STATUS: Haven’t had a good video to share in a while. This one is worth the wait.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? DON’T GO by Yaz
Chip Kidd is a legend in this industry. Video is not short but worth every minute of your time. It’s a small glimpse into the brilliance of mind it takes to create a truly amazing cover. And I’ll give you a hint. It’s not about bells and whistles. It’s about text.
As it should be. Enjoy!
(Just a note, this post is from our archives. Some references and links may be from past years.)
STATUS: Working though 245 emails in the inbox. You can’t hide from me!
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? DON’T STOP by Foster The People
An yet, writers always have some confusion on what is the difference between a pitch and a query. Seems like a good topic to tackle (as I can already see a myriad list of sub-questions within this topic).
Let’s start with the basics.
A query is a professional business letter that introduces your work to an agent or editor. These days, this letter is sent by email rather than snail mail. In the query letter, you will have something called a pitch paragraph. The query letter will also contain an introduction and the author’s bio or credentials. It will be one-page long.
A pitch is the verbal delivery of the main pitch paragraph from your query letter. In other words, you need to have a quick way to sum up the opening plot catalyst of your novel in a sentence or two while talking to someone. That way your audience gets a clear and immediate gist of what your novel is about.
Here’s a great example from a novel I just sold by David Ramirez called MINCEMEAT. It’s a good example because in this instance, I actually did something unique. I pulled out the pitch from the main pitch paragraph. I don’t always do that but I did so in this instance. Also, when I was in New York in May, I verbally PITCHED this work to editors using the one sentence pitch highlighted in pink.
Here’s my submit letter to editors–which in essence is the agent’s QUERY letter to editors (to draw a comparison to what writers are doing when they approach agents):
Hello XXX,
It’s pretty rare that I send an email about a manuscript submission that I can sum up in a one sentence pitch. Trust me, I tend to be wordier than that!
But here it is:
All that is left of humanity is on a thousand-year journey to a new home aboard one ship, The Noah, and this ship is carrying a dangerous serial killer.
Intrigued? I hope so. At its heart, the concept for this SF novel MINCEMEAT by David Ramirez is quite simple but what unfolds is layer after layer of complexity.
Since most editors prefer I don’t leave it at one sentence, here’s a little bit more about the manuscript:
Priss Dempsey is a City Planning Administrator on the Noah, a vessel carrying the last survivors of Earth on a thousand-year journey to a new home. She is equal parts psychic, economist, hacker and bureaucrat, a vital part of the mission, but her life seems to lose purpose after she experiences Breeding Duty. Kept asleep through the impregnation and birthing that all women are obligated to undergo, she still feels a lost connection to the child she will never be permitted to know.
Policeman Leonard Barrens approaches her with a request for hacking support in the unofficial investigation of his mentor’s violent death. Only Barrens knows that a crime has been committed because he came across the mutilated remains before Information Security could cover it up. To everyone else, the missing man was merely “Retired,” nothing unusual.
Their investigation takes them through the lost dataspaces in the Nth Web and deep into the uninhabited regions of the ship, where they discover that the answer may not be as simple as a Mincemeat Killer after all. And what they do with that answer will determine the fate of all humanity.
May I send this novel your way?
All Best,
Kristin
Next up, I’ll tackle the log line versus the pitch.
Creative Commons Credit: AJ Cann
STATUS: Agency is going to be closed Monday through Wednesday of next week for the 4th of July holiday. It’s a summer mini-break!
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? VIVA LAS VEGAS by Jimmy Buffett
When reading requested sample pages, every agent I knows skips a prologue when reading the sample. Today I discuss three reasons why that is so!
Enjoy and have a great holiday next week!
STATUS: TGIF! I actually had a great work week. Yes, I need to read some stuff over the weekend but I’m feeling almost caught up. This means I’m forgetting something huge I’m sure.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? YELLOW by Coldplay
Okay, so I taped this segment a couple of weeks ago. I’m particularly fond of how I start with “good morning.”
Oh well, the content is still good.
In honor of the first video webinar I did (which tackled how to craft the query letter pitch paragraph in your novel), I thought I’d give some tips for those who couldn’t attend.
When I teach writers how to craft the perfect pitch paragraph for their query letters, it all starts with the plot catalyst.
So what exactly is it? I answer that question in today’s vlog. Enjoy!
STATUS: On plane in just a few hours to head to Italy. There might not be much blogging next week.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? YELLOW by Coldplay
Scheduling this post so hope it works correctly!
