tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post3085823106314884117..comments2023-10-30T11:40:07.884-04:00Comments on Magpie Writes: The Dark Side of QueryingAlex Villasantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17109677049281615295noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post-63257078604890049132012-02-23T10:09:16.254-05:002012-02-23T10:09:16.254-05:00@linda - I have the feeling this querying jag will...@linda - I have the feeling this querying jag will last quite a while with me ;( so when you're ready we can compare notes!<br />@mark - thanks. querying is a lonely business. ranting about it in public seems like a good way to get through it!Alex Villasantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17109677049281615295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post-46478316613763111792012-02-22T17:25:45.833-05:002012-02-22T17:25:45.833-05:00I've been querying a lot lately and I feel ya ...I've been querying a lot lately and I feel ya there. Keep persevering though! Neat blog:)Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post-78570334748200677142012-02-22T12:19:27.534-05:002012-02-22T12:19:27.534-05:00@jenny - good luck entering the fray! It's dau...@jenny - good luck entering the fray! It's daunting, but you'll feel good about getting to the next stage of your journey!<br />@sharon - LOL! And that's a really good point (which I haven't gotten to yet) a new project might take up so much of your attention that you give up on the 'old' project. It's a delicate balance.<br />@Stephanie - what a great idea! I use 'alt' creativity - painting, baking etc - when I've got writer's block, but it's a great idea to use it at the start of the project. Thanks for the tip!<br />@Colin - I know you are right - it's the 'dues' that we all have to pay, and you're right, the education will pay dividends in the future!Alex Villasantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17109677049281615295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post-52855868240044590682012-02-22T11:40:33.075-05:002012-02-22T11:40:33.075-05:00Haven't joined the ranks of those querying yet...Haven't joined the ranks of those querying yet - I'll come to you for help when I do!Linda Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post-17842299729660607652012-02-22T09:43:11.520-05:002012-02-22T09:43:11.520-05:00I look at first-time querying as foundation work. ...I look at first-time querying as foundation work. In theory, you should spend a lot more time querying your first novel than querying your second (of course, you hope you don't have to query another, but in the event...). This means you will do a lot of how-to research and agent research first time around that you won't need to do again (aside from researching new agents and checking that submission guidelines haven't changed). And the work you do on how to write a query will apply (so I'm told) even after you get a book deal. It seems publishers often want authors to write the cover blurb.<br /><br />So, don't feel bad about spending a lot of time finding out how to query and researching agents. But, as others have said, use your WIP to help keep you moving forward. That's what I'm doing, anyway!Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post-71659453718591930142012-02-21T21:30:14.134-05:002012-02-21T21:30:14.134-05:00I did exactly the same thing when I was querying. ...I did exactly the same thing when I was querying. Sad to say I didn't manage it as well as I could have (spent way too much time online). What did help, aside from a new project was doing other creative things--drawing, baking, painting, etc. Doing something that's creative without using words gave me a lot of peace and helped jump start my writing again.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10803630489423453297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post-3285479804421682552012-02-21T21:22:01.345-05:002012-02-21T21:22:01.345-05:00There is only one side of querying. Dark. :) Ma...There is only one side of querying. Dark. :) Maybe you should have people hire you to do it for them. I do the same thing, I pour and pour over agent interviews and the Query Tracker Premium Reports, but I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. I have found that working on a new project makes querying the other one manageable, however, it also might make it too easy to give up...I don't want to jump from project to project always thinking the grass is greener. Good luck!Sharon Baylisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361550815860670756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post-40118862964595618522012-02-21T16:59:37.686-05:002012-02-21T16:59:37.686-05:00I am about to enter this world. I think I'm go...I am about to enter this world. I think I'm going to NEED the new project to keep my mind off my empty inbox. Good luck on querying.Jenny S. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482342313938669366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517309195472334692.post-18171119041069103182012-02-21T16:51:36.984-05:002012-02-21T16:51:36.984-05:00Well with self-publishing on the rise as a powerfu...Well with self-publishing on the rise as a powerful and successful tool, perhaps there will be a day soon when we can dispense of agents altogether and get back to the writing as soon as possible.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.com