Query Letter

Who needs to sharpen this skill So pretend you are sending In one of your books or stories

Opening line should be a simple hook.  Let the agent know word count and genre.

Give the agent a idea of who (in numbers#) they can market this to.

 Take a paragraph to sum up the story.   Talk about your main character on a personal level(like that character is real).Think intimate commercial (tantalizing) with why people would like reading it. Think of this in a flirty way sell the idea of reading this book. Like a kid trying to convince a parent to get him or her something. 

A small bio. include writing experience, workshops, published journals... 

Thank the agent for their time. 

Author's Note

Right now pick a story and write yourself a query letter.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is the second brilliant piece of advice I've seen this morning for other writers. Many times the advice posted for writers is too wordy & self-righteous sounding for me. This is perfect -- concise & prodding. You make it feel really possible for anyone who might be cowering in fear (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Cherrie Palmer]

I agree writers can get to wordie and make everything sound like a personal achievement.
For those who get intimidated by the submission process.
Instead of having a pen name, lets give ourselves a 3rd person persona for editing and querying and write push the worth of our characters rather than us the writer.
Most have been taught its rude to brag. So let Monica your alter ego write it for you. :)
:( I'm still painting taking a break.

[barleygirl]

Here's the paradox . . . many writers can brag on a website like this, but I agree that most people cannot adequately toot their own horn when it really needs to be done convincingly, yet not boastfully. It's really an artform.

[HB Rita]

Agree with barleygirl.

[Onlyme]

Great advice Cherrie, for upcoming writers and want to be published books they have in mind.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Thank you, I do think as a whole we should practice these more.

[Onlyme]

I agree Cherrie. :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I don't have a story for this purpose or any, as a matter of fact, but this is quite sound advice.
And can really be helpful for those who are trying to get their feet wet in the publishing sea.
j.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I been thinking about this for a while. Why not let the first page of a book be a query letter., or for storage purposes make it the last page. Just make one it's good practice.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Those are good ideas as well...I used to teach technical writing...and we would work on cover letters etc. But I think the first page of the book idea is rather smart.
have a great day, Cherrie.
j.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I think writers are embarrassed by the notion of writing a query letter.
I will take a stab at it, here and there, and submit from time to time.

I think I've convinced myself to write one for each one of my longer works.
The query has its own style and flare and to get good at it we need to practice.
I think my letters lack depth but why wouldn't they if I didn't keep my hand in it.

[Stellabuker]

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