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Query Critique

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Chauncey Zalkin posted a blog post

Query Hell

I've written a great book. T-rust me! (with a bit of a wink here) but my query sucks. And it's sucked since 2010 when I first took a crack at it. It's eithera. Too writerly, smarty-pants analyzing or justifying the book rather than hooking the reader-or-b.cliche, silly, overly dramatic,gimmicky because that's what all the query advice says. Dazzle them.How do you dazzle without being simplistic when you've written a subtle novel?I can NOT get away from either problem. you've got a mystery and a…See More

May 28, 2012

0 Comments 0 Likes

Jessica Vealitzek left a comment for Chauncey Zalkin

"Hi Chauncey - so nice to meet you at Backspace!"

May 28, 2012

Cristina Trapani-Scott replied to the discussion 'Synopsis and Queries when you've written Literary Fiction' in the group Literary Fiction Writers

"Here is a link to a great blog post that I used to help me with my query. Corrine is a classmate of mine. I know her book is YA, but the overall concepts apply to just about any genre, especially literary fiction. It helped to see her before and…"

Oct 26, 2011

Robin Yaklin replied to the discussion 'Synopsis and Queries when you've written Literary Fiction' in the group Literary Fiction Writers

"One of my writing teachers suggested the following: send to a bunch of agents that accept similar work; send to a few you have short listed and take similar work; send to one out of the ballpark screaming home run. Repeat as often as…"

Aug 15, 2011

Chauncey Zalkin left a comment for Kamy Wicoff

"kamy thanks for your comment about whatwomenmake. it means a lot. my novel is my other life and now that i have finally finished my synopsis - gulp - i guess im going to have to send it out to the long detailed agent list / table i created over 6…"

Mar 5, 2011

Chauncey Zalkin left a comment for Kamy Wicoff

"good for you! great pic of you with books. books books books. to hell with enook and kindle. (:"

Mar 5, 2011

Stacey Donovan left a comment for Chauncey Zalkin

"glad to be helpful."

Feb 28, 2011

Chauncey Zalkin left a comment for Stacey Donovan

"fixed. left out the c. typo. thanks for letting me know."

Feb 28, 2011

Stacey Donovan left a comment for Chauncey Zalkin

"Yup, Barcelona is misspelled, thus rendering anyone unable to visit the page. Check your profile page and you will see..."

Feb 28, 2011

Chauncey Zalkin left a comment for Stacey Donovan

"Nice to meet you. Are you saying that I misspelled Barcelona? you said blogpress. It's wordpress. Did I write blogpress? That blog is www.peterchaunceybarcelona.wordpress.com but my pro blog is www.whatwomenmake.com"

Feb 28, 2011

Chauncey Zalkin replied to the discussion 'Synopsis and Queries when you've written Literary Fiction' in the group Literary Fiction Writers

"i think literary fiction is not the same. it just can not be the same. does anyone know any examples of famous literary novels official synopses?"

Feb 28, 2011

Chauncey Zalkin replied to the discussion 'Synopsis and Queries when you've written Literary Fiction' in the group Literary Fiction Writers

"confused though, are you a guy? on shewrites? special guy writer guest person?"

Feb 28, 2011

Chauncey Zalkin replied to the discussion 'Synopsis and Queries when you've written Literary Fiction' in the group Literary Fiction Writers

"two stories woven together. not two books."

Feb 28, 2011

Chauncey Zalkin replied to the discussion 'Synopsis and Queries when you've written Literary Fiction' in the group Literary Fiction Writers

"Thanks Janet. I think I've got it but mostly by trying to finally get all the synopsis advice online OUT of my mind. It just wasn't working for me. Like you said about yours, I was also undermining it. It seemed almost ridiculous. Now I…"

Feb 28, 2011

Robert Edward Fahey replied to the discussion 'Synopsis and Queries when you've written Literary Fiction' in the group Literary Fiction Writers

"I realize this wouldn't work as a query letter, but this description, speaking of nuance, mystery, journey, and surprise, sure leaves me wanting to investigate your book!"

