tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post6998645221671057553..comments2024-03-18T13:32:44.865-04:00Comments on Evil Editor: Face-Lift 811Evil Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03879826770199639420noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-45360946505204523112010-08-30T18:17:20.445-04:002010-08-30T18:17:20.445-04:00The GTP makes this sound like a fascinating book. ...The GTP makes this sound like a fascinating book. Maybe use that as the basis for your query?batgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15143310557906978680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-61223493250648222362010-08-29T16:02:44.289-04:002010-08-29T16:02:44.289-04:00Well, at the least, the fantasy aspects should be ...Well, at the least, the fantasy aspects should be frontloaded much more. They really take the reader by surprise in this query.M. G. E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08995766358224581297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-25449649770735057342010-08-26T02:42:25.638-04:002010-08-26T02:42:25.638-04:00Um, for the record, I am actually intrigued by thi...Um, for the record, I am actually intrigued by this book. There's a lot of imagination on display and I'm fond of outside of the box fantasy stories. I agree that it's a scatterbrained query but there's a story there. It sounds like a bizarre Murakami Haruki novel. I think E.E.'s got it right... you don't need to throw all the crazy at us at once.<br /><br />"So and so is a popular fiction writer, the creator of Ambercross, who is being harrassed by her evil ex husband. But when she finds herself in the magical world she created..." etc.<br /><br />But I like the combination of domestic issues with fantasy.<br /><br />Megachurches don't care if you're gay, they only care if you get caught more than two or three times ;PJoe Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-9685806712688562112010-08-25T21:59:49.193-04:002010-08-25T21:59:49.193-04:00I might try starting with the novel itself: Roger&...I might try starting with the novel itself: Roger's the protagonist of an unfinished fantasy novel. He's been framed for murder, had his soul stuck in the villain's body, and been fed popcorn-flavored jelly beans. All this and he's got to beat a "humans make great snacks" sort of guy, the faery king.<br /><br />Then the author's ex-husband shows up in the novel with C4 and napalm, planning to destroy the one thing Casey, the author, still loves. Things have gone from bad to worse--but if Casey and Roger team up, they might just win._*rachel*_https://www.blogger.com/profile/03293167107180931700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-66379252911971786652010-08-25T20:05:45.368-04:002010-08-25T20:05:45.368-04:00"Meet the Disgruntled Postal Worker" wou..."Meet the Disgruntled Postal Worker" would be the bestest children's book EVAR.St0n3hengehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08504412781917592790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-33243603466595971232010-08-25T18:51:42.499-04:002010-08-25T18:51:42.499-04:00I like ee's version. I'd definitely be int...I like ee's version. I'd definitely be interested.<br /><br />Verification: spaslym. Greatest fake word ever.Unrepentant Escapisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14084297041989860942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-63466206734145276672010-08-25T14:36:43.577-04:002010-08-25T14:36:43.577-04:00What they all said AND my normal rant about titles...What they all said AND my normal rant about titles. Go to the bookstore. Read the titles there. Go to netflix. Read the titles there in your genre. Then dump "Walk the Broken Road" into the bin with "Wear the Smelly Shoes" "Sing the Discordant Song" and "Meet the Disgruntled Postal Worker"Stephen Prosapiohttp://www.prosapio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-26533393129313707632010-08-24T21:43:02.870-04:002010-08-24T21:43:02.870-04:00Whoever wrote #2 was no doubt thinking of Walk Har...Whoever wrote #2 was no doubt thinking of Walk Hard. Yeah, it was a stupid movie, but I laughed all the way through it.<br /><br />Author: What M.G.E. said. I had a hard time believing Casey's books sell if she creates such unrealistic characters. Then again, I'm assuming Jack started out as a good guy or she wouldn't have married him. Unless she was abused as a child and this is part of the vicious cycle.<br /><br />I, also, was confused about the former lawyer, and why a lawyer would betray his client's confidence, etc. Basically, none of this makes sense the way it's written.<br /><br /><br />You seem to have forgotten how to plot a story in writing this letter. The plot of this story would go something like this:<br />First, MC. Who she is and why we should care. Second, Villain introduction. Important choice MC must make, or goal she must achieve. Villian gets in the way of her achieving her goals how? MC then- what? Confronts and fights, hides and makes a plan, recieves help from a magical source, another character intervenes, or what? Some instances described, leading to the final confrontation, and the ending.<br /><br />Definitely leave out the part about this being your first novel, you being a baker, etc. All the agent wants is the word count and generic thank you.<br /><br />EE- A mega-church is bigger, until the congregation finds out the pastor is gay, and then it isn't.St0n3hengehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08504412781917592790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-47801661231653824532010-08-24T20:12:23.235-04:002010-08-24T20:12:23.235-04:00When you start with an abusive pastor blackmailing...When you start with an abusive pastor blackmailing his wife, it makes it really hard for me to care about what happens to Fairyland. It doesn't help that I know nothing about the characters there.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-58372417849605961542010-08-24T14:46:52.655-04:002010-08-24T14:46:52.655-04:00Again, I think it's the query monster.
