Workshop Transcript

Workshop Transcript

Laundry List Query Letters

with Judy Gregerson

Note: Many thanks to Kelley Robbins for assisting in the editing of this transcript.

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Verla: Aha! Our fearless leader is here. Deet....can you change your nick to your real one for the workshop? Even if you have to add some numbers to it or something? And...do you want me to post your bio when we start, deet?

*Deetie is now known as Judy999

NOTE: Judy is known as Deetie, Deet and Dee in the chat room

Verla: Ah...she is so cute as a 999!

_Lyra: 999 is Thursday

whatie: true :)

whatie sings the jaws theme in the background

*** Judy999 is now known as Judy

** Judy is now known as Judy99

Amishka: put your last name on too Deet

SandyKC: judy is rapidly changing personas

Judy99: I have a multiple personality.

Susette: Judy is trying to get down to a 9

*duck* :)

NOTE: :) is a sideways happy face

Susette: I'd like to get down to a 9, too.

Judy99: LOL, susette.

SandyKC: lol deet!

Dani257: Wow, it's crowded

Verla: Lots of people here tonight...Nice!

_Lyra: lots of eager workshop people, V -- glad they're back

Verla: If you are new to these workshops, I'll post the basic rules

just before we begin.

Susette: Move over please. I need to get by. I think the popcorn is up

on that table.

whatie: POPCORN? where?

Dani257: How much time do we have to fool around?

whatie makes a mad dash for the popcorn!

Susette: 3 minutes.

Verla: We are starting now, dani

SandyKC: what's our topic?

Verla: (Did anyone dust the podium? I'm SURE it's VERY dusty what with no workshop for a month...)

Susette: Here's the podium.

Judy99: we're starting???

Dani257 dusts podium. ACHOO!

Susette: Bless you.

Susette: Judy, you're still a 99.

Verla: AWK! I LOST the workshop title!

MelodyLane brings pitcher of ice water and glass, puts it on podium.

Judy9: (There, Susette)

SandyKC: OHHH! You look good as a 9!

JannaMH: Topic?

whatie hogs the popcorn :)

Susette: Way to go Judy. You look GREAT as a 9. <g>

whatie: are we all dressed to the 9s tonight? :)

Dani257 wrestles popcorn away from whatie

Judy9: LOL, whatie.

whatie9 fights dani tooth and nail to keep the popcorn :)

^_Posix_^ passes whatie a ice cold Pepsi in hopes to get some popcorn

whatie9: nope..... MY popcorn..... you can keep the pepsi :)

******WORKSHOP BEGINS HERE******

Verla: Welcome to our weekly Kidlit Workshop. We ask that you hold all personal chit-chat until the hour is up, but Please! Free free to join in the topic currently under discussion.

*** Verla has set the topic on channel #Kidlit to Laundry List Query Letters Workshop in Progress

JannaMH: Thanks, V.

Dani257: Okay, time to be good

SandyKC: OH NO!! NOT LAUNDRY!

Verla: Not THAT kind of laundry, sandy! LOL

Verla: Laundry List Query Letters is the topic of the workshop tonight

SandyKC: WHew! I've had my fill of THAT kind of laundry.

Susette: Why do they call it laundry list? That's weird.

Verla: Judy Gregerson is our workshop leader for tonight...|

Judy9: TA DA!

Susette: I couldn't think of what to call it other than multiple query when I told my hubby what chat was going on tonight.

Verla: I will now post her bio so you will all know more about her than you EVER wanted to know. GRIN

SandyKC gets out her grocery list to write down her laundry list

Verla: Judy worked for many years as a copy writer and editor for 2 newspapers, a mail order company and an advertising agency. (Her success as a copy writer came with her ability to condense the essence of any product into three sentences, which she believes also makes for very strong query letters. She also worked briefly at Viking/Penguin, when ORDINARY PEOPLE was pulled from the slush pile, as the assistant to the educational marketing director but decided that she'd rather write and left to do just that. At 28 she sold her first book, 'SAVE ME: A YOUNG WOMAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH SCIZOPHRENIA TO HEALTH to Doubleday. She sold it with a query letter, a scant chapter outline and 2 sample chapters (first and last). With an advance check and signed contract in hand, she quit her job and wrote 9 hours a day for 3 months to complete her book, getting it in on schedule. Judy recently started her own business, DANCING WORK PRODUCTIONS, a freelance copy writing, editing and proofreading business. She writes mid-grade novels, both serious (edgy) and humorous and she hopes one day to be known as a children's humor writer.

