A Writer's Digest double-header

I must be the only writer on the planet that actually enjoys writing query letters. It's probably because they're short and fit within the confines of my gnat-like attention span. I make my pitch, try to inject a little personality, bid a fond adieu, and skadoosh, I'm off to the next project. And as fate would have it, one of those queries has been included in The Writers Digest Guide to Query Letters. I'm not sure if I'm in there as a "good" example, or as a horrendously cautionary, don't-be-like-this-poor-schmuck, case study.

And as if that wasn't weird enough, I'm also featured in the current issue of Writer's Digest (Feb. 2009) in the First Impressions section, where I talk about, among other things, my collection of strange dog photos. Scintillating. I know.

Comments

[Kennedy]

I hate querying. Hate, hate, reallydon'tenjoyatall, hate. I should probably pick up this book. I already have a copy of your magnificently effective letter for Hotel, however, so I'd be paying for something I already have. Can you talk to the publisher about getting me a rebate on that particular page?

[carleen]

Yeah, querying ain't my thing either. But strange dog photos...explain please?

[Jamie Ford]

I have a collection of weird dog photos. Not cute, cuddle, puppy photos, but dogs with crazy eyes, that kind of thing. It all started when I was working for a newspaper and one of our photographers snapped this photo of a dog in NYC, that had lost the use of his hind legs and sat in a little wheeled cart when his owner took him for a walk.

I am a dog lover, by the way. I have two Golden's and a mutt.

[David I]

Okay, just have to ask--How, pray, did this come about? (Not your dog photo addiction; I mean how did your query letter end up in WD?)

[Jamie Ford]

I think the author of the WD book queried (ironic isn't it?) a bunch of agents. The lead came from Kristin, she asked if it was okay to release my query and I said, "Sure, what the heck?"

[Eric]

Outstanding. Love the Christmas lights too.

[Suzanne]

This is a timely post for me as I've been wondering if I could actually find a service that would critique my query letter as it is not getting the desired results of finding me an agent...

[Kennedy]

My copy just arrived. I'll have to get you to sign page 130 for me when I see you out here in a few months.

[Jamie Ford]

Nice. I think I was supposed to get a contributor copy or something...haven't seen it yet.

[Wendy Burt-Thomas]

Jamie,
Your query rocked. Thank for the submission. Sorry it took so long for the book to arrive. I mailed it right after I got my author copies.

I hope your query makes people want to buy your book.

I tried to buy Writer's Digest (mag) but Borders was out. Guess everyone is scrambling to read about your strange dog photo fetish.

I should send you photos of my fat black labs, Moe and Goodie. Probably too normal looking though.