If you are Indie publishing, just pretend each word "query" is the word "blurb."
I've made the poll multiple choice, so if you are in different stages with different books, you can mark multiple stages. (If you'd rather not say where you are for fear you'll be jinxed or something, ;) just know your answer in the poll is in no way tied to you. Feel free to share or don't share whatever you want about it in the comments.)
22 comments:
I've written one query in my life.
While attending Dragon*Con in 2006, I met an editor from Penguin. We struck up a conversation, and she gave me the instructions on how to send the full MS to her. I told her it would be a bit because I was still fine-tuning it. She said, no problem, send it when it's ready. So, three months later, I did. And never heard a word back about it. I waited. And waited. Nothing. And then, one day, I decided to just Google her...only to find out she wasn't at Penguin anymore. :o(
I write a blurb/query while I'm outlining (or my version on outlining, anyways). The end product will surely differ from my little blurb, but it helps keep me on track while drafting.
I am SO not ready for the querying process, I'm still working on writing something fantastic!
Sent out my first query (ever) about a week ago. Trying not to think about it because I have to wait 8for weeks. Sigh, I hat waiting.
I checked box 2 and 3 even though it's for the same manuscript. When I first felt comfortable enough to put 'THE END' on my ms, I started dabbling with a query letter and a synopsis, to get the feel of it. It's not ready to send out (the ms or the query) but I plan to do it, and I'm working on it.
Excited? Yes. And No. I'm sure you know what I mean.
The results of your poll are very interesting. Although the results vary, I bet everyone would agree that writing queries is tough and often frustrating, as is the querying process.
I'm currently querying one manuscript and have finished my second edits of another (still many more to go). But I always write a query letter to send to my CPs before they read it and then after. Before because they can tell me from the perspective of someone who knows NOTHING about it, whether it makes sense or not. And after because they can tell me if the query is on.
Then of course I have queried before with another manuscript. Got a few full requests but no bites.
That why I checked all three of those boxes :)
I started querying two months ago and it has been harder and in some ways easier than I thought--how is that for conflicting :)
I clicked number two, but it should really say I haven't started yet and the thought freaks me out! But I'll do it anyway.
I voted "other" because my query is finally finished (I think) but I haven't sent it off yet. I'm debating sending it before the holidays in the hopes of getting a few requests before the New Year (and not sending the ms until it's ready in another month or two - hopefully) or waiting until late January, when the query madness has died down a little. I've been in the query trenches twice before. It's exciting and terrifying at the same time.
Love these polls - it's fun to see what stages everyone is in.
I'm the neurotic crazy woman in the trenches of the query war. Wondering if my baby is in the slushy mud, or if it's being stored safely in someone's pocket to be read later. Meanwhile, as I hit refresh for about the thousandth time this morning, my kids are hitting each other with spatulas, my dishes are overflowing my sink, the cats have torn off all the ornaments on the bottom half of my Christmas tree, and hubby asks me 'what's wrong?'
If only I could whistle like a kettle when I'm done.
I've been querying my first for about four months now, and I'll be querying my second in the spring be''H.
Wheeee! It's quite the rollercoaster.
I queried my LDS stuff without an agent a few years back (since most of them don't work with agents) and was picked up and published by Cedar Fort. I am querying another LDS non-fic right now. I am also querying a mainstream family saga to agents with mixed results.
If you'd asked me this question and I still only had the knowledge I had nine months ago, then I'd be saying that I had sent out shedloads of queries for 2 MS's and got rejections for the lot.
Since then I've learnt so much, and I now know that I have a long way to go before I will be sending out queries. (I had another rude awakening last night when I started re-reading the MS that I thought was nearly ready. It's SO not ready!)
One of the main things that I've learnt over the last 9 months was from your blog: I need to be patient, and make sure it's the best I can possibly make it. There are no shortcuts. Thank you :o)
I'm working on my query right now. RIGHT NOW. Ahh!
Fun poll! I love to see the results!
I'm nowhere near ready for any of this stuff. But it's so much fun seeing what everyone else is up to.
I dont need to tell you whats up with me Pegs since you know me better than anyone...so let me take this opportunity to tell you that I am STILL over the moon about your book THROUGH THE BOMB'S BREATH. It is soo good. I can't wait for all our blogging friends to read it!
You need to an addendum to the box that says, "I've been there, done that. (and survived.)"
It should read.
"I've been there, done that, survived and became a heavy drinker."
oh oops I didn't realize you could mark multiple too late! lol
and can't believe I wasn't following your blog til now - I went looking for it in my Reader lol
I am still at the stage "I haven't started yet, but I am SO EXCITED!" I really am looking forward to it mainly cos that will mean I am READY to query (i.e. draft done, edited, polished, beautiful....:-))
Well, I've finally moved from writing first drafts to actually trying to revise and edit, so one day ...
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