Hi Julie! Thanks for your suggestion.

Aurelio,
That’s GREAT advice! A couple of people have read it and I’ll pass it out to a few more…

I guess if I can offer any advice from a copywriter’s perspective (following Susan’s advice earlier), is before you write a query, hop online or go to the bookstore and take a look at the book jackets that are out there. Their tone is usually a good indication of what work well in a query letter.

Thanks again everyone for sharing your processes and input. It’s been truly enlightening. I hope others found it equally as helpful.

Something I should have shared earlier when we were talking about “finishing” a book:

I recommend that when you think your manuscript is done, pass out copies to a select handful of willing (mostly) non-writers you know for a test read. I did this with EVE and found it to be a huge help. I chose a group of people of varied ages, tastes, and genders. The only thing all of them shared in common was the annoying habit of speaking their mind. (I wanted a book that would appeal to the broadest possible audience, but if you have a YA book or Chick Lit or something more specifically aimed, then I’d aim the testers.)

A few of my testers pointed out problems with the same parts or character moments, so I knew I needed to rework those. Some of the lone crits struck me as right immediately, so I reworked those too, and some just led me to new and fresher ideas. I listened to every criticism, even if I didn’t agree with it, but I didn’t necessarily do the solutions they suggested. It may be they’ve spotted a problem–that’s what you are after them to tell you–but you are the writer, so your own solutions to the problem will, in theory, be better than what they suggest. Ultimately it is your story to tell, and you don’t want to turn it into a market-researched New Coke.

I then did a final rewrite/polish, confident that what was working in the book would now work for most readers, and certain that my new draft was an vast improvement.

And don’t be easy on yourself! Resist the temptation to choose people who will stroke your ego, but choose ones that will be tough on you.

This process worked so well I plan to do the same thing with my new one.

(Note to Lauren: Sorry yesterday was a down day. I think you are amazing.)

Julie

Robin – I’ll see you for ribs at Lori’s. We can celebrate all three books!

Emily – Welcome!

Lori – If I were an editor, I would really welcome a chance to read a book like yours during such a depressing, hate-filled week.

EMILY! I love you and it is so appropriate that you chime in. F-A-M-I-L-Y. That’s what I want to convey. No matter how wacky things get, you always have your family.

Lori, I think your book will be published sooner rather than later, too, and ask Susan, I’m always right.

So save me some ribs, please, though my kids are working hard to turn me into a vegetarian. Misery apparently really does love company.

(and I would post my experiences about querying and publishing and all that but I’ve already jinxed myself by saying too much already in spite of what Susan says so I’ll get back to you on that another time…hopefully you won’t need to hear about it by then)