Querying

Oh the dreaded query of any book or novel if you are traditionally publishing. Agents, publishers and alike all want that first page. Thanks for stopping in, hope everything going alright for you. Query letters can be a bit frustrating and exhausting to some writers. You are basically trying to gain the attention of the person you send the query to. You are pitching your book plot and concept to typically an agent first now a days. You want to lure them in and make them curious. Typically around 300 words, one page or less and packs a punch of the most important aspects of your book.

I know 300 words isn’t much, some writers can go on forever about their project. Self regulating is important to querying. You want to pick the main concept and pitch that with very few details of the book itself. So basically you highlight the main picture and don’t dig too deep into the meat of the plot. Think out of the box always. Thousands of queries go out every week so you have to try to stand out as much as possible. What is so special about your project? What aspects can you mention that might capture the imagination of the person you are pushing your book to? Look at any unique angle your brain can muster up to make the agent/publisher say OMG I am so curious now I want to read it. Well, that might be a bit over dramatic but some are that enthusiastic about reading.

You have to be excited about your book, pour that energy into the query and make it reflect your enthusiasm and love you have sunk into that project. I know it can be daunting to sum up a whole project in 300 words or less, even a bit depressing to some. Look at the bright side though, you are one step closer to publishing and completing a dream. YOU wrote a whole book. That takes dedication, love, determination, and passion. Your book is special because it is yours and no one could have wrote it like you have. Now I will add a bit of rain cloud to this scenario to prepare you for the old world of writing.

There is so much competition in the world now a days for writers. Don’t expect to get accepted your first query letter sent. It is possible, but most the time it takes several tries later before you are accepted. Always make sure to narrow your genre down and pick the agents/publishers that specialize in that area. Never give up, some writers get turned down five hundred times before one agent even shows a interest in your book. You have to hit the right day, right time, right person in the right mood. Some topics are pretty flooded and agents don’t want to cover that type of book at all. Do your research on everyone you query and try to work with that information as you consider your letter to them about your book. Writing is a series of steps and the first book can be the most rough to deal with especially in traditional publishing. Once you get your foot in the door you have a easier chance of getting accepted quicker the next time. I wish you all the luck in your endeavors and don’t stop chasing what you desire to have. It can be done no matter what obstacles falls in your lap. YOU CAN DO IT. You made it this far, don’t stop until the task is complete.

Thanks for reading,

-Sterling