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Fiction Writing Made Easy
#154. Coaching Call: Critiquing Jac Sahlin's Query And First Five Pages
Aug 13, 2024
In this engaging conversation, Jac Sahlin, co-host of the Book Talk for BookTok podcast and an aspiring romance novelist, seeks guidance on her query letter and manuscript. She learns about the critical importance of genre identity, especially the nuanced differences between women’s fiction and romance. Jac experiences pivotal moments in defining her story’s genre and receives valuable feedback on her crafting process. The discussion also highlights the emotional journey of querying and the impact of effective storytelling.
01:20:15
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Quick takeaways
- Defining a clear genre is essential for effective querying, as genre identity confusion can hinder agents' interest in manuscripts.
- Establishing a character's transformative arc early in the narrative creates a compelling connection for readers and enhances story depth.
Deep dives
The Importance of Choosing a Genre
Deciding the genre of a writing project is crucial for effective querying and agent interest. The discussion highlights how one genre identity crisis can hinder the success of a manuscript, particularly when it straddles boundaries between women's fiction and romance. It is emphasized that a well-defined genre helps both writers and agents understand the target audience and market category for the book. Specifically, one writer's struggle with her book's identity led to advice about simplifying the concept to ensure clarity for potential agents.
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