tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post8048794189431485588..comments2024-02-13T08:31:03.541-08:00Comments on Terri Tiffany: Writing Stories You Remember: The bad, the good and the uglyTerri Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-90873504453124916812009-08-20T12:09:06.696-07:002009-08-20T12:09:06.696-07:00Query's are deceptively difficult. I learned ...Query's are deceptively difficult. I learned a lot today.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-79838734910626958682009-08-18T06:26:57.525-07:002009-08-18T06:26:57.525-07:00Wow, you got a personal response and in only a mon...Wow, you got a personal response and in only a month. That's awesome, Terri!<br /><br />I know what you mean about revealing conflict in such a short sell clip. It's tough. They say you need to spend lots of time on those queries to get them perfect. Is there a reason why your hero might not stay? If so, and it's a good one, that might be enough conflict to sustain the story. The reader knows there is a way out for him then and will wonder if he'll take it when the going gets rough. Just a thought.Eileen Astels Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11098531184044931737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-2019802519181669832009-08-13T11:15:13.166-07:002009-08-13T11:15:13.166-07:00Terri,
I just found your blog and it's great. ...Terri,<br />I just found your blog and it's great. That love story sounds great. I would love to see it printed as a book. I'm also a writer and I know how discouraging it can be sometimes. I've been trying to get an article published for a few months. The editors tell me "It's well-written, but does not meet their current needs." Writing is hard, hard, work, but worth it all when we see our byline. Keep on keeping on. Your story will make it into print. Please visit my blog at: http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.comBrenda Kay Ledfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03077314514118637590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-83104807639221397912009-08-13T10:23:09.832-07:002009-08-13T10:23:09.832-07:00Sounded good to me! Good luck on the blue mountai...Sounded good to me! Good luck on the blue mountain cards. As for your hair, well, beauty is from within!<br />I think you took that rejection with such dignity. I probably would have gone to bed to hide.Ginnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10576022783071536981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-92039047027473985362009-08-12T17:43:40.517-07:002009-08-12T17:43:40.517-07:00PS - what about having someone else write the quer...PS - what about having someone else write the query for you? someone who's read the ms and can write up something - they aren't as "close' to it as you? You may not use it exactly, but it may give you some "aha!"'sKathryn Magendiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-32061704742524794152009-08-12T17:42:38.033-07:002009-08-12T17:42:38.033-07:00Yayy on the cards!
as for the query thingee -well...Yayy on the cards!<br /><br />as for the query thingee -well, she responded personally - a good thing! :)Kathryn Magendiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-64102434864783725842009-08-12T11:24:04.950-07:002009-08-12T11:24:04.950-07:00Wow, I liked the story. I wanted to read more and ...Wow, I liked the story. I wanted to read more and isn't that what it is all about? Having a bad hair day here too. Lots of static in the air. :)Greg Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01925817439493420666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-4620247684561803232009-08-12T10:20:37.341-07:002009-08-12T10:20:37.341-07:00Well, I liked your query!Well, I liked your query!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-59308694092997345672009-08-12T09:46:43.226-07:002009-08-12T09:46:43.226-07:00It's wonderful that you received feedback and ...It's wonderful that you received feedback and know that it's possibly just the query that needs to be rewritten. Go for it!!! Get it back out there!Chelle Sandellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813658527826989105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-58087741402182761052009-08-12T08:48:49.731-07:002009-08-12T08:48:49.731-07:00I can see where the query came in handy. Now you ...I can see where the query came in handy. Now you know what to focus on when you send it out again. Hope your day gets better.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15163662759281341381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-49523786539306567482009-08-12T08:29:02.934-07:002009-08-12T08:29:02.934-07:00I'm so glad you got a personalized rejection o...I'm so glad you got a personalized rejection on this insted of a form rejection. Now you know what to fix!Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-52337890450233032092009-08-12T02:20:51.786-07:002009-08-12T02:20:51.786-07:00Here's more for your good:
