Go here now.
Good stuff to read. Because you all want to learn, incrementally, how to write the very best query letter you can.
Find out what worked for one agent. Bearing in mind, of course, that agents are like snowflakes. Though, truly, a fabulous query letter will trump personal differences.
After you've read the blog post, come on over here and share what you've learned.
Miss Snark's First Victim
That *was* a really good query. I actually found my query and synopsis harder to write than the novel itself! Anyone else feel that way?
ReplyDeleteAnd (cough*cough) I wonder if a SA query contest might ever be in the cards?
That was some great info, both from the agent AND the author!
ReplyDeleteMade me cringe after reading it, and I understand a bit more about receiving my very own label (NOT A GOOD ONE) from "MS. JAWS" regarding my own query...can you say CHUM?
Thanks again for sharing!
:) Terri
Although I'm tired of FMCs (personal preference O:)) Kelly's plot sounds fun... then again, I love stuff with demons so... %-)
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued that the fourth paragraph about the MC worked. I wouldn't have thought of doing that but I can see how (even as a gamble) it worked becuase of ALL the kick-butt FMCs inhabiting urban fantasy, I too like to see what is different about Charlie.
Anyway, as I said on both blogs, I can see why the query worked. ;) Tight, good writing, well-structured, shows an understanding of the genre and a fun premise, professional, etc. Kelly did a nice job and I'll check out her novel when it's out. :)
~Merc
I read this earlier and all I could think was, "Janet Reid wouldn't like this but it might sneak by at Pubrants...."
ReplyDeleteI think what works on all queries is being up front with details. There isn't a lot of prying or trying or a blow-by-blow account of the first page. The queries that get the best response from agents give them all the details up front and focus on the main character.
The author in the query on the blog (I forgot her name sorry), didn't get bogged down with details about minor characters or any side-plots. I'm sure she has them but she didn't mention them.
And she didn't mention the five other books she's writing for this series either.
I saw in there several ways to improve. In my most recent version I was using to query, I had a few of her no-no's in place.
ReplyDeleteI liked her query flowed. I have been rehashing my query, but I think this example gives me a better insight into what I need to do.
My query focuses on an early event, and is a bit vague on the rest of the story.
I will be rewriting some more to give a better overall view of my manuscript and to make it read "lightly" like this example does.
Great timing for this post, thank you.