"...Again, I think it's the query monster. <br /><br />"So what's your story about?" the man asked in the elevator. <br /><br />"Well it's about this woman who is a victim of domestic violence and her ex is still making her life miserable by trying to exploit her into making a national television appearance saying it didn't happen and he's. . . . wait, er the door's opening, don't you want to hear the plot?" the query monster says. <br /><br />"Well I wanted to hear about the plot that's why I asked. But I'm sorry I don't have time to hear about the character." The man walks out of the elevator. <br /><br />In the query we want to know the PLOT not the details of the characters. <br /><br />Start with the plot, then tell us about the characters. <br /><br />It's a story about an evil villian taking over a fairy tale world that was developed by an author in this world. <br /><br />The villain does this in the fairy world by . . for the purpose of.<br /><br />The author has to save the world by doing this. <br /><br />Failure to solve the plot will result in . . . .vkwnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-51558865627551826582010-08-24T14:30:04.674-04:002010-08-24T14:30:04.674-04:00What they said, and I'll add this:
Your bad-g...What they said, and I'll add this:<br /><br />Your bad-guy reads like "super-bad-guy." He has no redeeming qualities, he's one-dimensional:<br /><br />He's an ex-husband, a hypocrite, a liar, a blackmailer, extortionist, a wife-beater(!), and now getting ready to commit mass literary murder by introducing explosives, etc.<br /><br />In short, he's a cartoon. So, it's pretty good that you make him one by saying he basically came out of her mind.<br /><br />But, my question is, how far are you taking this? Is the book actually about how Casey is quite literally insane and the final shot of the book is a pan away from her tied down, drooling, to a hospital bed? >_><br /><br />This plot just isn't appealing to me -unless- it's actually about her struggle to regain her sanity and end the hallucinations. But if that's the real plot you can't leave that out of the query.M. G. E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08995766358224581297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-14365364781291110192010-08-24T13:25:22.664-04:002010-08-24T13:25:22.664-04:00What happened to the "younger, saner Jack&quo...What happened to the "younger, saner Jack"? Was he killed and his body possessed by the abusive pastor? Please un-dangle that thread. <br /><br />Also:<br /><br /><i> The fate of two worlds hangs on her choices, and whatever happens, it had better make one hell of a book.</i><br /><br />I get that Ambercross might end, but is the fate of <i>our</i> world hanging on her choices? If so, how? All Jack has is C4 and napalm. And why had it "better" make one hell of a book? Has her publisher told her one more midlist snoozefest and she's out?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-52275781665755403412010-08-24T11:44:55.723-04:002010-08-24T11:44:55.723-04:00Anon put it beautifully. Best again, BibiAnon put it beautifully. Best again, BibiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-764291974335558312010-08-24T11:34:03.755-04:002010-08-24T11:34:03.755-04:00i was thrown for a loop with this one. i agree, wh...i was thrown for a loop with this one. i agree, why would he want to drudge up a past that will only harm him, unless it's already come into light and he's wanting her to deny it. <br /><br />ee's brought up some valid points that i think need taken into consideration not only with the query but the storyline as well.angela robbinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07114119913653244467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-36411648341252121812010-08-24T11:32:07.417-04:002010-08-24T11:32:07.417-04:00What Evil said. I mean WHAT Evil said. Please revi...What Evil said. I mean WHAT Evil said. Please review what Evil SAID. I wish you clarity. You touched one of Evil's nerves. Not a bad thing, rooting through nerves, but when it grates like a root canal, do what the Evil says. I would like to see exactly how schizo this goes. Please send me a recipe. Very best, and I think you can fix the problems. Congrats, you got our mighty Evil going big time. Phoenix Sullivan Dare to Dream waits for the revision as I do. Best, <br />BibiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-13691281416159855892010-08-24T11:27:21.892-04:002010-08-24T11:27:21.892-04:00One of the difficulties of writing query letters i...One of the difficulties of writing query letters is the figuring how to best describe the story for clueless readers. You took on some major logic challenges and the real/false/real world thing is complicated. <br /><br /> With the query structured like this we fear the first 300 pages are all about coping with this domestic violence guy, then you make an abrupt excursion to Oz to solve things. It might all be brilliant in the book, but after reading this query we FEAR your plot was hijacked mid-story. We're afraid the manuscript reads like two half books of different genres. <br /><br />Dorothy had domestic issues before she went to Oz, too, but they didn't take half the book. So maybe the query will work better if you barely mention the X and mostly tell about the rest of the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com