The hosts critique a speculative and literary fiction query, emphasizing clarity in language and character development. They explore the importance of aligning plot and climax with genre expectations. Discussions also highlight the challenges of writing in epistolary format and the need for emotional depth. Insights into bilingual language acquisition are shared, illustrating storytelling complexities for diverse audiences. The episode underscores a commitment to supporting writers through community engagement and exciting upcoming initiatives.
Authors must ensure their plot and climax align with their genre to avoid confusion and engage readers effectively.
Writing clear and engaging query letters is crucial for attracting agents and publishers, emphasizing concise character introductions and stakes.
Deep dives
Upcoming Virtual Retreat Details
The first and second of February 2025 are set for a virtual retreat designed to cater to a global audience of listeners. This weekend format aims to accommodate a larger number of participants and includes sessions and workshops from a prior 10-week deep dive. Notably, the event will highlight additional gatekeepers, with more participation from agents, editors, and some author presentations. Attendees are encouraged to mark their calendars for important dates, especially the early bird pricing announcement on November 29.
Building Author Brands for Success
A significant aspect discussed is the necessity for authors to develop their personal brands and engage with potential readers to convert them into buyers. It's highlighted that many authors express disappointment about book sales, often attributing it to personal shortcomings, but this may stem from a lack of guidance. The speaker draws from 15 years of experience helping clients reach bestseller lists and has created a comprehensive course to transfer knowledge about the craft and business of writing. This course is specifically designed to equip authors with valuable insights and techniques that are rarely found elsewhere.
Query Letter Critique Session
The podcast features an interactive critique of a listener's query letter, which outlines a dual point-of-view novel about a mother and her son, both navigating challenging life changes. Feedback was given on the structure and clarity of the query, emphasizing the importance of concise character introductions and plot descriptions to avoid redundancy. Suggestions included tightening the narrative to focus more sharply on character goals and the stakes involved in their journey. This segment stresses the importance of clear, engaging query letters in attracting the interest of agents and publishers.
Insights on Epistolary Novel Structure
The discussion also touched on the inherent challenges of crafting an epistolary novel, which often struggles with maintaining emotional depth while relying on letters or journal entries. Suggestions were made to enhance emotional engagement and interiority, encouraging the author to include more active emotions to enrich the character's experiences. One critique underscored the need for clarity in character motivations and conflicts, to ensure that the narrative remains engaging and coherent. The dialogue reinforces the idea that while epistolary forms can be unique, they require careful execution to resonate with readers.
Today, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a speculative fiction query and a literary fiction one.
They discuss avoiding confusion in your query letter; using names, rather than pronouns, in queries; ensuring your plot and climax match your genre; writing interiority that reflects your characters' realities; title expectations for literary fiction; avoiding being too vague with your plot; and the challenges of writing in epistolary form.
Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.
Carly's course for writers, The Author's Publishing Playbook, is available at carlywatters.com/course. If you haven't grabbed it yet, podcast listeners can use discount code POD15
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