tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post6372322601779492495..comments2023-09-05T12:51:25.656-05:00Comments on edittorrent: Theme in Query LettersEdittorrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-75612415241292551692010-05-29T08:15:05.890-05:002010-05-29T08:15:05.890-05:00never thought of using a diagram to help draft a q...never thought of using a diagram to help draft a query letter, thanksEeleen Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15221723342556515161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-21169582770483405462010-05-28T09:50:49.158-05:002010-05-28T09:50:49.158-05:00Teresa, this is great! I haven't tried it jus...Teresa, this is great! I haven't tried it just yet, (I will!) but was wondering if I could have permission to use this blog post, with the examples, for a local WisRWA chapter meeting program? (With proper credit and blog links posted.)<br /><br />I'm at snetzel.at.wildblue.netStacey Joy Netzelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13908548379784017162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-82384828002440614062010-05-28T00:39:14.106-05:002010-05-28T00:39:14.106-05:00Ah! Brilliant post.
I do have a central theme tha...Ah! Brilliant post. <br />I do have a central theme that runs through both the main plot and the sub plots. Back to the old query-writing board.Amanda Borenstadthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03061109442550378113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-74687397129328905532010-05-27T10:37:46.089-05:002010-05-27T10:37:46.089-05:00I don’t believe it! Just by doing this simple exe...I don’t believe it! Just by doing this simple exercise I realized something VERY important. And, although the necessary pieces were there in the story (the exercise tied my main theme directly back to the villain) - which gave me a new angle to fine tune his motivations in the end. Awesome! <br /><br />Thanks, Theresa!<br /><br />And, um, @ Thomas. <br /><br />Have you, per chance, read T’s mantasy post? ;) We forced Wes to read it before he submitted. *insert me sighing here* Ah, those were the days. (Because we teased him mercilessly about it, too - hehehe) <br /><br />In any case, best of luck with your stories - But after reading your comment on RU yesterday about: <i>blowing in the dead guy’s lungs after you removed his dentures</i> Classic, btw - I’m sure you're beyond the pitfalls of a mantasy. <br /><br />Murphy :DRiley Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817930302085699222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-91920963810324938732010-05-27T09:11:19.644-05:002010-05-27T09:11:19.644-05:00@Sylvia - Sweet! Sometimes a little idea-mapping c...@Sylvia - Sweet! Sometimes a little idea-mapping can open up these new views of existing works because it lets us look at things from a different angle. Glad it worked for you.<br /><br />@Thomas Sharkey - Are these three connected novellas? If so, query them accordingly. If it's one novel in three acts, you make that clear from the query, too.<br /><br />TEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-23869157592405932942010-05-27T05:53:15.701-05:002010-05-27T05:53:15.701-05:00I have problems thinking along the line of themes ...I have problems thinking along the line of themes but cliches are easy. I found one that fit my novel immediately and started the brainstorm process. As a part of that, I stumbled upon an important recurring aspect which I think is actually a clear theme in the work. <br /><br />So now I'm off to rewrite my query letter again !Sylviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05925593802209715440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-53418928165030113582010-05-27T02:59:37.579-05:002010-05-27T02:59:37.579-05:00Dear Theresa
Thank you for your advice on query le...Dear Theresa<br />Thank you for your advice on query letters.<br />I have a problem.<br />I have written an erotic sci-fi fantasy novel, “Tales of Bexhill”, word count 83,000. It is in three (related) parts, each with its own MC and foreword. How do I present it/them ?<br />The word counts are: 21,900, 23,130 and 37,300 respectively. <br />What do you think as I wish to present it to Red Sage Publishing?<br /><br />Yours sincerely,<br /><br />W. S. Taylor.Thomas Sharkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10583480452803998809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-16927740060242726522010-05-26T22:45:42.686-05:002010-05-26T22:45:42.686-05:00@Miss Sharp - Yes, we'll talk about motif in q...@Miss Sharp - Yes, we'll talk about motif in queries, too. The two concepts sort of go hand in hand because they're both principles around which you can organize a plot summary.<br /><br />TEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-73353365510093567812010-05-26T22:44:22.035-05:002010-05-26T22:44:22.035-05:00@Erin - Yes, you can have more than one theme. The...@Erin - Yes, you can have more than one theme. Theme doesn't even have to be tied to character directly. For example, in "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, one of the themes is the way language is used in both politics and religion to desensitize and dehumanize us.<br /><br />I haven't read Twilight (tried, failed to get past the first chapter), but I think Harry Potter's themes have something to do with legacy, family, "found" family, birthright, things of that nature. Anyone want to take a crack at formulating a theme there? These things do get easier with practice.<br /><br />TEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-82297284936093073062010-05-26T21:22:41.868-05:002010-05-26T21:22:41.868-05:00Great information about how to break it down into ...Great information about how to break it down into a step-by-step process. I liked the idea of writing things out in bubbles to narrow down how it applies to your ms. Great post!Lisa_Gibsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17238496789960349077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-48914739751674962172010-05-26T21:21:41.401-05:002010-05-26T21:21:41.401-05:00"love overcomes what hate creates"
Ooh,..."love overcomes what hate creates"<br /><br />Ooh, that's good...that's very good.<br /><br />Great post - very helpful and thought-provoking. And timely as I spent most of today working on character motivation for (just started) WIP. As I read your comments, possible themes jumped out at me. I'm eager to now take things to the next level and find a way to put a spin on the themes.<br /><br />I decided to write queries for the novels I want to write. I figured that was one way to see which ideas/stories jumped out at me first. Which ones seem more fully realized or have more potential...<br /><br />Your suggestions should also help as I try to write a solid hook for each idea. <br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />CatCatherinehttp://justwritecat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-36429282709171963312010-05-26T20:46:04.427-05:002010-05-26T20:46:04.427-05:00So good! This post really encompasses much more t...So good! This post really encompasses much more than just (just!) the query.<br /><br />But it felt to me like you were only getting revved up - there's a part II, right? Right???Miss Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15045004653114991953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-21886262603779745312010-05-26T18:28:33.623-05:002010-05-26T18:28:33.623-05:00So, umm, I feel kind of silly asking these questio...So, umm, I feel kind of silly asking these questions here, but what do you do when you are having a hard time deciding what the theme of your novel is?<br /><br />Can there be more than one theme in a book? With your example of Othello, all the characters have the same theme of jealousy, but can different characters have different themes, different things that they learn? Can a book explore more than one main idea and still make sense and be coherent? <br /><br />Could you give examples of books where the theme is harder to pick out? Would the theme of Twilight be "obsessive love?" What about Harry Potter? The Lightening Thief? <br /><br />How specific should your theme be? What is the theme of Jane Eyre? Or Pride and Prejudice or Emma? <br /><br />Sorry, but for some reason, I'm kind of struggling with theme. Do I need to have a very specific theme to write about, that guides my work, or can it be more general--I'm going to talk about forgiveness. And different aspects of forgiveness. And can it have another side dish of some other theme? Like, I'm going to focus on forgiveness, but I also want to explore beauty? <br /><br />Don't know if these questions make any sense. Thank you for your time! Your posts are always so helpful and informative.Erin Cabatinganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00106176070253352461noreply@blogger.com