One of the most famous voices in the online how-to market for aspiring authors says every query letter should follow this format ·      Basics: your book’s genre/category, word count, title/subtitle·      The hook: the description of your story and the most critical query element; 150-300 words is sufficient for most narrative works·      Bio note: something about yourself, usually 50-100 words·      Thank you & closing: about a sentenceAll great information. And the hook isimportant. But the above format is a recipe to get your query tossed in the wastebasket!To illustrate why, consider these facts:In fact, here’s a startling statistic from Publisher’s weekly. Forgive me it’s ancient, but still illustrates the setting.The average book in America sells about 500 copies. only 10 books sold more than a million copies in 2005, and fewer than 500 sold more than 100,000.So if you can tell your agent you have 10,000 followers on Instagram who actively engage with your content, and 7,500 emails address in your list with a 10% open rate, what do you think is the real hook of the query letter?Subscribe to my Substack for unparalleled partner content, and follow me on Twitter. Get full access to Becoming A Household Name at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe

Jim Plath asks questions. Fate answers. Hope debates. Jose Saramago wrote BLINDNESS. This is the Wednesday story podcast. Vote by listening, sharing, and sharing some more. If you want to see this one in print, spread the word.Subscribe to my Substack for unparalleled partner content, and follow me on Twitter. Get full access to Becoming A Household Name at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe

Shout-out to Ryan S. of Minnesota, and Joe R. of Arkansas. Amazing support and encouragement. Thanks to Brian5 on apple podcasts who’s review said the following: “The episode with Tom Buckner is amazing. It had me thinking about it all day. There are so many levels to that conversation. It’s hilarious to listen to Jody respond to the curveballs that Tom is throwing him through the whole episode.” Thanks Brian! And thanks Tom for being a guest on the show. You don’t know how much the feedback has meant to me, and it’s because of the unity of feedback that I’m going to shift the format here.Perhaps you’ve seen THE INCREDIBLES, that old Pixar flick about the superhero family. Toward the beginning of the movie the Elastagirl is talking to her son, Dash, and she mentions that everyone is special. Dash replies by saying, “If everyone is special, no one is special.”One of you amazing people rephrased that concept to me recently: “If you’re making a podcast for everyone, you’re making a podcast for no one.”Those words hurt, and they hit the bottom of me, but truth usually has a way of clinging to you, even if you don’t want it to.And so. Starting today, moving forward, this podcast is going to embrace its purpose, the vision I had when I decided to leave everything and charge into the unknown: cre8 collabor8 highlights unpublished stories, creating a collaborative pathway to publication.As I refocus and begin speaking to this specific audience, you may find this show isn’t for you, and it’s only fair that I should wish you the best as you find shows that better suit your passions.I absolutely hope you’ll stick around, as I believe that the people I’ll interview will have amazing insight that applies to all of life, but I understand if you can’t relate and clear my space on your calendar for a podcast that fits you better.For those of you who part company with cre8 collabor8, thanks for traveling with me on this journey and cheers to meeting up again when our roads intersect in the future.And on that note, I want to share the five D’s that indicate your story has lost its way:1. Dread: You dread sitting down to write.2. Dialogue: Character’s dialogue is pointless.3. Distraction: You're easily distracted.4. Dead ends: Writer’s block (usually because you pressed so far past the wrong turn you went blind).5. DoubtYou think, “My character would never do that.”Subscribe to my Substack for unparalleled partner content, and follow me on Twitter. Get full access to Becoming A Household Name at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s guest, Tom Buckner, frequently left me speechless. At the end of recording, I was compelled to call the nonemergency, City of Casper Police Department because the details Tom chose to share seemed to suggest a safety risk. My gratitude to Craig Dorethy for getting me Tom’s contact information. No small feat there. And thanks to Al, over at the Loaf ‘N Jug, for putting in a good word. Tom is a private man, though once he got talking, the stories flowed.Tom Buckner's tales of bartering will be, for many listeners, their first exposure into a radically different way of life. ---Tom's significant other, Evelyn Winters, has some creative work online at Wigleaf.---If you'd like to purchase a copy of David Phillip Mullin's novel The Brightest Place in The World, go do it. Now. Don't think twice. You won't regret it.Also dive in to his first published work, Greetings from Below. It's a masterpiece of connected short stories featuring a dude named Nick. I think I thought I was Nick the first time I read GFB.---I bet your feet are tired of standing all day, cold on those hipster, hardwood floors you uncovered beneath the shag carpet, and refinished. Be like me. Wear Xero Shoes to make your feet strong and warm so cold feet won't stop you from being your best you.Sandals? Award-winning Boots? The same one's Jody wears? And don't forget, the CEO of Xero Shoes will be my guest next Wednesday, at 5am central, anywhere you listen to podcasts.*Many of the links featured lead to products and services. When you use these links to purchase products and services I earn a small commission at no extra charge to you.Subscribe to my Substack for unparalleled partner content, and follow me on Twitter. Get full access to Becoming A Household Name at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe

Daniel Iacob moved to the United States from Romania at the age of nine. He never lost his mother tongue, and has spent his life contemplating how his home has shaped his world. From logging and deforestation to poetry and revolution, Daniel's story is the proudest episode of cre8 collabor8.If you want to learn more about Daniel, contact him through facebook.He'd love a publisher for his translation or personal collection of poems. If you want to offer him a book contract, do so through Facebook Messenger.---Purchase* THE SAVAGE KIND by John Copenhaver in audiobook, ebook, or a physical copy.As always, please, like, share, rate, review, subscribe, and gush after listening to these amazing guests!!!*Jody Sperling is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.Subscribe to my Substack for unparalleled partner content, and follow me on Twitter. Get full access to Becoming A Household Name at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe

Aaron Garrett is the earliest childhood friend I remember. We met at church around age six. A lot of life has happened since then, and Aaron appeared on the show to tell the story of his Nomadic Spa Party THE DRYSPELL. His creative vision is so expansive and ambitious you’ll just have to tune in to the episode to learn how he is integrating massage therapy, performance art, and beautiful landscapes into a singularly unforgettable, immersive experience. To learn more about his past, current and forthcoming work, subscribe to his Soundcloud account at https://soundcloud.com/levandurIf you're interested in purchasing* the book by today's featured author, John Jodzio, KNOCKOUT, you can find the electronic version here:https://amzn.to/3znUMVbOr if you prefer the paperback of KNOCKOUT, you'll find it here:https://amzn.to/3FVh6rr*Jody Sperling is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.Subscribe to my Substack for unparalleled partner content, and follow me on Twitter. Get full access to Becoming A Household Name at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe

The best storyteller you probably don't know might have just stocked your local convenience store with a pair of sunglasses or work gloves. Shawn Blagg has worked on delivery routes across the country from Alaska to Miami.In this episode you'll be introduced to Shawn's creative approach to generate stories, learn new strategies for cultivating a creative mindset, and hear how artistic collaboration can improve you ideas and launch them into the world.If you're an aspiring or already successful graphic artist interested in working with Shawn Blagg to render the art for his graphic novel, EPIC, he'd love to hear from you, or if you know an artist who might be interested, please pass his information along.You can reach Shawn through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/residentblaggIf you're interested in reading the novel THE KETCHUP FACTORY by JP Vallières, promoted during this episode, you can find the ebook here*: https://amzn.to/330xbgUthe hard copy here:https://amzn.to/3sZx8NHAnd visit his website for other publications at https://jpvallieres.com/*Jody Sperling is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.Subscribe to my Substack for unparalleled partner content, and follow me on Twitter. Get full access to Becoming A Household Name at jodyjsperling.substack.com/subscribe