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BrandiwynšŸŽ¶ Author Icon, also known as Michelle Tuesday, is a musician, educator and writer hailing from Columbus, Ohio.
October Novel Prep Challenge
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Oct 23, 2012 at 10:16am
#2452715
Re: Re: Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter
Well, Hitch-hikers was a comedy, too, and one that laughed at the human race rather than the genre. Perhaps leave it in, and add a second title for balance? Something like Red Dwarf? (though that mostly pokes fun at the Scouser destabilizing the space/time continuum in 36 parallel universes just because he fancies a curry and chips).

I don't think you need to worry too much about the difference between your story and satire. If an agent thinks it will generate enough interest to spark a debate about whether your metaphors are aimed at US foreign policy, you're on to a winner *Smile*

Your key objective is to crack a smile across an agent's face. Do that and you're off first base (or whatever the correct idiom is).

Hoping this isn't too lazy or cheeky to say here... I would lose miscreants - I think the misfits carry it by themselves. I would delete all between charged and demons, and add who before encounter. (I think the who needs adding anyway, or the sentence is grammatically wobbly.)

I think, if the protagonist is named ironically, and he blunders his way through the story and somehow saves the Universe, that's funny. In the 2nd paragraph, I would select a single, vital plot element that gets the most humour across, rather than try to make sure I captured the whole plot in a nutshell.

I would try to show the agent that my protagonist is hilarious, as well as cute, charming, or otherwise sympathetic. If (as an agent) I can imagine a younger Tom Hanks or Robin Williams being utterly sincere and madly in love, and foiling the aliens who think they're three steps ahead of him, I can see it working.
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Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-22-12 3:19am
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Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-22-12 8:01am
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Re: Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-22-12 9:24am
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Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-22-12 10:58am
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Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-22-12 7:42pm
by Jed Jones - banned novel Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-23-12 2:36am
by MrBugSir Author IconMail Icon
*Exclaim*Re: Re: Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-23-12 10:16am
by Jed Jones - banned novel Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-23-12 10:51am
by Crys-not really here Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-23-12 3:11pm
by Storm Machine Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-23-12 4:07pm
by Past Member 'mystic_dreams'
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-23-12 4:24pm
by Storm Machine Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Day 21 - Bonus Assignment - Query Letter · 10-23-12 4:29pm
by Past Member 'mystic_dreams'

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