Verla: Okay, Judy...you are ON

Judy9: Did you rewrite that bio, verla?

Judy9: It sounds so much better.

Verla: No I didn't Judy...it's just the way it's always been

Judy9: (Boy, I sure write good copy then!)

Judy9: Ok, I think some of you were here last time for part one.

Judy9: which was just plain query letters, but mostly distilled little paragraphs to describe your book.

Judy9: This time we'll talk about laundry list queries.

Judy9: any of you used them???

Susette: Yes.

GC_Girl: no

SandyKC: If I knew what one was... I might say yes!

Judy9: LOL, Sandy.

Shelliwc: I've tried one. Still waiting for responses

Susette: I got the idea from Aaron Sheppard's page.

Brenker: Could you explain the basics of them.

Judy9: Susette: I learned it from Aaron, and met him at national and

thanked him for the idea.

Verla: (If anyone is interested, Aaron's page is linked to mine from

the Links page of this website.)

Judy9: Anyone had any luck with them?

whatie9: I queried two books to an agent, and got a lukewarm "sure, you may send the manuscripts" in response.

Susette: I sent out 19 (with 7 books listed) and got request for around 7 ms. Two publishers I haven't heard back from.

Susette: Thank him for me next time, Judy.

Shelliwc: Wow Susette. Pretty good results.

Judy9: They're affective, aren't they?

Susette: Yes.

Judy9: OK< What is a laundry list query?????

Judy9: A Laundry List Query is a query letter where you LIST your books you're looking to sell.

Judy9: I think they give an editor a chance to preview all your work quickly and move on. I think they appreciate them.

Susette: If nothing else, you get an idea what some are looking for.

Susette: They also save on postage!!!

Judy9: Uma Krishnaswami also does laundry lists and she says she has sold one book doing them.

Amishka: I use them and have good responses from them

Verla: (I never used them...but I guess I should have!)

Susette: You have an agent Verla. You don't need them.

Verla: I didn't back then, Susette

Dani257: Do you put a short summary of them?

Judy9: Ok, here's what I do:

Judy9: I start out with a brief introduction, like a business letter. You may choose to doll yours up much, depends on your style.

Judy9: I write it as a business letter, and since I am not trying to sell one book, I don't start out with a blurb about the book.

Judy9: I just introduce myself and tell the editor that I am offering all these manuscripts for her perusal and should she choose to see one, check next to the book name and mail back to me.

Judy9: (Remember to put the name of the editor and house on the back of the letter or at the end.)

Judy9: Susette: How do you do yours?

Susette: I didn't write it with anything personal.

Susette: I wrote the Title and a blurb

Susette: I left room at the bottom of the page for them to fill in the house and editor.

Susette: If they didn't, I did when it came back.

Verla: But...what if you didn't know where it came back FROM, Susette? They don't always put a return address on the envelopes.

Susette: On my SASE I have the name of the publisher and editor I sent it to.

Amishka: Their return address is on the SASE Verla

NOTE: SASE = Self addressed stamped envelope

Dani257: But, don't you say what the books are about?

Judy9: Yeah, I just tell them right off that I have several books and they are welcome to request them.

Judy9: Then I write a title and a blurb. And I put a blank space next to them so they can check off which they want to see.

Susette: I did like Aaron and wrote picture book manuscripts available.

Judy9: I usually put the name of the book in red.

^_Posix_^: that's a very good idea Judy

Amishka: I do mine like Judy

Verla: Clever, clever

Judy9: Mine ran two pages, but that didn't seem to deter anyone.

Judy9: I had six or seven books on them.

Judy9: I code my envelopes with a date, name of house.

MelodyLane: Didn't you address the letter to the editor?

Susette: I didn't do a cover letter.

Brenker: Does this query state that it is a sim sub?

(sim sub = simultaneous submission with several recipients of the same manuscript at the same time)

Judy9: Well, it's not a submission yet so it doesn't matter.

