tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post823509756788058036..comments2024-02-27T03:36:20.256-07:00Comments on Krista Van Dolzer: Gearing Up to Write a Query?Krista Van Dolzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-40560743375232300232012-09-29T10:19:05.336-06:002012-09-29T10:19:05.336-06:00You're welcome, Jeanmarie. And good luck with ...You're welcome, Jeanmarie. And good luck with OPERATION BREAKUP. I hope I get a chance to read it someday:)<br /><br />Larissa, maybe you can help me. I tried to set up an account on Verla Kay about this time last year, and the server said my account approval was pending. As far as I know, it was never approved. Do you know why that would be or how I can rescue my long lost account?<br /><br />Good luck, Traci!<br /><br />Anon, thanks for stopping by!Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-50726239118984713172012-09-28T19:34:38.403-06:002012-09-28T19:34:38.403-06:00Uh huh. So basically what you're saying is, wr...Uh huh. So basically what you're saying is, write a book that's actually worth reading!!?? :D Seriously, more writers need to hear this; really relevant concepts on things you would think are common sense but everyone throws out the window. Thanks for the great tips! Cool blog, too! ;D Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-8559207044860983492012-09-28T04:21:04.670-06:002012-09-28T04:21:04.670-06:00Thanks for the tips!! I will be diving into the qu...Thanks for the tips!! I will be diving into the queries waters all too soon and these will help.Traci Kenworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336373871521363649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-66109114413136862052012-09-27T15:18:58.952-06:002012-09-27T15:18:58.952-06:00Another, much nicer place to vet your query is the...Another, much nicer place to vet your query is the Verla Kay Blueboards. No snarkiness is allowed there. :) (I am a moderator).Larissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08874147599272424056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-58855667272173966702012-09-27T14:07:31.657-06:002012-09-27T14:07:31.657-06:00Krista, thank you so much for your insight and for...Krista, thank you so much for your insight and for volunteering your time to GUTGAA. With all of the recent pitch/query-honing contests, I am continually amazed at how supportive the writing community is and how willing everyone is with helping each other.<br /><br />I was lucky--I received supportive, constructive feedback on my contemporary YA entry at GUTGAA (Operation Breakup). I hope that other writers who have had less...er, *kind* (for lack of a better word) experiences at other forums will give GUTGAA (and Pitch Madness and Cupids Lit Connection) a try next year.Jeanmarie Anayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15444097096666633756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-23901448146552276152012-09-27T12:37:41.968-06:002012-09-27T12:37:41.968-06:00Talynn, I think writing queries is a lot like ridi...Talynn, I think writing queries is a lot like riding a bike--you have to fall down a lot while you're figuring everything out, but once you do, you never forget. (Which isn't to say I still didn't go through a million drafts of my queries, because I did:) I just had a better eye for spotting the problem areas.) Good luck!<br /><br />I'm glad you found it helpful, T. I really tried to be honest without being mean.<br /><br />You're welcome, Karen! Best of luck!<br /><br />Carrie-Anne, thanks for sharing. You made a good point about Absolute Write--it can be a little brutal, so thanks for mentioning these other query-critiquing sites. And what I meant about seeing parallels is just that I think every book needs to give the reader something to latch on to, something to grab hold of, especially in YA. People are people, so while the settings and circumstances may have changed over the years, the underlying motivations are often the same. That's the beauty of writing--it reveals common ground, crossing age, gender, culture, and even time.Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-66942866351208833992012-09-27T09:24:26.192-06:002012-09-27T09:24:26.192-06:00I know it's hard for me to write a query for a...I know it's hard for me to write a query for a longer historical, since mine are set over longer periods and more about a journey, not fast-paced and plot-centric. I agree with you about some modern-day historical writers sounding too modern, though I'm not really expecting to see parallels to my own life when I read historical. A lot of YA historicals I've encountered lately (like The Luxe and Gilt) come across like Gossip Girl in period clothes, with historical characters talking and acting in completely inappropriate, anachronistic ways for their era.