I know a lot of you are querying after #pitmad (especially #bvm authors!), so I want to share with you my success formula and a #querytip list to help you shine! Warning: Giant thread up ahead haha. ( #writingcommunity
please help me boost this! )

Dear Ms. Last Name,

Opening: 1-2 lines of personalization + your category, genre, TITLE, and word count. Example: “I saw on Manuscript Wishlist you’re seeking lesbians with swords, so I think you’d be a great fit for my 87,000-word YA Fantasy, LESBIAN WITH A SWORD.”

First Paragraph: 1-2 sentence #pitmad like hook. Good formula is this: When MAIN CHARACTER discovers THIS, she must do THIS to stop it, or risks losing THIS. EXAMPLE....

When 17-year-old Alice discovers an ancient stolen sword, she must embark on a quest with her girlfriend to return it to its rightful owner—before it unleashes a curse that decimates her entire clan.

Next paragraph: This is extending my pitch. This is Alice, and why she’s compelling. This is her problem. This is what she’s going to do about it. Here are the obstacles threatening her journey. This is what might happen if she doesn’t succeed. This part should be ~150-200 words.

Next paragraph: TITLE is a standalone novel (with series potential, if applicable), and is comparable to COMP TITLE 1 and COMP TITLE 2. It contains…(insert compelling qualities. Ex: #ownvoices characters, LGBTQ+/POC, lesbians with swords, etc.). DON’T PITCH THE THEMES!

Here is my 1-3 sentence bio, including published works, English degree, and impressive follower counts. Don’t have this? Just say you’re a debut author who lives in [State] and works as a [profession].

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
Kick-Ass Author

Now, onto Tips!!

1) Your query should be ~250-300 words. Single-spaced with a space between each paragraph! If you're over 315, consider snipping a little

2) DON’T use rhetorical questions. EVER!!! Instead of “Will she solve the puzzle on time?” write, “Now, she must solve the puzzle on time, before THIS happens.”

3) Almost all of the queries I’ve read end with “Main Character must make a choice!” If you can rephrase this, please do. Stand out!

4) USE DESCRIPTION INSTEAD OF NAMES!! Instead of “They travel to the Lost City of Hell and Darkness” write, “They travel to a city teeming with hellish darkness.” Too many nouns will make an agent’s/intern’s head swim, and this includes character names.

5) If your word count is risky, put it at the bottom with your comps. This is only for slightly risky word counts. If you’re querying 120,000-word Middle Grade, you’re out of luck lol.

6) Unless guidelines say otherwise, use this as your subject line. Query: TITLE (Genre).

Example: Query: LESBIAN WITH A SWORD (YA Fantasy)

7) Don’t waste time explaining your world/backstory. Center your ENTIRE query around your character, and how the world IMPACTS her.

8) Make sure you only include your category (A/YA/MG/PB) and 1-2 genres. When you fly in saying “Here’s my YA urban fantasy with paranormal elements and a suspense murder mystery twist,” that’s going to cause wariness. Make sure you know where your book will stand in the market!

9) YOU ONLY NEED TWO COMPARISON TITLES! Some queries have 4-7 comps and, similar to #8, it could cause wariness. Especially if there’s nothing that inherently ties any of them together. And, yes, you can use shows and movies as comps!

10) I made one blog post while I was interning and it features the do’s and don’ts with examples, such as how to avoid being too vague, using an old email platform and how that could botch your formatting, etc. Look at it for extra advice! https://findmeediting.home.blog/ 

To conclude, I really, truly wish you all the best of luck out there. My DMs are always open to any of you who has questions!!