Susette: You're only asking them IF they want to look at them.

Susette: You can tell them it's a multiple submission if it is.

Verla: Ah...so you can query to any number of houses at once..and you only have to tell them it's simultaneous if they request to see a manuscript then! Neat!

Judy9: Someone may disagree with me, but a submission (to me) is when you put a ms in an envelope and mail it out.

NOTE: ms = manuscript

MelodyLane: I guess I'm not clear on your format -- is there a separate list, apart from the letter?

Judy9: What do you mean?

Amishka: I address the letter to that specific editor Mel but my laundry list actually starts on the second page

Judy9: Well, Mel. Here's what I do.

Judy9: Dear Editor: I've enclosed a list of available manuscripts from which you may choose any that interest you. Please check next to their name and I will send them off to you right away. And then I list the books and the blurbs about them.

Verla: Wow...that's very short and "sweet" Judy...you don't tell them anything about you? Make a greeting first or something?

Brenker: Judy, so you don't list your "accomplishments" on the query?

Judy9: Oh, at the end of the list, I do give them my credits and then I sign off with a nice "warmest regards" and I'm done.

MelodyLane: Ah! Thanks, Judy. How many books have been sold this way?

Susette: One thing I did hate was some publishers weren't doing pb's or children's at the moment and didn't come out and say so.

NOTE: pb's = Picture Books

MelodyLane: And would you recommend it over the traditional query letter?

Judy9: Mel: Aaron Shepherd and Uma Krishnaswami have used the laundry list with great effectiveness.

Susette: Aaron said he sold like 4 books in 5 months.

Susette: It keeps them wondering. They don't want to turn you down cold turkey if you're someone they don't know yet.

Susette: Something like that.

Verla: Hmmm. Interesting concept

_Lyra: When I wrote teen romances, I would send in a laundry list of plots each year and hope the editor would pick one

Brenker: Great idea, Lyra!

Susette: Lyra, did it work?

_Lyra: For the romances, it worked for five years -- I wrote 5 Sweet Dreams romances

_Lyra: There's also the risk of overwhelming an editor or agent - I wouldn't list too many at first

_Lyra: And when I've submitted to my ex-agent, I listed my manuscripts and she chose just one

Susette: That's great Lyra.

laurarain: How much do you say about each book?

Judy9: Laura: I try to do a one or two sentence blurb about the book. That's the fun part.

MelodyLane: NOT fun, Judy. NOT fun at all!

Shelliwc: I only included two mss on mine. I was afraid to do too many. Now I wish I'd have done more.

NOTE: mss = manuscripts

Verla: Of course, this is only effective IF you have several suitable manuscripts you are trying to market at once!

MelodyLane: Do you recommend including a variety of books? Or the same genre?

Judy9: Mel: I included all my books and sent out to a variety of publishers. If there was something I thought would work for them, I starred that in red.

Judy9: You could divide them up by genre: PB, MG, YA...etc.

NOTE: PB = Picture books, MG = Mid Grade books, YA = Young Adult books

Shelliwc: Dividing by genre is a good idea

Susette: Genre would be better because you have different editors for different genre (age groups) pb's mg's ya's

Susette: I queried an agent recently with 4 of my mss. and told her there were others. She requested ALL four.

Verla: That's exciting, Susette!

DonaV: congratulations Susette!

Shelliwc: Good Luck Susette

^_Posix_^: Success Susette =)

MelodyLane: Yes, Susette, success to you!

Susette: I should hear soon. I'll let you know when I do.

Judy9: I think that would work well. I included two Jewish folk tales I did and starred them to the Jewish publishers I sent to. I'm sure others weren't interested.

Amishka: If I don't feel the book is suited to one publisher I will take that off the laundry list to that publisher

Verla: Yes, I would divide them up according to what books I felt were suitable for each publisher. Like...I wouldn't list any non-fiction books for a fiction only publisher...or picture books for a publisher that did only novels, for instance

Judy9: I mixed them verla, and it didn't seem to matter. I had 6 requests.

Susette: Judy, how many did you mail to get six request?

Judy9: I mailed 19

Judy9: Now.....what about the blurb about your book?

