“Hey, Lucy. It’s Friday. Want to play?”
“Calamari?”
“Yup.”
“Toss the squid.”
“I don’t have an opposable thumb.”
“Run it over then.”
Another week rolls along. Eight more hours, and we can all jump into a giant container of our favorite coping substance.
This has been a pretty quiet week. I have pretty much tended to the blog, and that’s about all.
I am trying to put together some data that can be used to query agents. One of the cardinal rules of a query is you must tailor the information to match the specific needs of the agent. This means that a wholesale generalized query letter will probably hit the trash. I am doing the research now. Also, I’m working on a blurb and synopsis.
None of what I’m doing will be a waste should I decide to go ahead and self-publish again. So I look upon the work as necessary.
We had some much-needed rain this week. It was the gentle stuff that does some good as opposed to the frog strangler type, which just ends up flooding the low lands.
After a couple of days of fewer reported cases of the Coronavirus, yesterday saw an increase. Of course, the stock market responded to the fear. Since a vaccine is twelve months off, we all need to be mindful of the basics of prevention. This is true for the flu as well as Coronavirus. 1. Wash hands a lot, especially if you frequent public areas. 2. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or your sleeve. 3. Get the rest you need. 4. Wear a quality germ mask if you have to fly.
Today’s JohnKu talks about personal responsibility in staying well. I hope you all have a great weekend.
Our Health by John W. Howell ©2020
The government is,
able to do just so much . . .
We need to take charge.
Fiction Favorites 
Great JohnKu, John! Good advice on ways to stay healthy, too. Wishing you the best as you search for that perfect agent. 🙂 Happy Friday!
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Perfect would be good. Thank you, Jill. Have fun with mom.
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We did! Thank you!
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Excellent. 😁
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Great Haiku, John, and on-the-nail advice re viruses. The query research sounds good. We continue with strong winds and heavy rains over here … I might have to sneak inside a chew toy and mail myself over to you guys, lol. Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
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OMG. You guys need a break. Chew toy? Let me know if you are in there before I hand it over to these two. Could be dangerous. 😁
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OMG! Laughing away here! Never thought that through fully!!!😂😂😂
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Hahahahaha.
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Who can argue with good, sound advice?! 🙂 Backatcha on the Happy Friday!
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Thank you, Billy Ray. 🥃
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🙂
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Query letters were always a challenge for me. Even tailoring them, I don’t think I ever got it right. Good luck.
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Yeah I think I will need t. Tmes are tough in that department.
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I’ve never had mysophobia, but there are just so many different and weird diseases going around these days!!
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I don’t have mysophobia either. I have infusions every six weeks that suppress my immune system so I have to be very careful in public. In the last ten years I have been very fortunate. You are right about the weird stuff out there. Thanks, GP.
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Sounds like a good week, John. The best part of my retirement is not having to fly in fly season.
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I get that too. Those planes are petri dishes.
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Kudos on a productive week! Good luck with the blurb, synopsis, and query writing.
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Thanks, Liz.
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Excellent JohnKu. I think it is worth the effort to send out query letters. Stay warm and sneeze into your elbow. It’s much better than a tissue, no immediate hand washing needed. Happy Friday!
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Thank you. I guess I meant elbow when I said sleeve. 😁
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Ah! It works, doesn’t it?
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Yes it does.
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🙂
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Have a great weekend, John. Try to stay away from the flu, any type of flue. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne. I’ll try. You as well. 😷
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You’ve got quite a project in front of you. Good luck with it all — and keep those hands clean! At least all that research will keep you out of the disease-ridden crowds.
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So true. Thanks, Linda. 😁
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Much success with your query letter, John. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Thank you, Linda. 😁 Have a super weekend as well.
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Wishing you a lot of success with your research and queries, John. I need to do the same, but my WIP isn’t ready yet.
We’ve got lots of sunshine today but it’s only 22. The weekend prediction is for lots of sun and low 50s. I can’t wait! I’m thrilled winter is on the downward slide behind us. Happy Friday!
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Let’s hope it is. I know the trees are budding around here.
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Good luck with your query writing, John. I suppose the feedback will give you a good idea of whether to self-publish.
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Typically there is no feedback but at leeast that will be a read too. Thanks, Greg.
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Ah a two-fer day. mysophobia and a huge container of favorite coping substance. Coping substance is just a touch more obscure than philosophy sauce. I like that. I had never heard of mysophobia. And I agree with the petri dish comment. They change the air filters on a jet every time the airline gets a new plane. When my wife finally managed to talk me into flying I got the most horrendous sinus infection. And wild dreams for three straight nights. I would rather the favorite coping substance. Enjoy the weekend John.
