Miss Snark,
I was just given an opportunity to study under a respected writer in a well established novel writing workshop wherein several of the current members have had previous novels of theirs published. Not to sound too calculating here, but exclusive of the obvious benefits of a reputable writing group for an unpublished writer, would this be something worth mentioning in a query letter?
No.
The only thing I care about is whether you can write. Plenty of nitwits have studied with fine writers, much like plenty of whack jobs read the New York Times.
IF however, your respected writer reads your novel, and says "this is hot spit" THEN you get to mention it to me. You might consider getting it in writing too. The way things are going I only believe what I can see and verify.
7 comments:
If you get it in writing be prepared to show the whole thing not: "Mr. Fancy writer says "This novel is hotspit...." Agents and editors are savvy that the part you left out might be "...in the writer's mind. In reality it's just spit."
Oh, joy! I'm not the only person on the plant who uses the phrase "hot spit"!
And whatever you do, don't tell an agent that one of their clients recommends you when it's not true. A number of us warn our agents that if somebody writes saying we recommended them, to figure it's a lie unless we've dropped the agent a note of introduction. It happens, and it will only make both author and agent ticked off.
Yadda yadda yadda. Get a blurb from them, then a recommendation to their agent.
Fine writers = hot spit.
Nitwits = bucket of cold spit.
Awesomeness. Thanks for answering.
Oops. Just deleted that line from my query. Thanks very much for the heads-up!
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