Judy9: I don't have one of my laundry lists here......

Shelliwc: I indented my titles and blurbs from the rest of my letter since I only did two. I did a very short paragraph on each one.

Verla: Yes, What DO you say, Judy? Do you write it up really short...like the blurbs on jackets of books?

NOTE: (This was answered later....the answer was YES.)

SandyKC: A 33% return is NOT bad!

Susette: No, it's not.

Judy9: And the requests kept coming in for 3 months. It was a great way to get constant mail from editors.

DonaV: That's a great response!

Judy9: Tired of rejections? Do one of these to boost your spirits.

SandyKC starts typing a laundry list!

Shelliwc: I didn't do them as a form with a space for the editor to simply check off. I wish I had done them that way. Great timesaver

tuckerJAM: Judy, on an average, would you say that a laundry list query is successful? over an individual query?

Susette: Yeah, they sure fill your mailbox quickly.

Judy9: Editors seem to love these things. And almost everyone sent theirs back, even if they weren't interested.

MelodyLane: Wow! And if they weren't interested, what did they say?

Judy9: Hey, it makes you feel WANTED.

Susette: One thing I think that may work better is if you get a multiple request for the mss. is to mail them in separate envelopes.

Judy9: They would say things like "We don't do books like this, or we only do regional books, or nothing looks right for me right now, or try me again.

Susette: That way, if they don't like one they can send one back and hold on to the others.

Shelliwc: Susette, I would have never thought of that.

Judy9: I never ask them to send back ms. Cheaper to print than mail.

tuckerJAM: Judy, have you made a sale by this method?

Judy9: Well, I got 3 serious requests, but I have not sold one yet. I only did 19. Uma sent out 100 and sold a book.

DonaV: 100? WOW!

_Lyra: there are NOT 100 fiction-kids publishers

Judy9: Lyra: Including small presses, there might be.

Judy9: There are small, literary presses....

Judy9: and if you sent to even imprint of every big publisher you could probably get close.

Susette: And if you included EVERY editor too.

_Lyra: I know there are lots of small presses, but it sure takes a lot

of work to find appropriate ones (g)

NOTE: (g) is a little Grin

Verla: yes, it certainly does, lyra!

Shelliwc: It would take a lot of work just to get all of the editors' names

Judy9: Lyra: I sent to houses I never heard of...I figured, what the heck.

_Lyra: I seldom ask them to return my ms. anymore either

Susette: Harpercollins requested 3 and sent them back immediately (probably thought they were multiple subs).

Judy9: So, plan on doing a mass mailing.

SandyKC: how exactly do you word it to have them not bother to mail manuscripts back?

Judy9: I sent them a business envelope with a post-it note on it saying : Recycle--it's cheaper than stamps.

Susette: I had two requested by another publisher and sent them in separate envelopes. They returned on 2 1/2 weeks ago and still have the other one.

Susette: Judy, did you include SASE so they could at least notify you?

Judy9: I send a business envelope, stamped.

Judy9: Oh, and when you send out requested manuscripts, send a copy of the laundry list so they know this is requested.

Susette: I wrote requested on the envelope and reminded them of their request.

Verla: Notice that Judy said to send a COPY of the laundry list...be sure to keep the original for your records

Judy9: yeah, remind them they wanted this. I got a request for every book on the list and they returned them in 10 days. So, you never know what you are going to get.

Susette: That's a bummer Judy.

LadyPen: So you fold your ms into a business envelope instead of a large brown envelope?

Judy9: No, I sent my ms. in a priority mail envelope, with a stamped business envelope inside for a reply.

Sammeow: How about using the LL to query agents?

NOTE: LL = Laundry List

Judy9: You know, Samm, I don't know how they'd look at it.

Judy9: But, hey, anything is worth a try if it's done professionally.

Susette: Samm, I've used the LL to query agents (especially via e-mail).

Susette: BTW, you can send over 2 pound packages for a slightly higher cost, priority mail. So, if you have several mss. it's worth it and gets there quicker.

Shelliwc: Do they have to sign for priority mail?

Judy9: no.

Verla: True, Susette...and priority mail doesn't require a signature from the publisher...which is very good, because publishers get real irritated when they get manuscripts that require signatures!

