This weekend The Public Query Slushpile picked up its 100th follower!
[NOTE: insert cyber confetti and a ticker tape parade across the World Wide Web here. Oh, and multi-colored balloons. They are quite festive.]
Thanks to everyone who stops by, whether you are submitting queries, commenting on queries posted, or even if you just lurk and read. And if all you do is lurk and read blogs all day, I hope you unplug and go outdoors occasionally. Really. It's nice out there.
And now a contest...The Best Query Competition
There are over 70 unique queries in the Slushpile. Over 125 if you count revisions. Have you read them all?
Look deep into the blog. You are getting sleepy. Wait, sorry. Wrong post. Where was I? Oh, yeah...
Look deep into the blog. Use the labels to the right, the search function at the top-left, or scan the titles in the archive. Find a few queries you never read. Re-read a few that you remember.
Leave a comment to this post letting us know which query you think is the best. [NOTE: I don't know why I said us just now, since there's only one of me here. Perhaps I need to take myself up on that "go outside" thing I mentioned earlier.]
And the prize? Sorry, I got nothing for you except this:
Thanks again for your support. And remember, you have to post to receive total consciousness on your deathbed...
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20 comments:
My favorite query so far is Quest Support. It's clever and has a good voice.
That would be mine, too, Rick, although I think you need to clarify: Do you mean *beginning* query, or the end result?
And while we're at it you might consider a "Most Improved" category, although I doubt my memory would extend that far.
Hope,
The contest is open for any query. I think a few that went through multiple revisions were actually OK in the early stages. If there is one in the middle that nailed it (like revision 2 out of 4), that would be noteworthy.
I'm all for an honorable mention for most improved. In that case my vote would be for either Seven Inch Vinyl, or Hound in Blood and Black.
I would give an honorable mention to Story for a Shipwright for best query, but not because of the query itself. I really liked the sample pages on the original submission and would read more.
Rick,
I’ve gone bright red again…
I was actually hoping to break a record with Story for a Shipwright, for the most revisions, but I’m running neck and neck with Raingun.
As for my favorite, I wish, as usual, that I could come up with something original. Alas, I too, especially like Quest Support. It sounds really fresh!
I have an idea for prizes... You can write a check for $10,000...
I've read about half of them, I'll vote when I've read them all. (finished versions) It's only fair.
Oh, I'll write the check. It's just that nobody can cash it.
JB, red is a good color for you. I hope that someday I'll be able to meet you at a conference and get you to sign a copy of STORY FOR A SHIPWRIGHT. Or, better yet, we'll be sitting next to each other signing copies of both of our books for the hoards of agents who are telling us how they can't believe they turned down bestsellers such as ours.
You have to dream, you know...
I like quest support's voice and premise, but I know I wouldn't want to rep it (I'm one of the few who absolutely abhorred Douglas Adams's THGTTG and this seemed similar in tone - which is good for many, but not for me)...
But in terms of queries, I think it hits the nail on the head for the targeted agent.
Bane,
Thanks for weighing in. Do you have a pick for something that is more in line with your personal tastes? Just curious...
I like "The Saving Race" (http://openquery.blogspot.com/2009/04/query-saving-race.html). It has a great hook, a clear structure and if I were an agent, I'd ask for a partial based on what's there.
As for prizes, how about line-by-line nit-picky critique of a query letter or feedback on X# of pages by readers who would offer to do it? The readers here are obviously into giving feedback. :)
Eden,
I like the idea of a page critique.
Are you thinking it would be posted here and open for comments, or personal between the winner and a few people who offer up their time for the critique?
Rick, that's a good question - the best written ones (IM0) are ones in areas I don't read too frequently...
I do think QS gets tone/voice spot on and is tightly written, so I'll stick w/ it as the best query (and pass it on to one of my colleagues at the Imaginary Agency of The Afterlife).
Not trying to kiss butt, but my favorite is Rudy Toot Toot. I love a query I can laugh at (in a good way!). It is well structured and precise. Way to go Rick! By the way, there is a small publisher called Shadow Mountain that does children's books (you wont need an agent to work with them.) They use great illustrators. Give them a try.
And Eden, you made my day! The Saving Race is mine and I certainly didn't expect to see it nominated. I've been agonizing over revisions since I posted it here. Glad to hear the praise!
Folksinmt:
Sweet! Thank you for the compliment, and for the tip. I would love to see Rudy in print.
I'm truly flattered that people like my Quest Support query so much. Now if only I could find an agent who felt the same way. :)
Okay, I just finished reviewing all 75 original queries (plus most of the revisions) - even though I should be working, I might add! - and, naturally, I found it hard to decide on my favorite queries, but here goes the top three:
1. The Vampire, the Witch & the Wardrobe
2. Quest Support (1st revision)
3. Broken (3rd revision)
As much as I like Quest Support for its clever query, I think the one I'd most likely read based on the query is Hollow Souls—more my taste in genre.
Thanks, JB! That made me blush. When HOLLOW SOULS is published (even if I have to do it myself!), I will happily send you a copy. I'm equally curious about STORY FOR A SHIPWRIGHT, so good luck with it!
Next contest is going to be a blushing contest between Laura and JB ;-)
oohhh! Now you've gone and done it agian—does that put me in the lead?
Sorry i didn't respond sooner. I've been offline.
You're welcome folksinmt :)
As for the one-page crit, I had imagined something more along the lines of "personal between the winner and a few people who offer up their time for the critique" just b/c I didn't think you wanted to open up PQS to page crits (that newbies might see that & think that's equally what you do here). But a public crit would be beneficial to the group as well. Maybe the winner would want to chose?
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