Query Letter Thoughts (ongoing post)

The cruelest joke ever forced upon writers is the query letter. And yet, I can't think of a better tool for agents to use to sort through the mountains of terrible (and brilliant) ideas we send them.


It is frustrating that we get about 200 - 250 words of time in front of an agent to describe the 95,000 word novel we just labored over for months/years. 250 words to demonstrate:

1. We have an awesome book.

2. We are talented and fresh.

3. We write beautifully.

4. We have written something millions will spend money on.

5. Our novel's plot is succinct and interesting and creative and and and and . . .

6. We are not desperate . . . but are.

As I've looked for advice from agents on things to do and avoid in query letters, here is a list of some highlights I found compelling (the list could grow to millions of tips, by the way), it is not a complete list of all advice:

Do:

- Summarize the critical plot elements in a nice, orderly, intriguing fashion

- Include real publishing creds if you have them (but don't worry if you don't) and no, writing a blog doesn't usually count and being a 'finalist' in a contest that has 300 'finalists' doesn't either

- Demonstrate the same voice and tone of your story in the query so the agent is immediately aware of your style

- State the intended genre as well as word count


Don't:

- Be needlessly flowery, you have 250 words total and flowerly language usually conveys an inability to express yourself clearly

- Be so focused on your beloved character(s) that the plot is missing

- Confuse plot and premise (see Nathan Bransford's Blog HERE for some of the BEST advice ever!)

- Compare your work to famous or published works (but saying it would appeal the same audience of that famous work is usually okay)


There are dozens of wonderful blogs with wonderful advice to writers on crafting a great query letter. Here are a few of my favorites:

http://www.queryshark.blogspot.com/

http://www.therejectionist.com/

http://evileditor.blogspot.com/

http://nathanbransford.com/