Well, there you go. If you haven't sent the rejection yet, would you be at risk of leading him on if you ask what the phrase means?
I was the publisher of a satire publication for restaurant employees and received a ton of queries. Anytime I deviated from the standard query/response process, the writers contacted me repeatedly, assuming I was opening up for dialogue. Yikes.
If it's a true western phrase, I haven't heard it in Texas. If it's a demonstration of ability to turn out a witty phrase, I'm afraid he's shot himself in the foot with a leaden attempt.
I'm sure he thought it was a good idea at the time.
At the risk of playing naive, maybe it was actually supposed to be a comparison. Like, he's noting how his western is different by saying there is more irony in his novel than there are guns.
Or something. Dunno why the heck I'm trying to justify this.
Agreeing with a previous anonymous poster. The writer meant that this novel has more irony than it has shooting irons. He didn't mean that shooting irons have irony, but the book has more. So, I'm guessing it's a western that's heavier on irony than gunfire.
For some unknown reason, it seemed clear to me even before reading the comments. I agree with the last two anons, and it wouldn't even have to be a western. He's saying his novel has more irony (dry humor, subtleties) than guns (plot-driven action, car chases, explosions).
Might have been easier just to say "My literary novel..." :-)
A rejection?
ReplyDeleteWell, I wouldn't reject it on that alone...
ReplyDelete... Maybe I would. But he gave me plenty of other ammunition.
Well, there you go. If you haven't sent the rejection yet, would you be at risk of leading him on if you ask what the phrase means?
ReplyDeleteI was the publisher of a satire publication for restaurant employees and received a ton of queries. Anytime I deviated from the standard query/response process, the writers contacted me repeatedly, assuming I was opening up for dialogue. Yikes.
Well, since a shootin' iron is a gun, and it's made of iron, clearly he's trying to make puns in his query letter.
ReplyDelete...why someone would WANT to make the person reading their query groan, I have no idea.
Then again, you did say he gave you plenty of AMMUNITION. ;)
This is known as skid-talk in some circles. The writer comes close to a working pun or simile, just to slide off the road into the ditch.
ReplyDeleteI'da said, "More irony than Geritol" but I'm not sure you're old enough to get that one either. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think it's a hoot and a holler!
ReplyDeleteHe probably adapted (stole) it from a line in a Robert Plant song.
ReplyDeleteHe heard his brothers Darrell, Spud and Bubba talking about it and thought it sounded cute
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of sounding a tad racist (I'm not, I swear), would it have been better if he said "more irony than a Chinese laundry"?
ReplyDeleteI'm totally stealing that, Anony.
ReplyDeleteMore irony than shooting irons?
ReplyDeleteSounds to me like someone sniffed glue while writing their query again...
(Note to self: Set hair on fire.)
If it's a true western phrase, I haven't heard it in Texas. If it's a demonstration of ability to turn out a witty phrase, I'm afraid he's shot himself in the foot with a leaden attempt.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he thought it was a good idea at the time.
At the risk of playing naive, maybe it was actually supposed to be a comparison. Like, he's noting how his western is different by saying there is more irony in his novel than there are guns.
ReplyDeleteOr something. Dunno why the heck I'm trying to justify this.
Agreeing with a previous anonymous poster. The writer meant that this novel has more irony than it has shooting irons. He didn't mean that shooting irons have irony, but the book has more. So, I'm guessing it's a western that's heavier on irony than gunfire.
ReplyDeleteanon 2:14
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. And don't apologize for a very sensible guess.
For some unknown reason, it seemed clear to me even before reading the comments. I agree with the last two anons, and it wouldn't even have to be a western. He's saying his novel has more irony (dry humor, subtleties) than guns (plot-driven action, car chases, explosions).
ReplyDeleteMight have been easier just to say "My literary novel..." :-)
See, when you shoot irons, although the buzz is good, they taste pretty... irony.
ReplyDeleteThe worst term I've ever read in a query: "flaccid penis"
ReplyDeletethat is all.
Obviously a pun in intent, but a sad failure in, um, execution.
ReplyDeleteI believe the author is suggesting that the book contains a good deal of irony, since guns are very irony. Really, people...
ReplyDeleteI would have said,"More irony than George Bush at a Mensa meeting."
ReplyDeleteI think his query was shooting blanks
ReplyDeleteI think his query was shooting blanks...or he shot himself in the foot.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the funniest thing I've read in months...maybe ever. Wow.
ReplyDelete