Inbox Insights #2

Inbox Insights is a look into the query inbox at a literary agency. Twice a month, I will go through the queries received on a single day and share my reasons for passing on a project or requesting more material. Hopefully querying writers will pick up new tips for crafting query letters and get a sense of the subjectivity involved in the query process.

#1. Pass. The word count is way off for the category and the description doesn’t match the pitched genre. Tip: Research word count ranges for age category and genre. Your manuscript doesn’t have to be a specific number of words, but try to stay close to the recommended numbers.

#2. Pass. Not interested in the concept.

#3. Pass. Not interested in the concept + the query does not follow submission guidelines. Tip: Keep your query as short as possible. Detailed descriptions of plot should be reserved for a synopsis.

#4. Pass. Not interested in the concept.

#5. Pass. Not interested in the genre.

#6. Pass. Not interested in the concept. Tip: Be vary cautious of using hypothetical questions. These can easily turn a reader away from your story.

#7. Pass. Not interested in the genre.

#8. Pass. Query mentions multiple manuscripts. Tip: Always query with one book only. You want to pitch your manuscript as effectively as possible and covering too much material (aka multiple books) can be distracting.

#9. Pass. We don’t represent screenplays.

#10. Request. Enough information to give a general idea of the plot, but a few details are deliberately missing to create intrigue. Young Adult. Tip: A great pitch always leaves us with questions we need answered.

#11. Pass. Not interested in the concept.

#12. Pass. Not interested in the genre.

#13. Pass. Not interested in the concept.

#14. Request. Great use of voice in the query letter and comparative titles that align with my personal interests. Young Adult.

#15. Pass. Not interested in the concept.

#16. Pass. Not interested in the concept.

#17. Pass. Not interested in the concept.

#18. Pass. Not interested in the concept. Tip: Make sure your query doesn’t focus too heavily on themes. We want to know about the plot.

On the Shelf: The Geek's Guide to Dating

THE GEEK'S GUIDE TO DATING | Eric Smith | Quirk Books | December 2013

You keep your action figures in their original packaging. Your bedsheets are officially licensed Star Wars merchandise. You’re hooked on Elder Scrolls and Metal Gear but now you’ve discovered an even bigger obsession: the new girl who just moved in down the hall. What’s a geek to do? Take some tips from Eric Smith in The Geek’s Guide to Dating. This hilarious primer leads geeks of all ages through the perils and pitfalls of meeting women, going on dates, getting serious, breaking up, and establishing a successful lifelong relationship (hint: it’s time to invest in new bedsheets). Full of whimsical 8-bit illustrations, The Geek’s Guide to Dating will teach fanboys everywhere to love long and prosper.

Chances are good that you're a geek - even if you don't think you are. Eric Smith's book begins with an overview of the different types of geeks and their most common characteristics. There are Pop Culture Geeks (The Comic Book Fan, The TV & Film Geek, The Gamer), Technogeeks (The Internet Geek, The Apple Geek, The PC Geek, The Social Media Geek), and Academic Geeks (The Book Geek, The History & Politics Geek, The Math & Science Geek). No matter your poison, The Geek's Guide to Dating helps you understand your special abilities and how to use them effectively in the world of relationships.

While the book covers topics like approaching new people, surviving a first date, and turning a new dating situation into a long-term relationship, there are also lessons to be learned for geeks who have already found their better halves. I've been in a relationship for seven years now and I still appreciated the underlying messages behind the geeky dating advice. Eric Smith teaches us how to appreciate one another's interests (even if they're completely opposite to our own), how to listen intentionally, and how to celebrate the things we love with the people we love.

Some of the pages in the book are intended specifically for men, but a majority of the content isn't gender specific. I think geeks of any gender or sexuality will appreciate the many references to fandom and the adventure game layout of the book. Also, you need to flip through the pages in person to truly appreciate the colourful illustrations. With the holiday season upon us, The Geek's Guide to Dating is an awesome gift for a geeky friend or sibling.

The Sunday News - December 1, 2013

A weekly collection of literary links best enjoyed with coffee or tea on your Sunday morning. This week's edition of The Sunday News is brought to you by video games, illegal stories, and Starkid.

According to The Atlantic, the video game Device 6 could revolutionize publishing and reading.

The celebrity defenders and titles were announced for Canada Reads 2014.

Three unpublished short stories by J.D. Salinger leaked online this week.

A collection of literary tattoos inspired by children's literature.

Starkid's Twisted is now available to watch online. It's a stage retelling of Aladdin from Jafar's point of view with many other Disney references. It's very NSFW.