Plot Spoilers in your Query Letter? NO!

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Should you spoiler your plot and big twists in your query letter? No! I have very strong feelings about this, and I'm going to explain why. If you really don't think you can sell your book without major spoilers, you likely have a fundamental set-up/plot problem.
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Опубликовано:

25 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 41

@eirynkatherine9858 4 года назад

After watching this video the only thing I could think when I looked at the title was 'You spoiled the video'!! 😆

@mishashmi381 4 года назад

This was a legit question I had, thank you so much for putting this video out. I've heard so many people tell me that I should put in spoilers in my query but that just never sounded right. And. Now I know for sure.

@mischarowe 4 года назад

*SPOILER* Don't even think about it.😏

@whitneylivingston5706 4 года назад

I’m writing the next to last chapter of my first attempt at a book, about to start some editing/revision to polish it some. I’ve already started to think about the query writing and how best to pitch my story. It’s harder than I thought. I’ve been consuming all of your videos on the subject and greatly appreciate your insight.

@cctwin5537 4 года назад

Just don't do it. Don't spoil the book, WHY would you do that. DONT DO IT.

@FromAnonymouse 4 года назад

I’ll be querying soon and NEED ALL THIS INSIGHT, thank you Alexa!!

@tatinunez7526 4 года назад

This youtube channel is highly underrated

@ryuuchan8516 3 года назад

This is really interesting. I am a writer from Germany and I just got my first book deal this year and I think it's different here. I don't know if there's an english equivalent, but what we do is we submit an "Exposé", which has a synopsis and the main characters in it (and data like genre, audience, etc.) plus the first 30-50 pages of the manuscript. I don't think there even is something like a query letter. Sometimes you'll see a pitch or 4-5 sentences at the beginning but that's it. This query thing is not a thing at all in Germany. Actually, you are told spoilers are absolutely necessary and cannot be left out whatsoever.

@Irlandesaaa 4 года назад

fun fact: your video popped on my recommended. I knew nothing about publishing or even the meaning of "query letter" (I write screenplays), so I had no idea what to expect. Subscribing now, brilliant channel!

@EDDIELANE 4 года назад

Sharp Objects has an amazing twist, and from what it sounds ike the culprit wasn’t even mentioned in the back blurb! Cool!!

@pipitameruje 4 года назад

Sharp Objects is amazing! It was one of those books I could not, just not, put down. And the twist, gods, that twist... I read it recently and those are eight hours of sleep I do not regret shortening.

@rcmaze8400 4 года назад

... And you just partially spoiled the book!

@Saar449 4 года назад

After this video it was all of a sudden way clearer what I should write in the query letter. It was literally just a matter of swapping the major plot twist with the question asked by the character throughout the book. It wasn't even that hard. Thank you so much!

@IsabelA-hp9yt 4 года назад

I wish this was a thing in Germany. Here, a query typically consists of a synopsis, which by default spoils the book 😐

@cutecats1657 4 года назад

Nice! I'll keep these in mind for when I have to publish my books ^^

@PESCADORDORIOSAOFRANCISCO1 4 года назад

Thankyou for helpus with your ideas.

@taniabezak1083 3 года назад

Very helpful video, thank you :)

@sarahcallinan 4 года назад

Could you make a video about your brainstorming process? Particularly how long you like to let an idea marinate before you begin the writing process. Do you typically know the ending before you begin so you at least have a target to write toward? I am a fellow pantser and I've never managed to finish a novel when I didn't know the ending before I started writing. Would love to hear about your pre-writing process.

@Rdtoro5943 4 года назад

Was just asking about this!!!

@MazMedazzaland 4 года назад

This makes sense - I guess it would be like Querying The Empire Strikes back and saying "and Vader is totes Luke's Father".

@Noone76590 4 года назад

Omg I love sharp objects too!!! Glad to see it as an example book- that twist ended meeee

@allyji96 4 года назад

I'd lol if you ended the video after "NO."!

