Judi Lauren

YA Author

Writing Query Letters: Conflict

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I’ve had a few writers talk to me this week about conflict and how important it is in a query letter. Conflict is one of my favorite things about editing. I love working with writers to make their conflicts stronger–ultimately making their characters stronger.

So what is conflict?

Conflict is what is keeping your character from his or her goal.

Let’s go back to The Princess Bride, because it’s such a good example. And because I just really like talking about it. Westley’s goal is to rescue Buttercup from Vizzini, and then again to rescue her from Prince Humperdinck. His conflict is everything he has to overcome on his journey to rescue her: The Cliffs of Insanity, dueling with Inigo, fighting Fezzik. And after he rescues her from them, he has to get her from Humperdinck. Conflict: Torture and being “mostly dead.”

Those are big, not-so-subtle conflicts. So let’s talk about subtle conflicts for a minute. The kind of conflict that may not be obvious from the back cover blurb, or even from the beginning of the book. Like The Perks of Being a Wallflower. *Pause for a moment of love*

Charlie’s goal in the book is to get through high school. He talks in the opening of the book in a countdown to how many days he has left to get out of there. He also wants to make friends and fit in. His conflict may not be all that obvious to some: He’s introverted. He’s shy and awkward. He’s also in a world of pain, which it seems like he doesn’t realize this until much later in the story, but we as readers see it. His conflict is very internal and quiet, and it works in that story.

You must have conflict. There’s really no doubt about it. But your conflict doesn’t have to be giants or torture or being “mostly dead.” But you must always have something to hold your character back from his or her goal. And it must be conveyed in the query letter.

Let’s talk to that friend again and say they should read/watch The Perks of Being a Wallflower. You mention Charlie’s goal of surviving high school and it’s like “So what? Ninety-nine percent of teenagers are just trying to survive high school. What’s different about this joker?”

Then you explain his conflict. His shyness and awkward moments and grief from his aunt who passed away and his friend who committed suicide. Now we care. Now we know what it is he’s having to overcome to reach that goal. Remember that conflict can also make your readers care about your characters even more. Make the conflict big for your character, and it will be big for your reader.

If you’re having trouble with your query letter, I’m running a sale on partial manuscript edits right now. Check them out here.

 

Writing Query Letters: Stakes

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I have a tendency to write my query letter before I write my manuscript. I’m not sure what it is about this that deludes me into thinking my first draft won’t be as messy if I just have a query to go by. But query letters are really fun for me. I love writing and editing them and helping CPs with them. They’re an important part of getting an agent or editor to read your manuscript.

I’ve been in a lot of slush piles for my job and contests and I’ve read a slew of query letters. Some have been amazing that promised books I’d just fall in love with. Others had a harder time catching my eye for a number of reasons, but the biggest common denominator was a lack of stakes.

So what are stakes? Why do they matter to your story and query letter? Simply put, stakes are what your main character stands to lose in the book.

In The Princess Bride, Westley’s stake is Buttercup. If he doesn’t beat everything thrown his way, he’ll lose his one true love. Imagine trying to convince a friend who’s never seen The Princess Bride to watch the movie with you. You’ll probably tell them all about Westley’s determination to beat the swordsman, the giant, and the genius. Then imagine what happens if you don’t tell them why he risks his life time and again engaging these people. Your friend might not be up for watching The Princess Bride.

Why? Because you left out the what really matters. You left out why beating these odds is so important to Westley. It’s because if he doesn’t make it to the other side, he’ll lose her. That’s a stake.

So when you’re writing or editing your query, make sure you do your main character’s stake(s) justice. Let agents know why your character’s goal is so important. Tell them what your character will lose if he or she can’t reach the goal by the end of the book.

If you can’t determine what your main character’s stake is then you may need to go back into your manuscript and see if you have one. If not, it’s a good idea to fix it before you start mass sending it out. Your story stands to be a lot stronger if your Westley has a Buttercup he stands to lose.

If you’re having trouble with your query letter, I’m running a sale on partial manuscript edits right now. Check them out here.

Is It Wrong to Not Plot?

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The other day I heard someone say the only way to write a book is to plot it out. To have spreadsheets, character sheets, scenes planned out, and more. Is it good to at least have a vague idea of what you want to write when you sit at the computer? Yes. Definitely. But plotting is not the only right way to write a first draft.

You want the right way?

There isn’t one.

If you plot, if you color-code and write lengthy character sheets and have a 100-page bulleted outline, you’re doing it right. If you have a few scenes outlined on a 3×5 card, you’re doing it right. If you sit down at your desk and fly (or in this case write) by the seat of your pants, you’re doing it right. I’m the latter one, if you’re wondering.

If you’re writing a trilogy, duology, or series, it’s a good idea to at least know where you’re going because it all has to tie together. A lot of publishing companies that buy your first manuscript will often want to see what else you have. Sometimes that involves you writing up a proposal or synopsis for a book you haven’t written yet. In which case, you may not have a choice but to plot there.

Do the outliners sometimes have better odds of not having to do a dramatic overhaul in their book? Sure. Do they have the chance of not liking the plot they outlined and having to start again from scratch after the book is written? Definitely.

If that happens to you even after outlining your little writer’s heart out, you’re still doing it right.

Pantsers have a tendency to need very heavy first pass edits. We throw everything in there. We deviate from what we originally thought the book would be. We add things in the middle of the book as they come to us, knowing we’ll have to go back to the beginning and add it in.

If that’s something you do, you’re still doing it right.

The reason why so, so many writers love writing first drafts is because it’s all about freedom. Even if you outline, a first draft is your chance to write whatever’s in your heart. Even lines you know will probably need to be cut later on.

So enjoy it. Write that first draft with a detailed outline. Write it from your 3×5 cards. Or write it from an idea you had scribbled on your hand in the grocery store. Just write it.