DonaV: But remember on priority mail, anything 1 lb or over has to be

HANDED to a postal clerk

Judy9: The laundry list gives you the opportunity to contact a LOT of editors at once.

Judy9: Susette: How did it work for you???

Susette: I had one agent request all 4. And one agent not respond yet.

Judy9: How long ago did you send it out??

Susette: I've also used it with just a couple mss. and had request from agents. I prefer to query agents via e-mail when possible.

LadyPen: Do you send your mss separately?

Judy9: LadyPen: I only send the ms. when it is requested. For the LL

I just sent the letter, with a return envelope inside.

LadyPen: If they request more than one, do you mail individually?

Judy9: I mailed all mine together in one envelope.

Judy9: some will ask you for 3 chapters and an outline.

Judy9: some will ask for the whole book.

SandyKC: Do you find many agents will take email queries?

Judy9: Do they, Susette?

Susette: Some will and either say so in the market guide or on their web site.

patmc: How do you find their websites, Susette?

Susette: Either from others telling me, or some are listed. Just depends.

tuckerJAM: If you sent a LL query, wouldn't an editor think you might have a lot of unsaleable stuff?

Judy9: Tucker: I didn't sense that from my responses. They seemed to take it very seriously.

Judy9: and I think they liked the idea that they could "shop" your list.

Susette: Aaron also marked SOLD on the ones he sold so they would know they weren't available any longer.

Shelliwc: It makes sense to me that editors would prefer this form of query in these days of such deep slush

Judy9: I did not get one negative response about the LL query.

Judy9: I think that's why they like it. less work for them. And you are helping them.....with less work.

Susette: I had one editor say not to send over 3 in a LL.

Judy9: who, Susette?

Susette: Can't remember, it's in the other room.

Susette: If I look it up later I'll tell you then.

Judy9: ok.

Verla: Well, not one negative response is a GOOD percentage, Judy

Judy9: Anyone want to talk about writing the blurb for each book?

DonaV: Judy, YES!

_Lyra: sure!

Susette: That's the fun part.

Dani257: yes!

patmc: Yes, tell us how you did it.

Judy9: It's the blurb that is going to get them excited about your book.

Verla: Yes, Judy!

Judy9: LOL Pat.

LadyPen: Ooh, yes...do tell us!

Dani257: (not that I have all these books written - yet)

Susette: Positive thinking Dani!!!

Verla leans forward to hear better

Judy9: Well, it's pretty much the same idea as the last workshop I did on query letters. Should I go over that stuff again?

Shelliwc: yes

LadyPen: YES!

^_Posix_^: Yes Judy if you really wouldn't mind :)

Sammeow: Does Verla have it in her transcripts yet?

NOTE: The first query workshop transcript IS posted.

Judy9: Let's work on the rule of 6....for verla.

Verla: (and pokes Samm in the ribs.."Move over a little, would ya? You are blocking my view of Judy!")

Susette: Gee, you all have good eye sight.

Judy9: not the rule of 3 verla, but the rule of 6!

Judy9: Verla: Do you remember the rule of 6?

DonaV waves! I DO!

Verla: Heck no, Judy. I don't remember anything unless it happened in the last 15 minutes...and maybe not then, either....

Judy9: Verla is sleeping.

Judy9: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Judy9: Verla???? Wake up verla. Ok, dona, what is it?

DonaV: Pick out six things about your book.

_Lyra: six, huh?

DonaV: six words that describe it

Judy9: right.

Judy9: Find six words that describe your book.

Verla: Oh...NOW I remember it, Judy! Yeah!

Verla: I had SEVEN for mine

Judy9: seven is fine

Susette: I included a question in a couple of my blurbs.

DonaV: You told ME that they all had to begin with the same LETTER!

DonaV thinks deet was putting her on

Verla: (She lied to you, Dona)

Judy9: No, I didn't tell you that. You just DID.

Judy9: Ok, start with the tone. What is the tone of your book?

Judy9: can you find a word that describes the tone of your book.

Judy9: is it a mystery?

Verla: historical?

_Lyra: my least favorite is: edgy (g)

Judy9: Lyra's favorite.