@campwriter9289 4 года назад

I am guilty of doing this! Probably why I was getting rejections. It’s hard to find the right angle, but after rewriting my query more times than I can count, I think I finally figured it out🤞

@DrVVVinK 4 года назад

If you're not interested in the west are not going to watch or read my book? What about the reader? How are you to get them to read the book? The publisher doesn't spoiled the book for them on the front flap. And yet someone still picked it up read it and was interested to buy it.

@Erdnussbuttertoast 4 года назад

but if an agent requests a synopsis, you DO spoil it, right? So you do your lil tease like it would be on the back of the book, blablabla and then "As per your request, here is the full synopsis of the book". Also: are you participating in Camp Nano this July?

@AlexaDonne 4 года назад

Yes, definitely spoil the entire plot in a synopsis! No official plans to do Camp Nano, but I'll probably pop into some writing sprints, etc. as I do want to get some work done on a new book!

@liegeman717 4 года назад

I know this sounds dumb but when you get a chance could you explain the writing of a synopsis and when it comes into play with an agent. Thanks!

@CharlieHorse4363 4 года назад

@@liegeman717 it's not dumb, that's a great question I'd love to hear answered 😁

@lainehalle1039 9 месяцев назад

@@liegeman717 i know im late to the party... but im pretty sure agents will have a list of things they want (including how many pages they want - otherwise, how would you know how many to send?). some might include a synopsis in that list, some might not. if they don't, i would play it safe and just send a blurb, since as alexa said, spoilers can ruin someone's reading experience. agents are no different. ive never queried before, so don't quote me on this, but it just makes sense to me like that :)

@joseavilez2608 4 года назад

should I include a synopsis with my query letter?

@Simmershi 4 года назад

I'd always assumed in the query you'd have to summarise the whole novel, including spoilers. Thank you for clarifying on this! Another writing question: Does it matter whether you write chronologically or not, chapter-by-chapter? I've been skipping a few chapters in my writing for later because I'm not sure what to put there yet or because I can't wait to get to the juicier bits, and I'm wondering if this is a bad thing to do. Love your work! x

@kanashiiookami6537 4 года назад

I know you're waiting for her to answer, so if you want you can ignore me. But, that being said, if your novel gets finished, all chapters written regardless of how and when they were written, that's all that matters. If your writing style works for you, then that's it. It works. Focus on those two words. You don't have to write in the order you would read it, and I've heard of published authors that randomly write chapters/pages and somehow manage to compile it into a book. (Dunno how they do it because I write the way I read just so I have continuity in mind. But you don't have to if it doesn't work for you.)👍

@ruthapollonia6722 4 года назад

I second what Kanashii Ookami said-- I jump around from one scene to another when writing and then have to make all the scenes mesh together. Use whatever technique that lets you complete the novel.

@mjfleming319 4 года назад

Personally I never finished a novel until I just quit trying to write chapter eight and went on to something I could get into. I’m not published (yet?!?!) but after thirty years I at least have the satisfaction of having finished a novel.

@sjbenson5618 4 года назад

I need to contact a publisher please

@blutterfishful 3 года назад

What if my book has lots of twists? Like main character is manipulated by a mysterious monster in darkness. He ends up finding his relationship with that monster. Shall I spoil what the monster is in the query?

@xChikyx 4 года назад

how long should a query be?

@NixLaLoupe 4 года назад

Teasing us with another book in the works with a fun twist.... I see how it is 😁

@nhmooytis7058 4 года назад

How can you write **anything** about a novel without some spoilers? OK true queries need to be short n sweet and a twist makes no sense without context.

@theunwantedbookclub8823 4 года назад

Most query letters require the synopsis or 'the back cover' pitch for your story. WHY would you put spoilers? SMH

@17Jahseh17 4 года назад

Have you talked about black lives matter? Not that my sub would matter, but I’m doing a sweep on youtubers who I think don’t care about me (black) and unsubscribing. But I’m not too sure if you haven’t talked about it inside a video. Also I’m talking about a video on the movement, not a tweet. This is your biggest platform, use this.