You actually send ...Here's more for your good:<br /><br />You actually send query letters in!!!<br /><br />And for your ugly:<br /><br />I'll swap you some hair debilitating humidity for some frost ... discovering I'm more a spring/autumn kind of personSandehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10606869771327737827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-11649282814107849272009-08-11T22:16:00.978-07:002009-08-11T22:16:00.978-07:00If it's any assistance to you (and maybe other...If it's any assistance to you (and maybe other writers as well) I wrote a post or two on query letters in a series called `Telling Write From Wrong' on my blog a while ago. It's based on my own experiences as an author, answering `real' queries from other writers.<br /><br />Good luck!david mcmahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009095220051075552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-82117187664711807252009-08-11T16:21:52.125-07:002009-08-11T16:21:52.125-07:00bad hair day???? totally can relate. And the rejec...bad hair day???? totally can relate. And the rejection letter is one step closer to the one who will say - fabulous let's sign that contract. In the words of Winston Churchill = never give up. You just haven't hit the right door yet. SarahNikki (Sarah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13731200601840020130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-77675715030437005902009-08-11T15:23:47.130-07:002009-08-11T15:23:47.130-07:00Love your sense of humor! Especially the bad hair ...Love your sense of humor! Especially the bad hair thing. I always have bad hair...it laughs out loud at curlers and straightening irons alike, while it promptly does what it wants. It's a battle. Anyhow, query letters frighten me a bit. I guess that's why I've never submitted anything. I guess I should get over that! ;) Can't wait until you hear back from Blue Mountain!Carmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860778037757805996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-2315724602175517932009-08-11T14:39:52.094-07:002009-08-11T14:39:52.094-07:00I'm writing like mad but haven't made much...I'm writing like mad but haven't made much work of querying etc. So much to learn!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-842550533589872052009-08-11T12:05:43.784-07:002009-08-11T12:05:43.784-07:00Oh, your story sounds wonderful. It is hard to be...Oh, your story sounds wonderful. It is hard to be able to wrap up your whole story in just a couple of paragraphs, and yet that is what we have to do! But the good thing is now you know how to tweak it because they actually let you know.<br />Just got back for Houston so I totally understand the humidity thing:)Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03925811510913201292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-32120623425492608352009-08-11T12:05:31.694-07:002009-08-11T12:05:31.694-07:00Thanks for sharing this learning experience!Thanks for sharing this learning experience!Warren Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956713921509659993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-12916559170039217352009-08-11T12:01:57.875-07:002009-08-11T12:01:57.875-07:00I too learned from rejections about the importance...I too learned from rejections about the importance of a good query and a good synopsis. Both the hero and the heroine have to have compelling conflicts stated clearly. <br /><br />And I was rejected once based on a synopsis which dealt too heavily on the external circumstances while ignoring the characters' internal struggles. <br /><br />I could have kicked myself!<br /><br />Lesson learned!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-84238016333966709292009-08-11T11:43:14.957-07:002009-08-11T11:43:14.957-07:00Sounds like a great story to me. Have you read De...Sounds like a great story to me. Have you read Debbie Macomber's Blossom Street Series of books. I think you should pitch your story again.Pat's Placehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15569560070613448167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-24723669804146799342009-08-11T11:34:36.764-07:002009-08-11T11:34:36.764-07:00Hi Terri -
At least you're submitting, which ...Hi Terri -<br /><br />At least you're submitting, which is more than I can say for me. My book needs more work, but I'm thinking of holding off and writing another manuscript.<br /><br />Woohoo! You're making progress with Blue Mountain. <br /><br />Blessings,<br />Susan :)Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-12645564807183781382009-08-11T11:08:54.207-07:002009-08-11T11:08:54.207-07:00Great news about your cards! At least your getting...Great news about your cards! At least your getting somewhere unlike meeee! ;)Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-19267697569048497552009-08-11T10:53:49.999-07:002009-08-11T10:53:49.999-07:00The good news, Terri, is that you could query this...The good news, Terri, is that you could query this again and probably get more positive responses since you know what to say in the letter now.<br /><br />Move to Texas - no humidity, no rain, no relief from 100+ degree heat, day after day after month. (Makes you appreciate that humidity more, huh?)<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-77829263210879944842009-08-11T10:15:11.250-07:002009-08-11T10:15:11.250-07:00Well, if that's as ugly as it gets, hooray!! ...Well, if that's as ugly as it gets, hooray!! The good wedged in between the bad and that ugly is full of enough great promise to overcome bad hair days. I can hardly wait to hear your follow up report!<br /><br />KathleenKathleen https://www.blogger.com/profile/05245926913888212148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-80094787770452641112009-08-11T10:01:37.900-07:002009-08-11T10:01:37.900-07:00Terri,
I think that it's so key to hook an age...Terri,<br />I think that it's so key to hook an agent or editor with our query. I always have put my one sentence hook (suppose to be about 40 words), and then the "back cover" blurb which again is intended to hook a reader into picking up your book. If both of these are in your query and can grab an agent's attention, then they will be more likely to read your synopsis (which in my opinion still has to highlight the key conflicts and drama of the book). <br /><br />Glad you could learn from it! And hopefully be able to rework it!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.com