A to Z: Query Quandry

UERY QUANDRY

What is a query? (hehehe)

que·ry

ˈkwirē/

noun

noun: query; plural noun: queries

1. 1.

   a question, especially one addressed to an official or organization.

   "a spokeswoman said queries could not be answered until Monday"

   synonyms:

   question, inquiry More

   • used in writing or speaking to question the accuracy of a following statement or to introduce a question.
   • PRINTING

     a question mark.

verb

verb: query; 3rd person present: queries; past tense: queried; past participle: queried; gerund or present participle: querying

1. 1.

   ask a question about something, especially in order to express one's doubts about it or to check its validity or accuracy.

   "many people queried whether any harm had been done"

   synonyms:

   ask, inquire, question More

   • NORTH AMERICAN

     put a question or questions to (someone).

     "when these officers were queried, they felt unhappy"

Origin

mid 17th century: anglicized form of the Latin imperative quaere!, used in the 16th century in English as a verb in the sense ‘inquire’ and as a noun meaning ‘query,’ from Latin quaerere ‘ask, seek.’

Therefore, asking what a query is, is in itself a query. 

Therefore, asking what a query is, is in itself a query.

So, if it's just asking questions... why is it so hard for so many? What about query letters? Agents require you send in a query letter for them to consider your book. According to Wikipedea...

1. A query letter is a formal letter sent to magazine editors, literary agents and sometimes publishing houses or companies. Writers write query letters to propose writing ideas.

Writing query letters is in essence asking if the agent is interested, but it involves so much more. There are lots of places that offer advice on how to write the perfect query letter. Here are a couple

Writer's Digest: How to Write the Perfect Query Letter - Query Letter Example

How to Write a Query Letter - AgentQuery

If you're overwhelmed, frustrated, and feeling down... You're in good company. Take heart in knowing that even best selling authors faced multiple rejections before hitting it big! This list includes some of my favorite authors: J. K. Rowling, Dr. Seuss, Judy Blume, L. M. Montgomery...

Madeline L'Engle received 26 rejections for her book A Wrinkle In Time!!!!

Nicolas Sparks received 24 rejections for The Notebook! And he has written how many best sellers that have gone on to make amazing movies???

What I'm saying is: If your goal is to be published through the traditional means,

DON'T GIVE UP!!!

Here is a great link for some successful queries too.

Today's blogs are amazing resources to help writers (myself included) improve and reach our goals... whatever those goals may be.

1. Literary Rejections (blog) - Lots and lots of information and resources. Even an article on Best Sellers rejections!
2. Janet Reid, Literary Agent - A great blog from an agent herself. Very insightful and useful!!
3. Nathan Bradsford Author - An award winning blog for writers by someone who's been there and is still there!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway again!