Friday, February 13, 2009

Rachelle Gardner cracks me up

Her post on things to not say in a query letter - very valuable advice by the way! - includes this gem: (remember, Rachelle's agency focuses on Christian writing and books)

Query letter:"I realize you require information about my platform and credentials, but Jesus’ disciples did not have impressive resumes, degrees, or extensive evangelical experience... my credential is that I am a disciple of Christ."


RG: True, but the disciples could get an endorsement from Jesus…in his own handwriting. Bring me one of those and we’ll talk.

15 comments:

Rick Daley said...

"Jesus’ disciples did not have impressive resumes, degrees, or extensive evangelical experience"

That is a matter of timing. Before he taught them to be fishers of men? Maybe so. After years of tutelage under the Son of Man? I bet their experience was, in a word, divine.

Whatever the case, it led to publishing contracts for for Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Jeffrey L Riffe said...

My Favorite.

"This book contains scripture and nothing else."
RG(Um, I think they call that The Bible.)


However, if one went about writing a work of fiction using nothing but actual scripture, that would be interesting to see.

Tena Russ said...

She is a hoot. Wonder if she'd rep my fiction novel?

Rachelle said...

Hey Janet, thanks for the post and the link!

Rick, good point about the publishing contracts for the disciples. It totally illustrates what I'm always trying to tell writers... you have to study and learn for years (at the feet of a Master, hopefully) to make it as a writer!

BJ said...

As long as it isn't a non-fiction novel... :)

Tena Russ said...

As long as it isn't a non-fiction novel

Um, I believe Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is considered a non-fiction novel.

Cathy in AK said...

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John had contracts? Wow, imagine their royalty payments to date.

BJ said...

Cathy in AK, the copyright's been expired on their books for over 1900 years. And they didn't do an awful lot to protect their copyright, either. Just kind of let it fall into the public domain.

BJ said...

Ms. inherwritemind1:

You may be interested in reading way #6 on "How to Shoot Yourself in the Foot", and earlier post on this blog:

http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2008/11/elevate-foot-shoot-same.html

Janet's blog is nothing if not enlightening.

Cathy in AK said...

BJ: And that is why having the right agent is so important :)

Tena Russ said...

BJ: "Fiction novel" was a joke.

And, according to Wikipedia, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was a non-fiction novel.

The book's plot is based on real-life events that occurred in the 1980s and is classified as nonfiction. Because it reads like a novel, it is sometimes referred to as a "nonfiction novel," a subgenre popularized by Truman Capote and Norman Mailer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_in_the_Garden_of_Good_and_Evil

Janet Reid said...

I don't give a fig what Wikipedia says. Use "narrative non-fiction" to describe a project like In Cold Blood or Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil.

Kirsten Hubbard said...

On an entirely unrelated note, I encourage you to check out (and blog about?) Roald Dahl's "writing hut":
http://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/discoverdahl/exploring/default.aspx
It's tiny! and filthy! I love it.

Sarah said...

Great link. I started reading back through her other posts. Lovely to find another blog to follow.

Richard Mabry said...

I have the great good fortune to be represented by Rachelle, and I have to agree. She cracks me up, as well. Well, except when she wants me to rewrite sections of my masterpiece.