Frustration

Any other writers out there mad at the process of querying? I’m sure there is at least a few out there. Those who don’t know what querying is… to put it simply it’s a cover letter tailored to pitching our book and ourselves to an agent. That person if they like your work and are hooked by the ONE PAGE letter might ask for more. Now, some are a little more reasonable and ask for the first ten pages or first three chapters. The operative word being little in that sentence. For what you get in reply to most is complete silence. You heard me right. Most don’t bother to even send if they rejected it or not. The few that do will give you a form rejection… ironic (the nicest word I can come up with) when they ask us to customize every letter written to them. The few criticisms I’ve gotten from responses are “well it didn’t really hook me in” or “it’s more showing then telling”. And all I have to say is… well duh. You don’t create a whole new world and just blaze through details. That’s how confusion happens. On top of this we have to set up the story no matter the genre. No one is going to care if someone is randomly running away or fighting an unknown assailant… for the reader is not invested on either side to win. Now, maybe this works for some stories, but I can’t think of a really good one that fits that description. There’s always an explanation of character, places, rules, and motives within the first couple chapters. Although it might not be the most fun to read at first… It’s necessary for understanding how the rest of the tale flows. Honestly, the whole process makes me distrust traditional publishing. They seem set on the same old same old, not producing anything fresh or exciting. Even scarier is it seems it wants to follow the trends of movies where action is in favor of telling an actually interesting development of characters and compelling plots which twist. It makes one set their eyes on a different path of self publishing. However, this requires much more expertise in fields I’m not entirely strong in. Not to mention the cost. I have much to think about and I hope my fellow writers find their way to being published.