Secrets Every Writer Should Know About Query Letters
By Guest | March 2, 2010 |
Today we welcome guest Laura Cross to Writer Unboxed. Laura, an author, editor and writing coach, is the author of a new book — The Complete Guide To Hiring A Literary Agent: Everything You Need To Know To Become Successfully Published. We’re happy she’s with us today to discuss something every writer wants to know more about: writing a successful query letter.
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Literary agencies receive tens of thousands of query letters each year. With a rejection rate of 99% (ouch!), it is essential that you carefully construct your query to receive a positive response. Here are a few tips to help you create a winning query letter:
FOR FICTION QUERIES
- Create a hook. Capture the agent’s interest by creating a two-to-three sentence hook that introduces the protagonist and the premise.
- Deliver a captivating synopsis. A pitch for a novel should give the agent a sense of the completed book. After presenting the hook, deliver a one- to two-paragraph synopsis that touches on the main elements of the story. Highlight important characters, the antagonist, emotional turning points, the conflict or dilemma, the climax and the final lesson.
- Leave the agent wanting more. End with a “teaser” that leaves the agent wanting to know what happens next in the story.
- Show, don’t tell. You want to show the agent your story through your writing, not tell the agent that “it is a great story”, or that you are “a wonderful writer.”
- Demonstrate the tone and style of the book. If you have written a thriller, create suspense with your writing. If your novel is a romance, deliver an emotional punch. If your manuscript is light-hearted, be sure to include humor in your pitch. Also, use present tense and active verbs to convey a sense of immediacy and immersion.
FOR NONFICTION QUERIES
- Create a catchy title and introduce it early in the query letter. Succinct, memorable titles help sell books. Show the agent you know how to write and market by crafting an appealing title.
- Show why the book is timely. Note any trends or media exposure that indicates a growing popularity in your subject.
- Convince the agent that you have a target market. Citing statistics of your potential readership shows that you understand your market niche.
- Narrow the idea for greatest impact. A narrowly focused nonfiction book sells better than a broad-based one and agents are looking for narrowly defined ideas.
- Differentiate your book. Impress the agent by conducting thorough research and presenting information to show why your book is needed. Know what other books are available and outline why your book is different from others already on the market.
YOUR TURN: What’s your “secret” to writing a winning query letter?
Laura Cross is an author, screenwriter, ghostwriter, freelance book editor, and writing coach specializing in nonfiction books and script adaptation (book-to-film projects). She writes two popular blogs, www.NonfictionInk.com and www.AboutAScreenplay.com, and teaches online writing workshops www.ScenarioWritingStudio.com/workshops. Her latest book is The Complete Guide To Hiring A Literary Agent: Everything You Need To Know To Become Successfully Published. You can download a free chapter, view the book trailer, read the full table of contents, and purchase the eBook at www.GetALiteraryAgent.com.
Many thanks to today’s guest.
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Deliver a captivating synopsis. A pitch for a novel should give the agent a sense of the completed book. After presenting the hook, deliver a one- to two-paragraph synopsis that touches on the main elements of the story. Highlight important characters, the antagonist, emotional turning points, the conflict or dilemma, the climax and the final lesson.
Not as easy as it sounds. I’ve spent the better part of two years trying to do that with no success. My story was created in a non-linear way, which means that there is no single plot line that ties the whole story together. I find myself wondering if the emphasis on queries is perhaps skewing the book publishing business towards linear, follow-the-bouncing-hero storylines. The hook, or at least a hook, is a bit easier: The Moon is haunted, but the werewolves don’t know that.
I am not at the query stage yet but I recently wrote a synopsis for my novel. I was determined not to be the cliche writer who moans about how hard the synopsis is to write. I was just going to attack it, revise it, and keep a grin on my voice.
Sooooo much easier said than done.
Thanks for the query tips though. Very clear and concise.
.-= Rebecca @ Diary of a Virgin Novelist´s last blog ..10 Rules for Writing =-.
Marc-
I wrote a story about 3 girls who are best friends but don’t actually spend that much time physically together in the book. It’s not exactly non-linear, but it was like 3 different storylines braided together, and thus similarly difficult to summarize in a query letter and synopsis.
But I did manage to do it, by looking at how I could explain the story (stories, really) in a way that would make sense and entice an agent. So even if your story isn’t linear, you have to find a way to explain it so that people can understand, and in a way that will make them curious about it.
Yes, in this system, the burden is definitely on the writer to make a case for him/herself, but I don’t think it’s part of any literary attempt to steer people away from unconventional books.
(Also, if your book doesn’t have a single plot line that ties the whole story together, but it all revolves around a single theme or central idea, then perhaps you could think of it as a collection of short stories? Just a thought, but obviously I haven’t read the ms.)
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..So. Yeah. About that. =-.
@Marc, @Rebecca, @Kristan – thanks for your comments. Kristan is right on-the-mark, the “rules” for query letters exist for a reason and if you want to acquire a literary agent you have to be able to present your story synopsis in a succinct and compelling way with all the elements agents expect. I know it’s not easy – you may want to try writing the full extended two-page synopsis and work backward to create your mini two-paragraph version for the query letter.
.-= Laura Cross´s last blog ..3 Secrets To A Successful Book Ghostwriting Career =-.
It’s nice to hear this information from someone who reviews these professionally. I have had people ask me to help them write their synopses, but I don’t always know what to do.
Kathy Teel
Excellent points! Time to revise mine again…
.-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..The Benefits of Writing Short Fiction =-.
You can treat the “elevator speech” on up to the multi-page synopsis as part of the initial design process.
If you create them first as part of the story structure, you’ll have on-going narratives from the very top level down to the detail. This will keep you on track when you’re actually writing.
If you are unable to do this to start, how many drafts are you going to do before you can?
When you draft your query level, you can then pick which narrative to send — it’s already constructed. An agent may then request more detail, so you send them the next lower level (or the most detailed if you wish).
Sorry, this won’t work very well for organic writers.
.-= Bruce H. Johnson´s last blog ..Tech Writer to Fiction Writer 10: Truth Revealed =-.
Thank you so much. I was getting really frustrated and discouraged with the entire process. Writing is simple ‘query’ to me is the same as an intelligence test. Some how I lose all I know.
.-= Nancy Y Wade´s last blog ..BEADS on a STRING-AMERICA’S RACIALLY INTERTWINED BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY =-.
I’ve always had this sneaking suspicion if the query isn’t coming together, it might be because there is something wrong with my story. Have to say, that has proven to be true in my own case… and Like Bruce, I have started the habit of beginning with the log line and working up from query to synopsis – then writing the first draft.
thanks for posting
great tips, most letters tend to be scattershot
.-= e.lee´s last blog ..A User’s Guide to Mythological Objects. =-.
Although writers do hire agents, agents have the “power” until they extend the offer.
Right now I just want someone to ask me to the party!
Thanks very much for the excellent overview! As other commentors have already pointed out, being able to write a great query letter is necessary not only in getting an agent, but also for determining if you have a problem with your novel.
We’ve been struggling with the art of the queryletter over at Adventures in Children’s Publishing, and it is such a confusing process. Some agents advise against trying to synopsise the novel in the query letter. Instead they recommend concentrating on conveying the hook and the tone to intrigue the reader into wanting more. What do you think of that approach? What are the pros and cons?
.-= Martina Boone´s last blog ..Pre-Submission Checklist =-.
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