Feb 22, 2011

Profile Information

Who I am:: Publically and for years I've written about or covered women and innovation, cultural change, new ideas and I've compromised myself (I feel) by going to work in advertising, an industry that wanted my insights to understand prospective customers. Privately, I'm a writer who has just finished a novel (well, August 2010) and I am creating elaborate plans to seek an agent which includes lots of charts and 100s of attempts at a synopsis. I write literary fiction and I frankly fell in love with life within my story. Maybe it's a bit hard to let it go. It was a huge part of my life for 4 years. I know I'm even more afraid that I won't get my dream agent(s) and so it's easiest to just sit on the thing. I used to run a writer's group in Paris. I don't have that now so maybe I can find some camaraderie and tips on SheWrites instead.

@lit_author_cbz
www.chaunceyzalkin.com
www.peterchaunceybarcelona.wordpress.com

@whatwomenmake
www.whatwomenmake.com

Books I've written, anthologies I've contributed to, and any scripts or plays I've authored:: I just finished my first novel and am seeking representation.

Media outlets that I currently write for:: Huffingtonpost. Whatwomenmake. I occasionally write for magazines and newspapers about cultural observations but what I have written (my novel) is a work of literary fiction.

My writing is:: Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Blog Posts

Outlets where I review books, TV, or film:: no

Services I offer to other writers:: Editorial, Branding and Social Media

I'm part of these writers' groups or salons:: I used to run one in Paris called the Marais Writers Group. I now live in Barcelona

My professional associations:: N/A

Chauncey Zalkin's Blog

Query Hell

Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:43am 0 Comments 0 Likes

I've written a great book. T-rust me! (with a bit of a wink here) but my query sucks. And it's sucked since 2010 when I first took a crack at it. It's either

a. Too writerly, smarty-pants analyzing or justifying the book rather than hooking the reader

-or-

b.cliche, silly, overly dramatic,gimmicky because that's what all the query advice says. Dazzle them.

How do you dazzle without being simplistic when you've written a subtle…

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Comment Wall (10 comments)

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At 10:42am on May 28, 2012, Jessica Vealitzek said…: Hi Chauncey - so nice to meet you at Backspace!

At 4:12pm on March 16, 2011, Kamy Wicoff said…: Yes, you can totally interview me! Write to me at kamy@shewrites.com.

At 6:56am on March 4, 2011, Kamy Wicoff said…: Hi Chauncey! Congratulations on finishing your novel. What Women Make is so cool, I just stopped by to check it out.

At 10:05pm on February 28, 2011, Andrea Campbell said…: What a great name you have, sounds so English proper. Yes, the womenincrimeink blog is fun and the other members are so experienced! Would love to hear more about what you are doing too. Thanks for finding me for a friend.

At 12:23pm on February 28, 2011, Stacey Donovan said…: glad to be helpful.

At 12:15pm on February 28, 2011, Stacey Donovan said…: Yup, Barcelona is misspelled, thus rendering anyone unable to visit the page. Check your profile page and you will see...

At 9:03pm on February 7, 2011, Meg Waite Clayton said…: The details for the chat are on the wall of the novelist group, Chauncey. Hope you can join us!

At 12:47pm on February 6, 2011, Julie Jeffs said…: Chauncey,

Welcome to the Bloggers Let’s Make it Work group! So glad you are here. Please visit the discussion New Members Visit Here First, tell us about your blog so we can list it on the members blog index.

I hope you will find, as I did, a great sense of community, loads of information and resources, and an incredible amount of talent.

Jump in on ongoing discussions or start one if there is an issue you would like to discuss.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Look forward to reading your posts.

Warm regards,
Julie Jeffs
Beginning a Life at 50

At 9:07am on February 5, 2011, Meg Waite Clayton said…: I just opened the door to the novelist group for you - welcome! You might introduce yourself by telling us what you’re working on in the “Show Me Your Novel and I’ll Show You Mine” discussion if you're not too uncomfortable talking about what you're working on. And we do a live chat every Wednesday; hope you can join us for that!

At 11:08pm on December 17, 2010, Meg Waite Clayton said…: Chauncey,

Welcome to She Writes. If you’re looking for a place to jump in, we’d love to have you join us in the Novelists – Struggling or Not group.

Enjoy the site!

Meg Waite Clayton
Moderator, Publishing Industry News, and Novelist Group
Bestselling Author The Wednesday Sisters and the forthcoming The Four Ms. Bradwells
www.megwaiteclayton.com

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