Podcast Summary: "Can An Agent Picture a Movie Trailer After Reading Your Query Letter?"

Release Date: December 26, 2024
Podcast: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Hosts: Bianca Marais, Carly Waters, CeCe Lyra

Introduction

In this episode of "The Shit No One Tells You About Writing," host Bianca Marais is joined by literary agents Carly Waters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency. The episode delves into the nuanced art of crafting effective query letters, examining whether agents can visualize a movie trailer based solely on a writer's query. The discussion is anchored by their regular segment, Books with Hooks, where they critique query letters and opening pages submitted by emerging writers.

Books with Hooks: First Query Letter Review

Query Letter Overview

"Savage Daughters" is a women's historical fantasy novel pitched by an emerging author. The manuscript spans 106,000 words and weaves a tale set in ancient Ireland, featuring two sisters, Eru and Banba, destined to protect their kingdom from invaders. The query encapsulates elements of mythology, family saga, and the early beginnings of patriarchy.

CeCe Lira’s Feedback

At [04:31], CeCe commends the author for effectively packing essential information into the first paragraph but notes areas needing refinement:

• World-Building vs. Character Focus: CeCe advises against starting with extensive world-building, recommending a focus on protagonists to foster reader connection.
• Plot Specificity: The critique highlights vagueness in plot details, questioning the nature of the sacrifices the sisters must make and the specifics of their vengeful paths.
• Emotional Depth: CeCe emphasizes the need for deeper emotional engagement, suggesting the author infuses more vulnerability and internal conflict within the characters.

A notable quote from CeCe at [08:50]:

“The choice must be clear and must be very specific. It can't be decide how much they're willing to sacrifice without me having any idea what that sacrifice looks like.”

Carly Waters’ Insights

At [08:54], Carly echoes CeCe’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of uniqueness in the query's dramatic question:

• Avoiding Clichés: Carly advises making the sacrifice premise unique to distinguish the book from others with similar themes.
• Plot Over Themes: She stresses that while themes are important, plot details drive a query's effectiveness. Listing themes without showcasing their manifestation in the story diminishes the query's impact.

At [20:06], Carly adds:

“Themes don't sell books. Plot sells books.”

Bianca Marais’ Observations

Bianca praises the author's bio section for effectively conveying the author's connection to the subject matter, stating:

“Even if you don't have a ton of qualifications, just listing your connection to the work is so important.”

Books with Hooks: Second Query Letter Review

Query Letter Overview

"Redacted" is a 114,000-word debut historical novel set in 1930s Hawaii. It narrates the intertwined lives of Rose Payne, a military wife, and PUA Tiaposo, a hula dancer, against the backdrop of racial tensions and the Massey rape and murder trials. The story explores themes of friendship across cultures and the impact of racially motivated crimes within the community.

Carly Waters’ Feedback

At [24:50], Carly addresses the length and clarity of the query:

• Length Consideration: At 497 words, the query is slightly lengthy, though not uncommon for complex historical narratives.
• Dual POV Clarity: She questions the clarity of the dual points of view, pondering whether they are equally represented.
• Historical Alignment: Carly inquires about the query’s alignment with historical facts, suggesting that the author clarify the novel’s connection to actual events.

A memorable quote from Carly at [27:39]:

“If you have to read something more than once, especially your opening pages, then they're not doing the job.”

CeCe Lira’s Insights

At [26:42], CeCe lauds the clear plot but notes the imbalance in character focus:

• Character Arc Equality: CeCe points out that Rose dominates the narrative, suggesting equal weight for PUA’s storyline to honor the dual POV structure.
• Prologue Effectiveness: She critiques the prologue for being confusing and suggests integrating tension within chapter one instead of relying on a separate prologue.

At [38:25], CeCe emphasizes the importance of tone consistency:

“Storytelling is seduction and seduction is a form of manipulation. The reader shouldn't feel manipulated; it should feel effortless and seamless and like magic.”

Bianca Marais’ Commentary

Bianca shares a personal anecdote regarding the challenges of prologues in novels, underscoring the importance of clarity and engagement from the outset. She reinforces the agents' feedback, highlighting the necessity for a strong, singular beginning to captivate readers immediately.

Concluding Remarks

The episode underscores the critical elements of crafting compelling query letters: clarity, emotional depth, plot specificity, and the effective portrayal of dual perspectives. Bianca, Carly, and CeCe provide invaluable insights, emphasizing that a well-constructed query can indeed allow agents to visualize the story vividly, akin to imagining a movie trailer.

Bianca concludes with encouragement for writers to continuously refine their craft, reminding them of the importance of maintaining reader engagement from the very first sentence.

Notable Quotes

• CeCe Lira [04:31]:
  “The choice must be clear and must be very specific. It can't be decide how much they're willing to sacrifice without me having any idea what that sacrifice looks like.”

• Carly Waters [20:06]:
  “Themes don't sell books. Plot sells books.”

• Carly Waters [27:39]:
  “If you have to read something more than once, especially your opening pages, then they're not doing the job.”

• CeCe Lira [38:25]:
  “Storytelling is seduction and seduction is a form of manipulation. The reader shouldn't feel manipulated; it should feel effortless and seamless and like magic.”

Final Thoughts

This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for emerging writers seeking to navigate the complexities of query letter writing. Through detailed critiques and expert advice, Bianca Marais, Carly Waters, and CeCe Lyra equip writers with the tools necessary to craft queries that not only convey their story effectively but also captivate and intrigue literary agents from the outset.