Judy9: LOL

Dani257: Give an example please. I love examples

Judy9: ok, want an example????

Judy9: I can put one up

Sammeow: Yes

Verla: go for it, Judy

patmc: Ok.

Judy9: Ok, for my Tinytown book I wrote this:

Judy9: Take a romp around Tinytown with shy little Lellie Dingle as her pet rat attempts to turn the town upside down.

Judy9: So, what is the keyword in that?

Judy9: Friendship?

LadyPen: romp

DonaV: romp

Shellirwc: shy

Judy9: no, that's not tone.

Judy9: romp, good.

Judy9: another good one.

Judy9: If you can really distill the tone of your book, or the pace of your book.

Judy9: Is your book past-paced? Sleepy?

Shellirwc: Oh, I get it

Verla: Let's do...Charlotte's Web. The tone of the book would be ...what???

Verla: so..what would the "tone" be in Charlotte's Web, Judy?

Verla: It would be good to use a book we all are familiar with, I think

Judy9: Oh, Verla, you are making me think!

Verla: Dum du dum dum DUM!

Judy9: I haven't read it in at least 3 years

Susette: How about the 3 little pigs.

patmc: If you say your book has a sleepy pace, who will want to read it?

Judy9: good question, pat!! LOL

Verla: depends on the story, pat...perhaps it's a soft bedtime story...like Goodnight Moon

Sammeow: Bedtime stories should be sleepy

patmc: I guess it would be okay then, Verla.

Shellirwc: I think I would use another word even for a bedtime story

Verla: Samm! We are twinsies!

Judy9: Ok, how about a word that describes the main character.

Verla: A spider!

Verla: A pig!

Verla: (I'm back on Charlotte's Web, by the way)

Judy9: I see that.

LadyPen: The name could describe the character.

LadyPen: Like Axle Annie!

Judy9: Can you think of a word that describes the character's main problem?

Amishka: Ham? (For Wilber in Charlotte's web)

Shellirwc: LOL Amishka

Verla: The main character in my biography about Charley Parkhurst is...CRUSTY

Judy9: What you're doing is...good CRUSTY says a lot.

Judy9: I like CRUSTY.

Shellirwc: Yes, LadyPen. I have a character named Persnickety Pam. I think her names describes

Verla: the main problem is deception

Judy9: ok, another keyword. A crusty person and deception. We're building a picture.

Verla: Charley WAS a crusty stagecoach driver...chewed tobacco constantly, swore a lot, scrapped/fought constantly with others...slept in the stables...etc

Judy9: Verla likes crusty characters.

Susette: That's why I like to throw a question into my blurb and make the editor curious.

Judy9: Questions are good.

patmc: Example, Susette?

Susette: Okay, on one, I'M ME AND YOU ARE YOU What can be different about identical twins?

Verla: ah..I see..you pose a question to the editors that the book will answer...WHEN they read it! Very clever!

Susette: Thanks, Verla.

Judy9: What about small phrases that describe the book.

Judy9: Think about it this way. You have one small paragraph to give the editor the flavor of your book.

Sammeow: Make mine chocolate, please.

Judy9: You need descriptive words to make this book blurb jump out at the editor.

Judy9: Like jacket copy.

Verla: I was told once to go to Amazon and read the blurbs there for examples of jacket copy. I thought that was a GREAT way to see a lot of jacket blurbs fast

Amishka: My question on my blurb is Will Maude keep her promise or will she tell someone and lose Becky as a friend forever

Sammeow: Good question for Maude..., Ami

Shellirwc: I always think of a query like a jacket copy as well

Judy9: A question is good.

Judy9: Leave the editor with questions in her mind.....so she'll want to read the book and find the answers.

Judy9: Use words that will fascinate the editor....a question does that.

DonaV: Do you need to keep them pretty short?

Judy9: Yes....

Shellirwc: I was terrified I would go over one page

Judy9: Dona: Yeah, about 2-3 sentences or you'll have a five page LL.

susette: If it's a single query, I make mine a paragraph. Shorter for LL.

Amishka: My blurbs are about five sentences long

Shellirwc: I definitely need at least five <g>

Amishka: but some are shorter too

Judy9: Well, ami if that works for you that's great. How many do you put in your LL?

