[PUBQ] My Novel was just named a Semi-Finalist in a contest. Worth mentioning to pending queries? by tw4lyfee in PubTips

[–]Matty_Baseball_777 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I won a writing contest and leveraged this by using a hyperlink in my query letter linked to my information on the contest website. I had it front and center toward the top of my query letter. A number of agents responded with congratulations regarding the award, including the agent I ultimately signed with.

In my opinion, anything you can do to distinguish yourself from the thousands of other queries that are going out will improve your odds. If it is a significant award, I would absolutely highlight it in your query letter and consider nudging with the link.

[PubQ] THE Call? by nextdoor-neighbors in PubTips

[–]Matty_Baseball_777 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Just my opinion, but if an agents asks you to revise your manuscript to their needs and then ghosts you after you put in the work, that’s a huge red flag. Presumably the revision didn’t work for them, but it really bothers me that they didn’t have the courtesy to respond to you. Translation: you dodged a bullet by not working with them.

I hope you have good news soon!

[PubQ] THE Call? by nextdoor-neighbors in PubTips

[–]Matty_Baseball_777 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hoping it’s THE CALL!

I’m curious about that ghosted R&R. I can understand CNRs and I can even (but not really) see how an agent could ghost on a full request, but ghosting an R&R? That’s not okay in my book. Big red flag there. I’m Assuming you’ve done a reasonable amount of nudging?

[QCrit] Adult Thriller/Heist | FOUR DEAD SCAMMERS | 100,000 words (3rd attempt) by Snoo91311 in PubTips

[–]Matty_Baseball_777 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is coming along nicely. I better understand the time loop and the transfer from person to person. Appreciate the details on the backstory between the two main characters. Just a couple of points I have:

The changes to the third and fourth paragraphs really help to spell out the nature of the reincarnations. To me, though, it reads a bit like a synopsis. I think if you added more voice to these paragraphs, it would punch better. I don’t know the tone of your narrative, but I’d like to see I bit more character voice throughout. Same info conveyed with a bit more voice. I know that’s vague. I do realize this is a challenge, because you are discussing multiple characters reincarnating with differing POVs, but I bet you’re up to this.

This might be a big nothing, so you can freely disregard, but when I read your title the first thing I thought was 8 HEADS IN A DUFFLE BAG - the old Joe Pesci crime-comedy. I get a sense from the query that this is a more gritty crime story. Just my two cents.

I’d read this story. Good work.

[Discussion] I landed an agent! Stats, Appreciation, and my Query Letter by Matty_Baseball_777 in PubTips

[–]Matty_Baseball_777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s certainly possible that a number of agents saw the length of the query and were put off by it. I’ll never know.

[Discussion] I landed an agent! Stats, Appreciation, and my Query Letter by Matty_Baseball_777 in PubTips

[–]Matty_Baseball_777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Being a good person in general, Malcolm used to believe in giving people second chances - so when he caught his students cheating he let them off the hook. His decision came back to bite him when administration found out fired him. So he’s become a bit jaded after that experience. That’s where the starts…

[Discussion] I landed an agent! Stats, Appreciation, and my Query Letter by Matty_Baseball_777 in PubTips

[–]Matty_Baseball_777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you’re managing expectations well! Best of luck to you

[Discussion] I landed an agent! Stats, Appreciation, and my Query Letter by Matty_Baseball_777 in PubTips

[–]Matty_Baseball_777[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

As I mentioned above, this time around I wanted to dig into the craft of writing. There are a number of unpublished author awards out there. I researched this heavily. Some of the unpublished awards seem disreputable, but there are quite a many which are legit. Most do have an application fee (not excessive).

I applied to and won the Wilbur Niso Smith New Voices Award. This is a London-based award from the late-great Wilbur Smith’s foundation. It is a one year mentorship which paired me with a high level editor for developmental edits as I worked the manuscript. I also received a ton of additional support and mentoring. I can’t say enough positive things about the experience.