I’m going to lay to rest, once and for all, the difference between a pitch and a synopsis.
Okay, that’s a little grandiose but you get the picture.
Enjoy!
STATUS: Leaving for Bologna, Italy on Friday for the Book Fair. Ack!
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? SET FIRE TO THE RAIN by Adele
I also have some land 100 miles west of Ft Myers I’d like to sell you….
What would a week be without an update on Dorchester? I can’t imagine what company would be interested in buying an ailing organization with such a significant amount of debt. I don’t have updated numbers from the phone call last year but back then, debt owed was in the millions.
Maybe it’s good for the taxes.
But straight from the horse’s mouth, here is a letter from Dorchester’s president.
STATUS: Having a great afternoon.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? YOU CAN CALL ME AL by Paul Simon
I rarely post twice in one day but I can’t resist.
For the week of March 18, Gail Carriger’s TIMELESS is sitting at #17 on the NYT list and at #98 on the USA Today. Definitely worth celebrating.
But what’s really fun?
SOULLESS The Manga graphic novel just hit #2 on the NYT Graphic novel list.
That’s a first for NLA!!
STATUS: Only 65 emails in the inbox to start the day!
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE by Carole King
Wait! What is that I hear? I think it’s the wind whistling down Park Avenue and through the Dorchester non-existent office space.
In a world where information is found in a quick Google search, why try and dissemble?
Here is a link to a notice to Dorchester of foreclosure for the note and a sale of the assets that were pledged as security on a loan.
Back to my question. Why do I say that I don’t think I’ll see a bankruptcy filing soon? By the way, this is not a statement of fact. Simply a supposition on my part.
I don’t think Dorchester will file unless forced to. It’s costly to file and go through the process. Meanwhile, monies are coming in and not being paid out.
Last year when my lawyer and I sat in on the phone calls where Dorchester disclosed their financially precarious position, the list of creditors was part of that conversation. There are at least 6 companies that might find it worthwhile to force Dorchester into Bankruptcy to recover monies owed.
And I hope they do.
But to be blunt, those companies will crunch the numbers. If they come out ahead in what they will recover versus what it will cost, then my guess is they will do it. It certainly won’t be altruistic.
STATUS: Typical Denver schizophrenic weather. I was wearing short sleeves and no jacket yesterday while taking Chutney for a walk in 70 degree weather. Today it’s going to snow. Yay spring!
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? MATILDA by Harry Belafonte
To a new office location.
Let’s see a show of hands. Who believes that Dorchester might simply be moving offices and the phones are currently being “switched over?” (see the added links in comments section of yesterday’s blog post.)
Hum… thought so.
So to my post of yesterday. I’m going to make my readers do a little work. I can’t hand over all the information on a silver platter. *grin*
I mentioned that Dorchester has disappeared and that I don’t think I’ll see a filing for bankruptcy any time soon. Now why do I say that?
Surely if a company is defunct they’ll file for bankruptcy, right?
Not necessarily….
So tell me why.
Meanwhile, all Dorchester eBooks are up and still for sale across all the electronic distribution venues. Where is the money going? We know for certain it’s not going to the authors.
Every night I sleep easy knowing that I fought tooth and nail to get rights reverted for each of my five authors who had backlist there when Dorchester first breached those contracts and weren’t paying owed royalties. Even for titles I didn’t represent on their behalf because it was before my time as their agent.
And I’m also happy to report that those authors are self-publishing those books and making a very nice income on backlist ebook sales. Want to support a former Dorchester author? Check out their offerings on the links connected to their names.
JANA DELEON
MARI MANCUSI
LESLIE LANGTRY
CAROLYN JEWEL
A happy ending for us but I feel for all those authors who couldn’t get their rights. I strongly recommend you reach out to the various agencies that support authors: Authors Guild, Romance Writers Of America, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America etc. I can’t list all of them here.
These organizations might be able or connect you with the right people who can advise you on next step if your rights are in question.
STATUS: Bologna Children’s Book Fair is almost upon us. Oi. Not ready yet.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? MERCY by Duffy
On Thursday, I got word that the doors were locked, lights out, and the phones disconnected at Dorchester.
I know. Surprise. Here are links to my previous entries on Dorchester and its impending demise.
As a matter of course, I did touch base with my lawyer simply to see if there had been a bankruptcy filing. I’m actually not expecting to find one.
Now why do I say that?
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
I know a lot of blog readers have backgrounds in law so feel free to chime in via the comment section with your surmises.
More to come tomorrow.
