Query letters. Am I the only one who is scared of them and really wants to do it RIGHT? Not only ‘right’ but ‘RIGHT’… I think this is such an important blog post who might give me more than a hint! Thank you Alison for sharing this!
While it’s true that the world of publishing is changing, and that many authors are happy to self-publish, some writers still wish to find an agent, and so will need to introduce themselves with a query letter.
What’s important
It’s absolutely vital to remember that this letter is the first example of your writing that an agent will see, so make it count. These are the key things to remember:
- Address your letter to a specific agent – avoid Dear Sir/Madam. Using a name shows that you’ve selected that agent – not just stuck a pin in ‘The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook’
- Make it clear you’ve done your homework – state why you’re approaching that particular agent (similar authors? Looking for your genre?)
- Make your book sound interesting
- State the genre and word length
- Include any details of your writing history – competitions, publications, experience
- Keep it formal, keep it…
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Thank you for sharing!
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My pleasure. I think this is an excellent guide. 🙂
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This is indeed an excellent guide. Very useful for people going the traditional route. Well done.
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Thank you very much for stepping in and leaving your valuable comment. 🙂
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Thanks for sharing! Writing query letters is frightening to me also. I remember the first one I ever wrote. I was petrified. It does get easier though.
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I’m glad to hear that Nichole. I’m scared to death.
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