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With all the pitch contests happening soon, it's time to get your query letters ready! So I figured I'd do a thread on how to write a query letter.
Queries are a formula you can crack. Read on for the most important tips for nailing that query on the first try:
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Queries are a formula you can crack. Read on for the most important tips for nailing that query on the first try:
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STEP 1: know what a query letter is/does
A query letter is the cover letter for your book. It gets an agent interested in reading your sample pages. This means it must be clear, concise, and compelling.
It is NOT a summary of your book. That's a synopsis.
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A query letter is the cover letter for your book. It gets an agent interested in reading your sample pages. This means it must be clear, concise, and compelling.
It is NOT a summary of your book. That's a synopsis.
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Resist the urge to innovate on your query letter. Agents get hundreds of queries a month. Make sure it has all the relevant info they need in the format they expect.
And you need to do this in 300-400 words, surprise! But I can help. Starting with:
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And you need to do this in 300-400 words, surprise! But I can help. Starting with:
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STEP 2: understand the query letter structure
Your query will have:
1. A summary that ends on a cliffhanger.
2. Metadata about your book
3. A brief bio of you.
Let's break each of these down.
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Your query will have:
1. A summary that ends on a cliffhanger.
2. Metadata about your book
3. A brief bio of you.
Let's break each of these down.
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STEP 3: write your query letter summary
This is 2-3 short paragraphs (~250 words).
It's a summary of your book, but you don’t want to give away the ending, and you want to end on “stakes” - a cliffhanger that will leave the agent wondering what happens next.
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This is 2-3 short paragraphs (~250 words).
It's a summary of your book, but you don’t want to give away the ending, and you want to end on “stakes” - a cliffhanger that will leave the agent wondering what happens next.
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Your summary needs to introduce:
1. The main characters
2. The central conflict
3. The big (global) stakes
Resist the urge to explain every little detail about your book. You're not going to have room. And the agent won't have interest (yet).
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1. The main characters
2. The central conflict
3. The big (global) stakes
Resist the urge to explain every little detail about your book. You're not going to have room. And the agent won't have interest (yet).
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STEP 4: your metadata
It's going to look like this: TITLE (all caps) is a XX,XXX-word [age range, like YA] [genre, like fantasy] perfect for fans of X, Y, and Z [these are your comps].
This is the vital info that an agent needs to know about your book.
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It's going to look like this: TITLE (all caps) is a XX,XXX-word [age range, like YA] [genre, like fantasy] perfect for fans of X, Y, and Z [these are your comps].
This is the vital info that an agent needs to know about your book.
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Comps are the trickiest. You want 2-3 books that are:
1. less than 5 years old
2. debuts
3. did well but not too well (i.e. don't only use the year's biggest NYT-bestselling books)
Comps show that you (1) know the market and (2) know where your book fits in the market
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1. less than 5 years old
2. debuts
3. did well but not too well (i.e. don't only use the year's biggest NYT-bestselling books)
Comps show that you (1) know the market and (2) know where your book fits in the market
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STEP 5: your bio
This is short and sweet! Don't get too personal. Instead, focus on writing you've done or writing-adjacent activities you engage in (blogging, clubs, bookstagrams, etc.)
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This is short and sweet! Don't get too personal. Instead, focus on writing you've done or writing-adjacent activities you engage in (blogging, clubs, bookstagrams, etc.)
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STEP 6: you're done!
That's all you need! Again, it's 300-400 words.
I advocate showing your query letter to people who haven't read your book, just to make sure it makes sense to someone who doesn't know the plot. Agents won't, after all.
Then go forth and query.
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That's all you need! Again, it's 300-400 words.
I advocate showing your query letter to people who haven't read your book, just to make sure it makes sense to someone who doesn't know the plot. Agents won't, after all.
Then go forth and query.
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I have a website on how to query that breaks down the process in simple steps like this, but in more detail. It's http://query101.blog - check it out!
Relevant links:
Query letter summary- https://www.query101.blog/blog/the-query-letter-summary
Metadata- https://www.query101.blog/blog/metadata-dos-and-donts
Bio- https://www.query101.blog/blog/what-to-have-in-your-query-bio-and-what-to-leave-out
Relevant links:
Query letter summary- https://www.query101.blog/blog/the-query-letter-summary
Metadata- https://www.query101.blog/blog/metadata-dos-and-donts
Bio- https://www.query101.blog/blog/what-to-have-in-your-query-bio-and-what-to-leave-out
