Chum Bucket tonight. 12/8/14. (If it's NOT 12/8/14 do not send a chum bucket query!)
7pm
Remember: do not link to this post from elsewhere (your blog or Facebook page), or post/tweet about it.
Chum Bucket works because everyone who participates has invested some time in learning how it works. I LOVE doing Chum Bucket so I really want to keep it to those people who buy in to the premise.
The premise is that if you query me between 7pm and 8pm tonight, I will reply to you personally, not with a form letter.
The response can range from "this isn't for me" to "send full" but you'll know I'm sitting there typing it out when I get your query.
Of course, I often do reply with more than "not for me" because I think it's helpful to say why it's not for me. Sometimes it's because I'm not much on eyeball removal (eww!) and sometimes it's cause you
think a 240,000 memoir is publishable.
If I think I can help you, I'll try to do so.
Chum Bucket is NOT a critique.
And your part of the bargain is you will not email me back telling me I'm a cretin of the first order for failing to appreciate your masterpiece. (While that may be true, we will observe the social niceties of not stating the obvious.)
The reason I ask you to NOT tweet or link is that people who aren't regular blog readers, or twitter followers, who only see the announcement, may not know about the social contract not to reply with venom. I really want to keep doing Chum Bucket so the longer we can keep it to invested readers, the more likely it is to continue.
Questions?
The comment column awaits.
And in case you're interested, here's the run down from the last Chum Bucket on 11/20/14
| 1. Not for me/some comments on why: | 10 |
| 3. Suggestions to improve red hot mess queries: | 3 |
| 2. Not for me/some comments on correct category or comps | 2 |
| 5. Not my category: | 2 |
| 10. Requery/not for me | 2 |
| 11. Word count (unsupported by the writing) | 1 |
| 12. Great query/problem pages | 1 |
| 13. Requery on red hot mess | 1 |
Word count unsupported by writing means I look at your pages even if you send a query for a novel with some sort of horrible word count (like 230K) If the writing is polished and tight, no problem. Often it isn't. Thus the "nope."
10 comments:
Based on the most recent chum list, it looks like no one was lucky enough to have a partial or full request.
Good luck to the chum bucketers, and here's to making someone's holiday merry and bright with a request!
Every time you post a new chum bucket date, I struggle (successfully), not to participate. This kindness for the writing community (at least those that follow your blog) is always a reminder of how lucky a writer would be to have you as an agent. Unfortunately, not a fit for my YA science fiction.
I agree as well Eric. I was out pruning vines and thought...WOW, just wow. For the Hostess with the mostess to offer this to her fortunate followers, speaks "volumes" about her.
Very appreciated QOTKU.
I wanna' write another book just so I can chum bucket again.
Here's hoping that Janet and one us lurkers and/or commenters have a brighter season because the QOTKU requests a full.
Like Martha says, "It's a good thing".
Not at the query stage yet, but I wish those that are good luck!
I just got the email notification for this post 5 hours ago. But the post was on the 8th? Sigh. Next time!
I need to make sure, this will be 7-8PM EST?
Oh, drat, I missed Chum Bucket again. I always get your emails about it the next day. G-mail does that to me sometimes; other times, I get emails right away.
Is there a way to find out sooner or is it always the first of the month?
Chum Bucket announcements are on the blog JetReidLiterary.blogspot.com
Right hand corner, with the baby sloth in a bucket.
Next one is Monday 12/15
Thanks! *marks calendar*
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