692387469119177442010-09-08T08:11:41.006-07:002010-09-08T08:11:41.006-07:00Thanks Tawna and Michelle for dissecting Tawna'...Thanks Tawna and Michelle for dissecting Tawna's query letter. That was amazing and so helpful, especially because your advice is so straightforward and simple. I don't know about the rest of the field, but I tend to worry myself into a tight little knot about every little thing and this made me feel a bit less of that.<br /><br />And can I say WOW to that first sentence? I hope you sell it someday. Very soon.Pamala Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12823051545160002135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-19252968474423742322010-09-08T08:10:13.925-07:002010-09-08T08:10:13.925-07:00Thanks for the dissection. I'm always intrigue...Thanks for the dissection. I'm always intrigued to hear about query letters that worked and why.<br /><br />Best of luck with your future books!Jeanhttp://www.jeanoram.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-42814413802228766932010-09-08T08:07:59.589-07:002010-09-08T08:07:59.589-07:00This was fantastic...I like seeing the letter and ...This was fantastic...I like seeing the letter and then reading Michelle's blow by blow insight to what she thought of every part of the letter. It's funny, too, how after reading your blog and following you on Twitter I know nothing in that query letter was fake, meaning it's just you, not someone trying to dress it up overly much. And following Michelle on Twitter I see the same things in the insights she has written. Loved it!Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12321865399706410702noreply@blogger.com