The Dreaded Thank Yous
To me, a thank you has always been like a query letter in reverse - instead of expressing my appreciate, I'm trying to get an editor/agent interested in my 'gift' (the manuscript) and then expressing appreciation for their time. So it's kind of similar.
The editor or agent needs to know what the book is about, what the length is and maybe a little about the author - emphasis on the 'little'. They don't have the time or even interest in reading every detail of our lives or a full page of backstory for our characters. This is where queries have to be succint. The editor needs to know very specific stuff from the query: what obstacles are in the way of the hero/heroine? what preconceived notions do they have? what will they try to accomplish through the story? More than those little details are too much for a query - save the rest for the synopsis (all 2 to 5 pages of it!) and wrap up that query.
Do you readers have any tried and true query Do's or Don'ts?
LOL. I'm old enough that I was thrilled to read that someone actually still DOES thank you notes. I know they're a giant pain--I hate writing them, too--but they are like a little gift to the giver, too!
ReplyDeleteThey're a little like a synopsis, too, in that you want the note to be nice and say what you feel--in 25 words or less!
Good post!
I know, which is why I feel *guilt* that I don't like writing them. But I do. ;) And, exactly, it's hard enough to sum up a book in 2-5 pages...summing up a gift in 25 words or less is sometimes unsurmountable!!
ReplyDeleteI used to hold my sons's gifts hostage until they did the dreaded thank you notes. Yet, they wrote such sweet ones when they did. Now, one writes them, the other, not.
ReplyDeleteQuery letters aren't so bad. The lynchpin is a good blurb.
Thanks for stopping in, Vicki. Since bebe is only 4, we do them together - she attempts to tell me what to write, I figure it out from there. But she does sign them.
DeleteOk, ducking. I like to write thank you notes. I love the old-fashioned courtesy of them.
ReplyDeleteQueries? Not so much. I just loathe them. Guess I'm getting a little better at them though.
You soooo need to move closer to me, D'Ann. You could write my Thank Yous for me! bwahaha. I actually *do* like the end result, it's the actual process of sitting down, figuring out what to say. I'm much better with fiction that way.
DeleteI agree with Liz...the thank you note is a nice gift to the giver..to know someone took the time to write one is special.
ReplyDeleteAs for tips on queries, I've written a few but I'm still learning and each time I do write one, I change what I add or delete. I do think that you should keep any info about yourself minimal...tell the story, not your story. LOL
Good point, Christine - tell the *fiction* story, not your own life story! ;)
DeleteYeah, I'm not a huge fan of either one either. Fortunately not a lot of opportunity to write thank-you notes these days. Maybe when one of my girls get married, I'll have to pitch in, but right now, smooth days.
ReplyDeleteAnd right now, I have my pitch letter pretty much set for Bix--just have to add specifics for who I'm sending it to.
So, as long as I don't write another book or have a major life event, I'm good :)
You'd better write another book - I need a Bix-fix! ;)
DeleteI don't mind thank-you notes or query letters much anymore. Used to hate queries, but am getting a little more comfortable with them. Still put them off when I have to write one though, lol!
ReplyDeleteProcrastination is not a friend - in either case. I do find writing thank yous is easier the closer you are the to event. I guess it keeps everything fresh in your mind. But I need a little distance from my WIPs before I can write a decent query.
DeleteI love writing Thank You notes. The fact that I have people in the world that I can lavish gratitude on cheers me. You just gave me a wonderful idea Kristina. I'm going to write my future queries with that same gratitude in mind. Who knows? Maybe my covert Pollyanna approach will exude from the page and grip an unsuspecting editor by the windpipe.
ReplyDeleteLove that attitude, Karen - I hope it does, too.
DeleteI'm trying to get over my aversion - because I do like the end result and I do like the old-fashioned-ness (is that a word?!?) of the tradition. And I like *getting* thank-yous...so I should like giving them, too. I'm working on it. ;)
PS: Thrilled you asked for the Kindlegraph - will get it to you right away!
BTW I just ordered a Kindlegraph from you, my first!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind writing thank you notes. Query letters, on the other hand, are difficult to write.
ReplyDeleteQueries are definitely farther down on my list. They give me the heebies because I'm never sure if I've given too much information or too little...I waffle, for sure.
DeleteKristina,
ReplyDeleteI always include an "evil" line from my book as the first sentence of my query as an attention getter. I feel like I've always had super good luck with queries. Once I figured out a template that I was comfortable with, I always stick to it!
Thank you notes...not much fun as I have the handwriting of a doctor and not an English teacher! I always feel so sorry for the person who has to decipher my words. :) But, I always include something nice with the note: a picture, a sealing wax impression (my favorite) or a clever quote.
I enjoyed my visit! Thank you.
All the Best,
Rionna Morgan
Great ideas - for the queries *and* the thank-yous - thanks, Rionna!!
DeleteI don't mind writing thank you notes, but I hate writing query letters. Haven't gotten them down pat yet.
ReplyDeleteMe, either. Although I've had really good luck lately...maybe I've stumbled upon a query format that works for me!
DeleteI'm old fashioned. Not only do I enjoy writing a thank you note, but I like to hand write it whenever possible. I like showing appreciation whenever I can, and it only takes a few minutes to write a few lines of heartfelt thanks.
ReplyDeleteQueries on the other hand . . .
Sheri, part of my issue is that I have not great handwriting. My signature is decent but I've always done this cursive/print combo and the words kind of blend together. So it's a struggle for me to write differently so that handwritten notes can be read easily. Good penmanship was one of those areas that I never excelled at. :*(
DeleteNot a lot of thank you notes in my future. Queries, that's another story. I haven't gotten a formula down yet that works for my current offering. Much more miss than hit. I'm still working on it.
ReplyDelete