Amishka: nine

Amishka: Some are shorter blurbs than others

Amishka: Actually the pbs are about three sentences each. the mg are about five

Judy9: Does anyone have any questions......?

patmc: Are we talking just fiction here, or nonfiction too?

Judy9: pat: I don't see why it wouldn't work for nonfiction.

susette: Aaron did it for nonfiction.

Verla: and try to "weave" those six words into the book blurb as well,

Judy, right?

Judy9: Yes....

SandyKC: Can you just list the source for those 6 'words' together for me so I can be sure I've got the whole idea? Tone.. Pace..?

Judy9: Think: tone, pace, mc's problem, flavor of the book, kind of ending

Judy9: and you can use phrases instead, just to make this easier.

SandyKC: thanks

Shellirwc: Ami, your LL has 9 ms on it and 5 sentences for each? Okay, where are your margins set? <bg>

NOTE: <bg> = Big Grin

DonaV: Judy, that will be the hardest part of the whole deal, paring down to 2 or 3 sentences!

DonaV: Judy, do you write them long and then condense them?

Judy9: Dona: I write them and then work on them, distilling them, replacing words. I work on them for a few days.

Judy9: let me turn on my light.

Verla: (Judy! We don't DO kinky things in here..you leave that poor light alone!)

Verla: tsk tsk tsk

Judy9: yeah, verla, I couldn't see my hands, or my notes....

KelAtHome: you've got LOTS of room to talk, Verla <vbg>

NOTE: <vbg> = Very Big Grin

Verla gulps and hides from Kel under the podium...

Judy9: Use the keywords to paint a picture of your book.....

Judy9: Or do whatever works best for you.....

susette: Practice by reading blurbs on the jackets of books. It will get you to think more 'confined' (detailed)

Judy9: yeah.

LadyPen: Actually, the blurbs in PW are great to read.

NOTE: PW = Publisher's Weekly periodical - often found in your local library

Judy9: ok, questions? I'm tapped out.

Verla: one compelling sentence from the book that pulls the editor into the story would be good, too, wouldn't it, Judy?

Verla: A quote from the book itself, I mean...

Judy9: Yes, if there is one sentence upon which the whole book hangs, that is really cool to use.

Verla: Like a question that the main character poses...

Judy9: Sometimes I use that. For my book INVISIBLE GIRL, I used a sentence like that.

Verla: I have one from my YA...it's this: "I HAVE to do it this way," Holly said softly to herself in the mirror. "It's the only way I'm ever going to find love."

KelAtHome: btw, Verla, I like your quote

NOTE: btw = by the way

Shellirwc: You hint at the ending in the query? I got kicked off earlier so I missed that one.

NOTE: Sometimes this server we are on "splits" and people get bumped out of the chat room. This is what Shelli is referring to in the above comment.

Shellirwc: I never hint at the kind of ending in my query. I leave that wide open. How much do you touch on that in yours?

Judy9: Shelli: I don't usually tell the ending, especially if it is a surprise ending.

Judy9: Oooh, and if your book has a secret, tantalize the editor with that in your blurb.

Judy9: don't tell her what it is, just mention the secret.

Judy9: Drives em wild.

susette: After I sell one book, I want to re-query some of the editors who said NO with a ms. marked sold. <g>

KelAtHome: ooh! that's evil susette! (I LIKE it!)

susette: Thanks, Kel. It will serve them right. <g>

^GailM: Suzette, you are demonic.

susette: No, I'm angelic.

Judy9: Ok, any other questions.....

Judy9: hey, anyone alive?

MelodyLane: Do you select your publishers in the same way as if you were trying to market a single book?

MelodyLane: Or do you use a different method?

MelodyLane: What do you recommend?

Judy9: Mel: The first one I did, I tried offbeat publishers, small presses, houses I hadn't contacted before just to see what I'd get.

Judy9: I did my best in Writer's Market to pick publishers I hadn't contacted but went for small presses for the most part.

Judy9: And publishers who did at least one kind of book on my list.

_Lyra: how did that work with small presses, Judy?

Judy9: Let me think. I got one request.

DonaV: Judy, but wouldn't this work with big publishers/imprints too?

