Scary Queries

What makes the idea of writing a query letter so frightening to writers? After all, we're writers...we should have no problem writing a simple letter. Yes, a letter on which hangs the fate of a particular story or article, but still just a letter. It's ridiculous that a professional who can write anything from a noir comedy to a how-to on installing a smoke detector should break out into a sweat at thought of a one-page synopsis. The wealth of instructional articles and books on the subject, though, shows that we are, indeed, afraid and desperate for a solution.

For me, the thought of writing a query brings chills and a sense of nausea much like the flu. Just the thought of writing one of those beasts makes me feel like going and lying down. I've even been known to pass up a publication that requires a query in favor of one that wants to see the article. Yes, now you know my deepest writing secret. I'm a query coward.

Not that I haven't written several queries--some of which were actually successful--but the process has lost none of its terror. For some reason, writing a cover letter, though difficult, doesn't bring the same sense of horror and helplessness. I suspect it's because I harbor the insane hope that, even if my cover letter is crap, the editor will glance past it and be wowed by the dazzling article behind. (I never said I wasn't delusional.)

Nor have several years experience in writing and editing marketing copy helped me bridge the gap from selling a product to being able to sell myself.

Yes, selling myself. That's what we're all selling when we write and send a query letter, a cover letter or a story. I think, at the heart of it, we're not afraid of editors rejecting our ideas. We're afraid of editors rejecting us. Of course, to any serious writer, it's the same thing. We are our ideas. At the same time, that's where the ego comes in. Why should we have to sell ourselves? We are writers; we are brilliant. Our work shouldn't need selling. It should shine like a beacon, drawing the editor to itself like a sci-fi tractor beam. How dare the editor need a query?

Still, it's just a letter.

A New Direction

I've been thinking a lot lately about the format and direction of this blog. Not that this is an issue of international importance...I've been getting the feeling that I'm the only one who reads this rag of a blog, anyway. Since that's the case, though, I can do what I want with it. Right?

You see, I received a copy of Christina Katz's Writer Mama for Christmas, and I've been slowing making my way through it. In it, she suggests blogging for idea generation and exposure. But, I thought, I already have a blog. I just never post anything. After thinking about it for a few days, I decided I needed to transform the blog I already have into a format on which I'll actually post. Imagine!

So, from now on, Get Creative with Writing will look less like a semi-annual writing instructional and more like random ramblings with the topic of writing at their center. So, yeah, more like most of the blogs that exist today.

Enjoy!

On the Premises #2

Here's a mini-contest from On the Premises. I'm thinking about taking a stab at it...what about you?


--- MINI-CONTEST #10 ---

STICKY NOTE

The goal of mini-contest #10 is to imply/evoke a complete
story with just a short note written by someone, to someone.
Make sure the note specifies whom it is addressed to, and who
signed it. (You don't have to use the word "signed.") Make the
note no more than 30 words long. With only 30 words to work
with, you'll have to make a lot of decisions!

Here's a dull example to clarify what we want entries to look like.

Sarah:

I bought milk.

Dan.

Remember, use no more than 30 words, and that includes the name(s) of the note's intended
recipient(s) and the name(s) of whoever's signing it. (So the example above is five words
long, not three!)

WORD COUNTS: Except when spelling out numbers, hyphens count as spaces.
"Half-baked" counts as two words, but "twenty-seven" counts as one
word because it could be rewritten as "27."

Deadline: 11:59 PM Eastern time, Thursday, December 31, 2009.

Prizes: $15 for 1st, $10 for 2nd, $5 for 3rd, publication but no money for honorable
mentions.

Send entries to Entries@OnThePremises.com and put MINI-CONTEST
in the subject heading, please. One entry per author.

Finally, remember to put your contact information in the body of your e-mail and attach
your mini-contest entry as a .doc, .rtf, or .txt file. (No .wps files! We can't read
them.)

Creative Writing Spark #2

Here's today's premise:

You've just moved to a new city and are unable to go home for Christmas. Feeling lonely, you decide to go into the office on Christmas Eve, where you find a co-worker...doing what?

Have fun!