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Can also be referred to as soothing syrup. Happy weekend, John
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I’m flying next Saturday, hopping onto a cruise ship on Sunday. The thought of wearing a mask makes me shudder. Here’s to all contaminated people staying away!
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Oooooh. I hope you have a great time. I’m serious about the mask. The nice thing is people tend to move away when I have it on.
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I’m sure we will… But Ugh. I am so not ready to wear one
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Make sure you don’t touch your face unless you have washed your hands or used sanitizer. Don’t take ice with your drink (That ice bin is a science project) Take a damp paper towel in a baggie and make sure the inside of your nose remains hydrated throughout the flight. This is the only way you can filter out germs in the low humidity in the plane.
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You’re the best, John. So nice to have someone have my back! 😉
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I have a compromised immune system so believe me I know how to prevent infection. It has been ten years since I’ve had a cold even. Prior to learning how to protect myself I was always sick with the flu or pneumonia.
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I understand .. I’ve been miserably sick. The hear H1N1 came out in the summer, I had already caught it in March… Been fragile since
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SEE that’s what I’m saying. Where is the cruise going?
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Leaving from Miami, it goes to Costa Maya (Mexico), Belize, Roatán, Bahamas (one of the many private islands).
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Have a great trip.
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Thanks!
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I need a fifth of preventative medicine, myself. Best of luck with your query process.
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Thank you. I have a feeling it will be a quick experience.
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So true that the government can only do so much with an epidemic, especially when the CDC’s budget has been slashed over the last couple of years. One of my coworkers came into work on Monday, sneezing and congested and getting into my personal space. We work in public health. Go figure. Happy Friday, John, and have a great weekend!
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Thank you, Marie. Have a great weekend too.
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Your pups are wusses. 40’s is t shirt weather for us sled folks in the north. Order them so feau fur coats on Amazon.
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Yeah we know about you Northerners. We are sticking to our guns her. Snowsuits off at 60 degrees.
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I agree, John. It is up to us to take care of ourselves and stay healthy. Have a great weekend!
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You as well, Denise.
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Good for you, John! I haven’t looked into a query letter yet, but have thought of going traditionally published a time or two. Are you aiming for the big five, is it now?
We’ve had a few cases of the Coronavirus here in British Columbia. It worries me that the people coming home are only under a fourteen day quarantine. I’d like to see that lengthened for everyone’s safety.
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I’m just looking for an agent that can sell my stuff. Big five or no doesn’t make any difference. if a publisher can come up with a marking plan and an advance i’m in. if not then it’s self publish again cause I don’t need to hand someone a piece of royality to do what I can do. I just would like someone else to do it for once. I agree on the fourteen days. I think it should be longer too. On top of that I don’t think the Chinese are being honest about the number of cases.
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Great way to start the weekend … playing Calamari! Just as long as I don’t have to eat it 😉 Have a great weekend, my friend!
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Hahaha. You don’t like rubber bands?
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Not so much, no. 🤢
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Hahahahha.
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Good advice, John, and it’s a timely reminder. I’ve always been an avid hand-washer, even in the winter, so here’s hoping more folks pick up the habit! Good luck with the agent search and the querying!
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Thank you, Debbie. Painful indeed.
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Hi, John! I just finished with a Pitchfest on Savvy Authors where I was able to pitch to agents and editors. If you’re interested, I can let you know when they do it again. It never hurts to query. If you never put a line in the water, you cannot catch a fish. Love the JohnKU!
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So how did it go? Any interest?
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It takes a couple of weeks for the lists to go up, so I don’t know. This is my second time to participate in one of their pitchfests. I’ll let you know.
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Fingers crossed.
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You’ve been hard at work as always, John.
LOL, coping substance… I had to have a dose of that yesterday. Dare I go to that container again so soon?
Either way, here’s to “taking charge!”
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You can use the containr whenever you see fit. Here let me write you a note. 😁
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Yeah, and the “only so much” the government does is more only than much.
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Hahahaha. Good one, Pilgrim.
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😉
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Your Johnku makes a lot of sense. Good luck with your querying! Have a great weekend!😊
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Thank you, Vashti. You as well. 😁
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A great haiku – couldn’t agree more.
Cheers to a great Saturday night, John.
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Thank you, Audrey. 😊
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🙂
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Well said, John. We have to look after ourselves, rather than rely on the ‘powers that be.’ All the best in your search for an agent.
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Thank you, Mark. 😊
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