Verla: I would think it would, Dona.

Judy9: yes, it would.

Amishka: Do it the same way you would market a single book

Amishka: except I would take any books that aren't suitable for that publisher off your list

******WORKSHOP ENDS******

Amishka: hello Judy

Judy9: hello ami.

^_Posix_^Hey, judy, would you happen to have the ISBN of your book "Save Me!" handy?

^_Posix_^: Judy were can I get a copy of your book? is it available anywhere that you know of?

Judy9: I have it Posix, but it's out of print. Do you want it?

^_Posix_^: yes I really would :) it sounds like it would make very good reading

Judy9: Posix": It took me 6 months to get one from Amazon doing an out of print search.

^_Posix_^: any plans for a reprint on that?

Judy9: poxis: I am working on reselling the paperback rights now.

^_Posix_^: great will keep an eye out for it :)

Verla taps her foot and glares at Judy..."HOW do you expect everyone else to follow the "no private conversations during workshops" rule when the PRESENTER is breaking that rule, Judy? HUH? HUH?

Judy9: Oh, verla. I hate rules...rules...rules...

^GailM: The silence is deafening.

SandyKC hands Verla a police whistle

Verla: TWWEEEEEEEEEEET!

Verla: (Nice whistle, Sandy)

KelAtHome snatches whistle from Verla and gives her a night stick instead

KelAtHome: Here, this works better :)

SandyKC: lol Kel!

Verla: THUMP! Nice night stick, Kel. (OOPS. Sorry, Kel...do you need help getting back up? Need an ice pack for the lump on your head?)

Judy9: Boy, verla. You are mean.

SandyKC hands Kel some ice

KelAtHome: Ack! now it's my turn to hide!!

^_Posix_^: heheh

Verla goes and sits in the punishment corner for getting out of line...

Judy9 hands Verla back the rule book. Ppppffft!

^_Posix_^: Verla does that mean its cookie and milk time?

^_Posix_^: Judy I would like to thank you for all your advice, I have to say I really learned a lot :)

Judy9: oh, good Posix.

Judy9: thanks.

_Lyra: You did great, Judy!

Judy9: thanks Lyra.

Verla: Yes, this IS the end of the workshop, Judy..it's time to close.

Sigh.

KelAtHome applauds wildly for Judy (even though I missed the

entire workshop)

SandyKC: Great job Judy!!

LadyPen: Judy, I love your workshops! Very energizing!

Judy9: thanks. ladypen.

DonaV: Judy, an excellent workshop! thanks!

_Lyra: bye!

Verla: Excellent workshop, Judy...

ponytailmo: Hi I got kicked out and couldn't get back in :( missed the writing blurbs bit

Verla passes out silly string to everyone present

^GailM: Lady, you have it right. Judy is very energetic.

JenGal: Thanks Judy!

MelodyLane: GREAT, Judy!!

Judy9: thanks, thanks, thanks.

SandyKC squirts purple silly string EVERYwhere!

MelodyLane: Only one complaint --- TOO short!!

ponytailmo: still learned a lot though, thanks Deet

Judy9: Where's the silly string. You know...

Verla squirts red and blue silly string on everyone

Verla: Especially on Judy!

Amishka: great job judy

Judy9: VERLA: I require silly string at the beginning of my workshops.

DonaV: Didn't you hear that silly string is being recalled!

Verla: what, dona? WHY?

Amishka: really dona

KelAtHome: brb

NOTE: brb = Be Right Back (or sometimes, BathRoom Break)

DonaV: verla, because some of it is flammable, apparently

Amishka: did some kid set it on fire or something?

Verla: awk. That's not good, dona

SandyKC: Hey, should I make a TOTally shameless plug?

Verla: go for it, Sandy!

Verla: As long as it's a "clean" shameless plug

SandyKC: I added an Information Exchange Forum to my website - Feel free to visit!

Verla: you mean like a BBS, Sandy?

SandyKC: YES.. like a BBS! - Now called.. The Cookie Press!!

Verla: The Cookie Press? LOL I love it, Sandy!

*** Verla has set the topic on channel #Kidlit to Writers of Children's Literature Meet Here Nightly - Welcome!

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Verla Kay

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