Ladies and gentlemen, writers of all ages, start your engines. The 2007 Inkthinker Query Challenge starts at MIDNIGHT!
12 months + 120 queries = Imminent publishing success
The rules are simple. In fact, they’re so simple that there aren’t any actual rules, just kind of an outline as to how this is going to work.
The plan is for all of us, me included, to get out a minimum of 120 queries by the end of 2007. This breaks down to 2-3 queries a week, so don’t panic. For the purposes of the challenge, a query is any written document, electronic or hard copy, that you submit to a publisher, editor, or agent to pitch an idea for a writing assignment. Fiction or nonfiction, book or article, it doesn’t matter. If you want to query for unpaid assignments, that’s fine — it’s up to you. As long as you’re querying, I don’t care.
Throughout the month, I’ll be posting tips and ideas to keep you motivated and help you improve your acceptance-to-query ratio. At the end of the month, we’re going to do a round-up to find out where everyone is with their goals, and I’ll update the list in the sidebar with the new numbers. I will post a call for totals, and you’ll be responsible for e-mailing me your numbers.
Throughout the challenge, I’ll also be posting updates and announcements every time you let me know that one of your queries got accepted. Don’t be shy — this is your time to shine!
At the end of the YEAR, I’m going to award a prize to the person with the most queries. I haven’t decided what it’s going to be yet, but it’ll be good, I promise. Cheaters never prosper, so don’t you DARE fabricate query totals with the hopes of winning the prize. It’ll be good, but it won’t be so good that it’s worth completely destroying your personal integrity. And this is kind of a no-brainer, but I’m not eligible to win the prize.
At random times throughout the year, I’m going to put all of the active participants’ names into a hat/bowl/something and draw a name for a surprise prize. You’re eligible to win the random prize drawing only one time, and you have to be ACTIVELY participating in the challenge (ie, reporting totals to me each month) for your name to be included in the drawing.
When you’re ready to sign up, e-mail me with your name and URL so I can add you to the list of participants. The count starts at 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 10, and not a minute sooner.
Check out the Query Challenge FAQs.
If you’re participating in the challenge, please link to this post from your blog/website any time you mention it so other folks have the opportunity to sign up as well. This isn’t compulsory, but it will definitely be helpful in getting the word out, so I encourage you to do it.
Now, on your mark, get set, GO!
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www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Finalist in 2006 Writer’s Digest Best Writer’s Website Contest
Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King. All rights reserved.
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
Comments on this entry are closed.
This is so awesomely well-thought up! Thanks for this challenge! Let’s go for it! :)
Seeing as how I’m unlikely to earn either distinction, I’m wondering if a prize for the greatest number of queries accepted rather than the greatest number sent is in order. You know, the old quality over quantity deal. After all, aren’t actual assignments what we’re really after here?
Oh yeah, and while I’m at it, I’m wondering if bending the rules is allowed. Some of my “queries” are going to be sending already completed writings (essays and poetry, for example) as opposed to ideas because, well, that’s how it’s done for a lot of the areas I want to get in to. If those types of submissions don’t count, then I’m DOOMed from the start. LOL
For this particular challenge, the goal is just to get in the habit of sending queries. However, we’ll definitely be recognizing success stories throughout the challenge!
Querying vs. submitting… Hmm… What do the masses think?
kk
Sign me up, girl! This is such a cool idea! I can’t access my email right now, but count me in!
What a great idea! :) Challenges are always fun and motivating. Good luck to everyone giving it a go. :)
Jenn
SixFigureWriters.com
Hmmm . . . the rules of this contest highlight the fact that I don’t do such a great job of tracking my queries.
I think that this is a great idea, though, and I’ll bet that it will help form proactive habits that will ultimately result in more sales.
Love this idea…keeps me accountable to my goal of making this the year I move from aspiring to actually doing…..Thanks! Lori