Why you need a killer query letter Idesperatelywish I could say the query is nothing to fret over or that the brilliance of your book will shine through a so-so pitch. But I’d be lying. No matter how terrific your manuscript is, without a strong query, no agent is going to bother ...
How to Write a Query Letter That Grabs an Agent’s Attention January 30, 2025 You’ve done the hard part. You’ve spent ages researching, writing, and rewriting until you finally feel your book is ready to share with the world. Not so fast. Your next step is one of the most importan...
For instance, what if we changed the example goal above, “Get something you've written published,” to “Submit aquery letterto 100 agents”? You can’t control whether agents will like your book and sign you, but you can focus on how many well-researched, hard-written query letters yo...
Write My Query Successful Queries: Kevan Lyon... The best way to learn how to write a successful query is to read one. In this installment, find a query letter to agent Kevan Lyon for Shara Moon's book, Let Us March On (William Morrow). ...
you can skip the query letter and send a proposal, but it should still get right to the point. Don't include sample chapters in an unsolicited proposal; it's not professional and the bulk may keep anybody at the publisher from bothering to open the envelope. Enclosing a Self Addressed Sta...
Like it or not, pitching your book is one of the most important things you'll do as an author. If you're trying to find a literary agent, you'll need to write a query letter. If you're self-publishing, you'll need to write good jacket copy (or at least know what good jacket ...
The Perfect Query Letter The Pub Board - Your Worst Enemy? Eight Best Prep Steps Prior to Agent Query 131 posts Crucial Self-Editing Techniques - Don't be Hostage to a Line Editor By Chief Editor, 3 hours ago The Short and Long of It Our veteran of ten thousand submissions, Walte...
This letter comes in at under 380 words, but checks all the boxesanddemonstrates that the author can write well, which every query should aim to do. After all, if the agent or editor doesn’t think you can write a compelling letter, why would they think that your book's any better?
Because a query letter is a formal letter, you must not sound cold and boring. On the contrary, start with a dynamic opening that achieves your primary goal – and that’s to grab the editor’s attention! Tip #5: Avoid introducing yourself at the very beginning. Start with something else...
Jeff: One of the nice things about having an agent is that you don’t have to hear the rejections from anyone. Q: What did you do when your very first book arrived? (I opened the book and smelled it.) Jeff: Several boxes of books arrived late one night at my house. I split open...