11 Useful Steps
Step 1:
Accept that this process will be one of the most hateful things you will ever
do in your life.
Step 2: Go back
to Step 1. Have you really given this enough thought? It will save you a lot of
disappointment to accept the pain now as opposed to later.
Step 3:
Research. Find query letter templates. Make a list of the submission guidelines
for every agent you plan to send your letter to. Absorb all that has come
before you and be encouraged by the fact that everyone else is also struggling.
*Do’s and Dont’s*
-Your
query letter should be like your writing resume. Make it professional, concise,
polite, and no more than a page long.
-Double
check that you are meeting all of the submission guidelines for each agent when
you write your query letter. Try to write a letter that can be easily changed
to meet a variety of guidelines.
-An
agent appreciates seeing that you chose to query them because you know what
they do and why your book fits into their genre. It may do you good to mention
your reasons for sending them your manuscript.
-Don’t
be afraid to throw in something a little different; but don’t think you have to go against the grain either.
When in doubt, stick to the formula (hook, synopsis, writer’s bio). While being
unique might help you, being formulaic certainly won’t hurt.
-Focus
on “the hook” – this is what is going to convince the agent to read the entire
synopsis. There is a fine line between riveting and cheesy, and it will take
practice and failure to get your hook where it needs to be. Don’t be discouraged!
-Your
synopsis should summarize the introduction, main character(s), and major
problem/plot-line without rambling, giving too much away, or being too
list-like. It may help you to pretend that you are describing the book to a
close friend who is already interested in it. Sell your story! If you need inspiration,
read the back text of books from your genre.
-Keep
your writer’s bio relevant to the work you are representing, and don’t ever let
on that you’re inexperienced. Never say that you’re “a beginning writer” or
anything that will scream “I don't know what I'm doing” to the agent. They don’t need any
other excuse to judge your writing, which should speak for itself more than
your credentials.
“It’s none of their business that you have
to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.”
Ernest Hemingway
-Always thank the agent and address them
by name
-Always let the agent know that the full
manuscript is available upon request. DO NOT start sending letters out until
the book is finished and edited. An agent who asks for the full
manuscript will expect to receive a body of work that is just about ready to
publish, not a book that is three-quarters done and in need of serious work.
Step 4:
Using your favorite three templates, write three different versions of your
query letter.
Step 5: This
is the time in writing where you will find yourself succumbing to all of your
bad habits. As a result, you will need to edit mercilessly. Anticipate that
everything you write the first time is going to be bad (did you pay attention
to Step 1?). Don’t be afraid to re-write multiple times. And then re-write it
again. Read it out loud. Does it sound trite? Then it probably is. Re-write.
Step 6: Know
when to take a break. You don’t have to get it done all in one day. Or even one
week. Let it be a multi-day project.
Step 7: Read
it aloud to other people. If they
aren’t convinced, then you probably aren’t going to convince an agent who just
got seventy five other badly written query letters.
Step 8:
Breathe. In and out, slowly, preferably not in a brown paper bag.
Step 9: Once
you’re satisfied, exhibit self-control and put it down for a week. Don’t look
at it. Don’t think about it. Let your subconscious take over and process it a
little bit.
Step 10:
Revisit the letter after some time has passed. Your brain has had time to recover
from the trauma of writing it. Read it again several times and make changes as
you see fit.
Step 11: Let
that bad-boy go. Even though a query letter deserves a lot of attention, you
still have to make the choice to leave it alone. At some point you have to send
it to the agents and let them decide for themselves.
Helpful Links:
AgentQuery.com - How to Write a Query Letter
WritersDigest.com - How to Write the Perfect Query Letter
WritersDigest.com - The 10 Dos and Don'ts of Writing a Query Letter
Rachelle Gardner (literary agent) - How to Write a Query Letter
Writer's Relief - How to Write a Query Letter (and many other useful materials!)
Send Your Query Letter for Some (Possibly Humorous) Critique - The Query Shark
