Why Plot and Specificity are a Query Letter's Best Friends
The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra
4.8 • 733 Ratings
🗓️ 17 April 2025
⏱️ 55 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra welcome querying author Debbie Whittal to discuss her query letter for her debut novel, 'Linda/Linda.' Carly and CeCe address the challenges of representing a quiet novel in a query format. The discussion transitions to the pages of the manuscript, highlighting the strengths of Debbie's writing and the need for a more engaging presentation of her story's drama. The critique discusses the complexities of character relationships, particularly focusing on characters in Debbie’s novel. The hosts offer advice on exploring themes of sapphic romance, emotional stakes, and the dynamics of power in their interactions. Carly and CeCe provide constructive feedback on Debbie’s narrative choices, scene structure, and character development, emphasizing the importance of clarity and reader engagement. The conversation also highlights the significance of psychological elements in relationships and the need for stronger emotional stakes in the storytelling.
Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's beta reader matchup time again, where you can be matched up with those writing in the same genre and or time zone so they can critique your work as you critique theirs. |
| 0:10.3 | Your manuscript doesn't have to be completed to sign up for this 3,000 word evaluation. |
| 0:15.7 | This particular matchup will be open to registrations from now until the 4th of May, with the matchup emails going out on the 5th of May. |
| 0:22.9 | Because my new novel, A Most Puzzling Murder, pubs in early June, and will be keeping me very busy, |
| 0:29.3 | this will be the last matchup until the fall. |
| 0:32.2 | Please spread the word, even if you aren't signing up this time. |
| 0:35.3 | The more writers we have registered, the better the matchups |
| 0:38.2 | will be, which means you'll be paying it forward to your fellow authors. And hopefully they'll do |
| 0:43.5 | the same when the time comes for you to register. For more information, head to Bianca Moray.com |
| 0:49.8 | and go to the Beta Re reader matchup page. |
| 1:01.3 | Hi there and welcome to our show. |
| 1:04.1 | The shit no one tells you about writing. |
| 1:11.6 | I'm Bianca Murray and I'm joined by Carly Waters and C.C. Lira from PS Literary Agency. |
| 1:17.9 | Hi, everyone. Welcome back to another Books with Hook segment. Today's is an extra special one. |
| 1:24.0 | So we haven't had an author on the show with us for a while. And now we are breaking that drought. |
| 1:30.3 | Debbie Whittle is with us today. Debbie, welcome to the show. Thank you. I'm so glad to be here. We're so excited to have you. And as per usual, we're going to dive straight in. So we're |
| 1:35.5 | going to ask you to please read us your query letter. Okay. Dear Bianca, Cece and Carly, |
| 1:41.3 | thank you so much for your insight, generosity, and kindness as agents, |
| 1:45.5 | podcasters, and educators, all of which were on full display during your fantastic deep dive |
| 1:50.6 | series, webinars, socials, and weekly on Tis Snott Yaw. This query is dedicated to CC, following your |
| 1:57.5 | threads call for dysfunctional families, social climbers, and female rage. |
| 2:01.9 | Linda Linda is my 80,000-word work of upmarket women's fiction, exploring the subtle and not-so-settled |
... |
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