QT Blog's First Agent Contest! Can you sum up your book in one sentence?
Joanna Stampfel-Volpe of Nancy Coffey Literary will be judging one line hooks on this blog next week. That's one sentence only to describe your book. We have addressed the topics of hooks and pitches several times on this blog (pitches, hooks, loglines, high-concept hooks).
Do NOT send submissions today. The contest will be open for submissions on Monday, April 13 when the blog post formally announcing the contest goes up (9:00 am Eastern time). The submission window will be open for 24 hours and will expire at 9:00 Eastern time, Tuesday, April 14th. Do not pitch an unfinished manuscript.
Submissions are limited to ONE sentence. Compound/complex sentences are fine, but please don't get carried away. The object is to be succinct.
Your one line hook should be emailed to QT Blog author, Elana Johnson. The easiest way to access her email address is by clicking on it in the sidebar on the right. Her address is elanajohnson(at)querytracker(dot)net (Note the spelling of her name). Please send your submission only once. You will receive a confirmation email sometime during the day.
In your email, include:
Real Name (required)
Screen name (if you are adverse to putting your real name up if you win)
Email address (one you check regularly)
TITLE of manuscript
Genre/wordcount
One sentence pitch for your book.
Any entry longer than one sentence will be deleted without being sent to Ms. Volpe. Again, don't try to create the longest sentence in the history of the English language.
This is not an open critique. Your entry will not be published here on the blog for others to comment on. Only Ms. Volpe will be reading the entries and choosing the ones she likes (Winners will be posted on the blog, but no one will be shredding them).
Ms. Volpe is currently looking for a wide range of fiction from young adult, fantasy, science fiction, romance, thrillers, woman's fiction, middle grade, historical and commercial fiction as well as non-fiction in a few areas. Before submitting, please check her profile on QueryTracker to make sure she represents your genre.
Good luck!
Blog News
We are adding a new author to the QueryTracker.net Blog. Writer Michelle McLean will be joining the team next week. Michelle writes YA fiction, children's picture books, and adult non-fiction and has been published in three Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Welcome, Michelle!
Agent News
Contests
QueryTracker Blog (that's us) will be holding a one sentence pitch contest judged by Joanna Stampfel-Volpe on Monday, April 13th.
The Knight Agency is still accepting submissions for the Book in a Nutshell Competition.
Miss Snark's First Victim is hosting her Secret Agent Contest next week.
Blog Posts of Interest
Wishing all of you a blessed Easter weekend.
Mary
Mary Lindsey writes paranormal fiction for children and adults. Prior to attending University of Houston Law School, she received a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Drama.
19 comments:
Joanna's contest sounds great. I have the perfect sentence (maybe), but alas can't enter because she's already rejected my ms. Despite that (definitely no hard feelings here :D), I think she's fantastic. She took the time to point out the two stupid mistakes I made throughout my ms, which were easy to fix. She also dissected my first chapter and told me what worked and what didn't. The result? Her suggestions inspired me to rewrite some of it to make the descriptions stronger. Now you can really hear the love interest's voice (trust me here). But that's not all. Because I started to second guess why she rejected the ms (what author doesn't do that?), I decided to rewrite some plot points (H.L. Dyer's medical advice paid off here. Double :D).
So what's my point? Joanna's a gem, and I highly recommend entering the contest or querying her directly. Her insights are astounding. (hee hee, as if she wasn't already flooded with queries.)
Looking forward to reading Michelle's future posts. This blog is just getting better every day. Woo Hoo!
Have a great long weekend!
Stina - We're totally with you on your love of Joanna. She is made of awesome. What a coup for QueryTracker to get her to judge a contest! Nice work guys!
We won't be able to enter either, but can't wait to read the winning pitches and hear Joanna's crits. She's one of those rare agents who really takes time to provide feedback and encouragement to writers. Of course, it helps that she really knows her stuff.
Great contest! I'll have to go back and re-read the "elevator pitch" blog post!
Great post, Mary! And welcome again, Michelle!
Stina, I don't see why you shouldn't enter our contest. It sounds like your ms has changed a lot. Ms. Stampfel-Volpe might like to see it, especially considering how much input she gave you. So I say go for it!
(Psssst... she didn't say not to enter if she had rejected you before. *wink wink*)
One more question: If I send in my one sentence hook and don't win, can I still query Ms. Stampfel-Volpe with a traditional query for the same manuscript later? I just don't want to put all my eggs in a one-sentence basket. :)
Yes, you can still query her, Alps. This is a hook contest. You are not querying Ms. Volpe. Enter away!
Thanks, Mary. Yay for contests and double yay for QueryTracker!
Thanks Qt team, I'll email Elana my entry on Monday. This sounds like a great opportunity!
Do you want anything special in the "Subject" line of the email, for easier identification?
Linda, watch for the post on Monday. I do say what to put in the subject line. "One Line Hook Submission"
Feel free to advertise this everywhere guys!
And welcome Michelle!
Elana's been receiving submissions already, guys. She's having to contact people and tell them she is deleting the submissions and they need to resend on Monday.
Please don't send her anything until the contest opens at 9:00am on Monday, April 13th.
So, Elana, did the Authoress give you any hints on how to handle the onslaught of submissions for Monday? Maybe I'll have to send you both virtual chocolate covered cashews. :D
Yum, I want some!
Not a problem, Suzette. I'll send the Easter Bunny down with your shipment. ;0)
I'm looking forward to sending in my sentence on Monday, and want to say "thanks" to everyone involved for making this happen!
Stina (and others), all forms of chocolate are welcome. Especially Dove dark...lol! Don't worry, I've set the alarm and I will be in front of the computer. Looking forward to it!
Thanks Stina and Stilton! :)
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