Kristin Nelson has posted this query on her blog:Dear Ms. Nelson:I am seeking representation for my completed 62,000 word young adult novel, IN MEMORY OF.Sixteen-year-old Cass McKenna would take the company of the dead over the living any day. Unlike her high school classmates, the dead don't lie or judge, and they're way less scary... Continue Reading →
Portrait of a successful query
Some of you who've traveled to international SCBWI conferences may have met the lovely Sydney Salter. Here's how she caught the attention of agent Ted Malawer:When I first started agenting, I was working as an assistant at Firebrand Literary, going through the slush—which, in our case, was electronic. With hundreds and hundreds of queries, it’s... Continue Reading →
What’s wrong with this query letter?
Sheryl Cline (1)Laura Geringer Books (2)557 BroadwayNew York, NY 10012 Dear Sheryl (3),Thanx (4) for talking with me on the phone. When Art (5) said at that conference (6) that he would love to publish my book (7), I was very pleased (8). He said "Wizard Magick High" (9) would be great for you and... Continue Reading →
Ah! No need to obsess over query details
Michael Bourret, the Dystel & Goderich agent soon to set up shop in Los Angeles, has a nice post on the agency blog about queries--and how to make yours stand out without tearing your hair out.What I’m looking for is a unique idea and good writing. I’m looking for an authentic, interesting voice--yes, voice in... Continue Reading →
How to submit to Elana Roth
Elana tweeted this morning that she was receiving lots of queries without sample pages. In case that's people from our region doing that, here are the submission guidelines from the Caren Johnson Literary Agency blog.It's smart to check submission guidelines--and recheck them--with each agent you query. There is no one-size-fits-all rule and agents create guidelines... Continue Reading →
How to write a query letter
The folks at Upstart Crow have a swell little writer's toolbox. If you're struggling to write a query letter, do check out this annotated version. It tells you how you should format, what you should put where, and what you should look out for. (It's a PDF, so you'll need a reader.)For the rest of... Continue Reading →
The publishometer
Fascinating post from Editorial Anonymous this week: a "publishometer" that lets you know whether your manuscript scores enough points to be acquired. It all boils down to writing quality, consumer interest in the topic, and your degree of celebrity.
9 reasons an agent might reject your query
Jessica Faust has a great list on her blog. Some ways to get yourself rejected:- send your query through an agency, spouse, or pet- send to more than one agent at a time- you ignore her submission guidelinesRead the rest.
What Bio Stuff Goes in My Query?
Alice Pope interviews Chuck Sambuchino on her blog, and he offers advice on whether you should mention your college degree, your kids, and any editing work you've done on other manuscripts.
Want a Query Critique?
Follow the instructions on the Public Query Slushpile. Blog visitors will tell you what they think. (You might want to put on your extra-thick dragon skin for protection.)