STATUS: I’m excited because we finally got rid of Outlook for email and our firmly Time & Chaos (Intellect) users now. The transition took most of yesterday so sorry for not blogging. We wanted to be ready for Friday.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? SILVER WHEELS by Heart
This is also a heads up that although we think we transferred everything over correctly, it’s never 100% seamless.
I’m also three weeks behind on reading the queries I need to review so don’t email us quite yet to follow up. I plan to tackle stuff over the weekend and into next week so if you haven’t heard from us yet, wait one more week and then maybe requery as an email or two might have gone astray.
This may sound odd but I actually look forward to reading queries because that’s when I allow myself to have a nice big bowl of popcorn while reading. Popcorn being one of my favorite foods. (I sometimes do this for reading sample pages as well.) When I’m editing, I need both hands to type so alas, no popcorn. When I’m just reading, buttery fingers and the kernel Chutney accidentally dropped in my lap doesn’t make a difference.
Who would have thought that popcorn could be such a great agent motivator?
So this is what I’ll be looking for in the queries I read. Since I’ve been blogging about using the plot catalyst to form your pitch, I’ll really be leaning toward letters that will grab my attention right away. I think I have 150 queries waiting for my attention. This will probably take me about 2.5 hours to read through.
So basically I’ll be reading fast—which makes it extra important to nail that pitch paragraph.
What’s a muffin top? (I just read the newsletter).
Alas, if only I had waited an extra couple of months to send you my query. Oh well. This has been really helpful; thanks! I’ll query you for the next book…
Hey! Popcorn! That’s my snack of choice when I write. That, and a nice cold Dr. Pepper.
Ah, makes the mouth water just thinking about it.
Ever sprinkle of bit of that canned parmesan cheese on your popcorn? Because clearly in addition to the butter what is missing is more calories….
Cindy, on muffin tops, I suspect Kristin means the topic of this Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muffin_top
I think I can avoid that… LOL
Popcorn is my favorite vegetable. They’re always telling us eat our veggies. So is chocolate (it comes from beans, right?) So eat on and enjoy your queries.
Hey! Would it work if we sent you some popcorn WITH the query???
🙂
I hope your working weekend goes well! And enjoy your popcorn. It’s one of those snacks that I only ever think of when I smell somebody else’s popcorn, which usually happens at work, when I can’t eat any anyway.
Doesn’t popcorn have its own food group? If it doesn’t, it ought to.
Hmmm, blog ate my reply. Probably because I was drooling at the thought of chocolate and popcorn. Chocolate popcorn saves even more time.
I must resist. Have to get in better shape before the Surrey conference. I don’t want to ask people if this pitch makes my butt look big.
Now I want some pop corn!
Hmm. I wonder if all agents speed read through queries? I suspect they would have to. So basically, it’s a bit like writing a TV commercial.
You’re apt to get a dozen queries filled with popcorn after this post.
Thanks so much for all of your “pitch” advice. You do a great job of breaking down everything and making the task seem much easier to achieve.
But even after it all, alas, I believe I am pitch inept. I can find my catalyst, but I feel petrified with moronic fear when it comes to putting it all together. The whole query process drives me a bit loony.
Anyone want to read my first 30 pages and write it for me???
Anyone???
Anyone?
Will pay with…uh…popcorn!
Cindy, if you have to ask what a muffin-top is, no worries…you don’t have one. (G)
i only like the movie theatre stuff with oodles of that fake butter. i bought some instant low calorie ones recently and it sort of makes me sad.
I _love_ popcorn! Sounds like a great motivator to me. I make my own, popped in light olive oil and drizzled with my own topping made of a tsp of olive oil, a dollop of margarine (I-Can’t-Believe-It’s-Not-Butter is my choice) and a tbsp of real butter, which gives it that authentic rich buttery taste. Yes, it’s horribly caloric, so I only indulge occasionally.