What’s better on a car trip than doing Mad Libs? (answer: Playing cards with your sister, who doesn’t realize her cards are reflecting in the window behind her. But other than that, nothing.) So I thought we could all use some Mad Lib action in our Friday. Grab a writing utinsel and scrap paper and come up with words for these ten categories:
(1) Emotion (2) Number (3) Number (4) Noun (plural) (5) Girl’s name (6) Favorite Halloween costume (7) Color (8) Animal (plural) (9) Fairy tale creature (10) NumberGot all ten filled in? No cheating now.
OK, here’s the query letter. Fill in your blanks:
Dear Agent-
(1) is a (2)-word novel exploring what happens when a girl goes on a quest to save (3) (4).
(5)’s life is perfectly normal, thank you very much, until a one-eyed (6)’s prophecy sends her on an impossible quest. Now, (5) must survive (7) (8), save a young (9), and find the true meaning of (1).
I’ve worked on this novel for (10) months and am confident it’s the best premise ever. Thank you for your consideration,
Future best-selling author
🙂
I made my husband give it a try, so here’s his letter (disclaimer, he’d just woken up and was a little loopy):
Dear Agent-
Agitation is a 417-word novel exploring what happens when a girl goes on a quest to save 0.2 squirrels. [yeah, he was an engineer…frakkin decimals]
Sarah’s [original honey] life is perfectly normal, thank you very much, until a one-eyed Chewbacca’s prophecy sends her on an impossible quest. Now, Sarah must survive mauve platypi, save a young jackalope, and find the true meaning of agitation.
I’ve worked on this novel for 7 months and am confident it’s the best premise ever. Thank you for your consideration,
Future best-selling author
🙂
What did your letters come out like?
October 11, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Oh my gosh, this is so hilarious! Can I steal for my help4writers.com site?? LOVE!!
October 12, 2010 at 12:58 am
Please do, Lara 🙂
October 12, 2010 at 3:05 pm
[…] Sarah Mullen Gilbert has crafted query letter Mad Libs. If you need a break from the query you’re in the throes of drafting, or heck, if you just want a good laugh, you can follow her formula, which I’ve pasted below. I would *love* to see some of your query letters in the comments, and I know Sarah would too! […]
October 13, 2010 at 3:31 am
Awesome! I made my way over from help4writers.com, and this seemed like more fun than revising. Here’s mine:
ANXIETY is a 27-word novel exploring what happens when a girl goes on a quest to save 900 COFFEE CUPS. (Hmmm–maybe the excessive coffee-drinking is contributing to the anxiety.)
ELLA’s life is perfectly normal, thank you very much, until a one-eyed PIG’s prophecy sends her on an impossible quest. Now, Ella must survive PURPLE ANTELOPES, save a young DRAGON, and find the true meaning of ANXIETY.
I’ve worked on this novel for 2 months and am confident it’s the best premise ever. Thank you for your consideration.
October 13, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Ooo, I love this one! Great job, AJ 🙂 The quest to save 900 coffee cups seems both realistic and very important. Plus, there’s a dragon. I’d read that.
October 13, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Hi Sarah,
We love this! We just posted this on our Facebook page, facebook.com/thebookdoctors, and on our Twitter feed. So fun!!!
Cheers,
Arielle & David
October 13, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Thanks Arielle and David!
October 13, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Sarah! Love this! Makes’ my day! Here’s mine:
LUST is a 3-word novel exploring what happens when a girl goes on a quest to save 200 girls.
Lulu’s life is perfectly normal, thank you very much, until a one-eyed Spiderman’s prophecy sends her on an impossible quest. Now, Lulu must survive green dogs, save a young witch, and find the true meaning of lust.
I’ve worked on this novel for 75 months and am confident it’s the best premise ever. Thank you for your consideration,
Future best-selling author
October 13, 2010 at 11:47 pm
I admire your 75-month dedication to finding the perfect three words, Kellye 🙂 I think green dogs is a solid idea; maybe we can paint Cosmo?
October 14, 2010 at 12:01 am
I know, Sarah! I was thinking those must be SOME WORDS! 😉
Like your Cosmo idea!