<br /><br />So far, I've gotten query advice from contests and bloghops, and from the now-inactive Pitch University boards. I really didn't feel comfortable with the atmosphere at Absolute Write, and felt a bit dogpiled there instead of given constructive, helpful critique.Carrie-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810154378449825641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-32555735938192013432012-09-27T06:46:12.446-06:002012-09-27T06:46:12.446-06:00Ah, query trenches--that's where I'm at. T...Ah, query trenches--that's where I'm at. Thanks for the post Krista!K. L. Hallamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-32793182666961269432012-09-27T03:46:28.950-06:002012-09-27T03:46:28.950-06:00This is great advice, and it's nice to hear yo...This is great advice, and it's nice to hear you being so open about it. I'll definitely read this post through one more time - at least :) Tonja Dreckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07683717853264134466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-71742991217434922792012-09-26T22:24:24.865-06:002012-09-26T22:24:24.865-06:00I *loved* this advice. I have came back and read t...I *loved* this advice. I have came back and read through the post 3 times already. <br /><br />You know, I wish there was no thing as a query. And the more I try and get mine right, the more I discover, I don't like them.<br /><br />But this advice was timely and extremely helpful.<br />Thank you:)<br />TalynnInk in the Bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03117718811407968345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-73073286962726830272012-09-26T21:34:45.876-06:002012-09-26T21:34:45.876-06:00Suzi, thank you for taking this in the spirit I me...Suzi, thank you for taking this in the spirit I meant it. I really didn't want to make anyone feel bad; I just wanted to help push those queries to the next level.<br /><br />Thanks, Amy! Glad you found it helpful.<br /><br />Tamara, it's hard to say. Did more than one judge vote for you? In a way, it's a numbers game--they can't all be wrong, right? :) But if you're concerned, you might post your query on a site like Absolute Write, Agent Query Connect, QueryTracker, or Nathan Bransford's forums. I think random strangers--well, random strangers who write--actually give really great feedback on queries and can help you spot problem areas.<br /><br />You're welcome, Beth. Good luck!<br /><br />Thanks for the plug, Liz;)<br /><br />Great point, Melodie--writing a query is much different than writing a manuscript. Some skills translate, of course, but it's not automatic.Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-32351046468608258942012-09-26T18:11:57.116-06:002012-09-26T18:11:57.116-06:00I had the same thoughts over at the blog I helped ...I had the same thoughts over at the blog I helped judge. I think there's a "voice" for querying (think voice over for Hollywood trailer) that once you get, writing goes much easier. Melodie Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04599091593083976703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-55170190028251739102012-09-26T15:04:20.056-06:002012-09-26T15:04:20.056-06:00Krista is very wise. *nods head*Krista is very wise. *nods head*Elizabeth Briggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14572251749088056704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-62922792582761650332012-09-26T14:47:41.079-06:002012-09-26T14:47:41.079-06:00Oh yay! I've been trying to figure out who the...Oh yay! I've been trying to figure out who the judges were on that blog so I could thank them personally. All the comments I received were really encouraging, so thank you so much for participating. <br /><br />(Restless #30)Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15193922965031219401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-75692329610654772102012-09-26T14:30:10.401-06:002012-09-26T14:30:10.401-06:00Now that I realize you were one of the judges, can...Now that I realize you were one of the judges, can I ask you a super quick question? I am one of the fifty that made it through to the next round. <br /><br />But, now that I'm there, no judges are commenting on my entry--not so far anyway, and it's been up there three days now. In your opinion, does this mean I should change my query before letting it makes the agency rounds? Or does the fact that it even made it into the finals round mean its strong enough to query with? Any opinions on that? Tamarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04070551912944266954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-86241872788938022242012-09-26T14:08:31.868-06:002012-09-26T14:08:31.868-06:00Great post, Krista! Learning from you! :)Great post, Krista! Learning from you! :)A.L. Sonnichsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11358456786727534289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250988928163509961.post-69907674260612230862012-09-26T13:48:52.390-06:002012-09-26T13:48:52.390-06:00Oh oh. I had two of those big hot button issues. O...Oh oh. I had two of those big hot button issues. Of course I didn't get voted onto the next round though.<br /><br />I admire your honesty.<br />Suzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502606950280751205noreply@blogger.com