The Snarkfiles: HHCOM Highlights

The first 50... what do they share?

So, for those of you who aren't familiar with Miss Snark (the blogging literary agent), she offered to take a look at the Snarkling's (that us) hooks. There were only a BAZILLION entries and it's only going to take several (several) days for her to post them all... I'd thought I'd offer up some quick recaps on the Snark comments. I'm seeing some consistencies... how bout you?

HHCOM = Happy Hooker Crapometer # and the Snarkilicious comments:

#1. Snark was "grossed-out" gave it a "pass" and described it as "non-specific"
#2. It got a "yawn" with a comment on the good writing (however).
#3. It was a synopsis, no clear genre.
#4. No plot, was character development - could have some possibility. Our first to get the dreaded "cliche".
#5. Not really sure what it is... it's about a herd of dogs or horses or something. The Snark responded with a "form rejection".
#6. The perfume quest, questionable plot, no hook.
#7. "Bunch of description"
#8. 54 sentence - not a good sign for writing style. Not specific.
#9. "no substance"
#10. It's the description for Ten Little Indians - Writer Style and Miss Snark is the Squisher!
#11. Plot synopsis, not hook. Reader flag alert! (aka issue with suspension of belief)
#12. Futuristic, meteor attack, yet the end of the world, yet a compelling character and a bodega AKA "everything but the kitchen sink" Another "cliche"
#13. "Nothing fresh and new" / "cliche"
#14. No hook, plot... cut and retry
#15. Character development, not plot
#16. Interesting last paragraph, otherwise, no interest.
#17. "Blather" all plot - no suspense
#18. Miss Snark the one who would trip all... and giggle like a school girl when they smacked their asses.
#19. Story opener, no hook.
#20. Recitation, no movement, no compelling reason to care
#21. Word bungler! possibility, though.
#22. No antagonist and "cliche"
#23. No hook, poor timing of events, tired plot
#24. Cliche - needs precise description
#25. No specifics
#26. Poor imagery - the caged lion-man
#27. WINNER
#28. Snark rule: Never say, "it explores this question." No plot and poor description.
#29. WINNER
#30. No hook, is just a list of characters - "focus"
#31. "Fugitive in space"
#32. Hook too anorexic - give names and more detail
#33. Cliche - ok writing, no compelling plot
#34. Mine - meh.... I've already posted on this.
#35. "Bingo"
#36. Our first "WTF???" - no discernable logic
#37. No hook. Awkward wording.
#38. WINNER
#39. Cliche and our new saying, "Jesus Herbivorous Martinez on a raft."
#40. WINNER
#41. WINNER
#42. No hook, not fresh & new.... Mormons on Mars
#43. pass
#44. Made no sense to Miss Snark
#45. Character fest... Focus
#46. Useful only to make the plot happen - it's forced!
#47. Interesting - 2 ideas
#48. Plot appears to be who sleeps with who... no plot.
#49. Blather... focus
#50. 50 hits our first "SUX" and get's a "cliche" and no main character

So.... our first fifty entries seem to share some similarities... the hooks are either synopsis of plot... or not enough plot is given. Some of them try to cover too much and ending up looking scattered.... seems a lot of people have used cliche crutches to try and get a response and the response was not good. I think it's interesting to look at the general feedback she's giving... She's pretty clear about the type of books she represents so I'm sure that some of these items don't appeal to her specific taste, but still... it's interesting to note.