September 22, 2008
On Query Letters
The beauty of being an agented writer is that I don’t have to write query letters. That doesn’t mean I totally get off scott free. Sometimes I’m asked to write book blurbs for my editor, and I still have to come up with some sort of cohesive “pitch” for my agent–for me, this falls somewhere between a blurb and a synopsis.
You can read about Joshual Palmatier’s Query Letter project here–it includes links to 14 other authors also participating.
I STILL remember how hard it was to nail down that first query letter, angsting over every word, what information to include, what to exclude, then the sick feeling of dread as I clicked ’send’ or handed it over to the mailman (FYI I quit counting after my first agent but I ended up with right around 100 rejections before I landed her. I’m on my third. Do the math *g*). All this angsting because we’re told how important a professional query letter is. And then you have folks like Betsy Mitchell at Del Rey who totally blow that out of the water. (this could be a whole blog post on it’s own)–Go figure. I do wonder if any of those letters garnered requests.
Anyway, here’s a few things I learned while agent-hunting:
Next Monday I’ll post some more tips but for now, I’m going to share with you the query letter that landed me my current agent. Feel free to play along and post some of your own…and ask questions. For what it’s worth, I think this is one of my least favorite, poorest done query letters, but my agent even used it to craft her pitch letters to editors:
FORBIDDEN, is a futuristic erotic romance in the vein of X-Men meets Bladerunner.
Rafe Walker isn’t your ordinary prostitute. As a mutant, he has the ability to look like anyone at will, and is one of the most sought after “escorts” in New Helena, Montana.
Ameda Haviem hires Rafe to help her chase away her demons, but fails miserably. The lovely young widow of a high-ranking government official, she blames the mutant rebels for the death of her husband.
In this alternate future where the untouched live among the clouds and mutants are kept as slaves, Rafe is recruited by the rebels to impersonate a Senator. He crosses paths with Ameda, and in his new guise, he woos her, only to learn of her hatred for the rebels. While working to stop a bill that could mean the eventual extinction of all mutants, Rafe also searches for the truth, and the real murderer so that he can have the happy ending with Ameda he longs for.
And then there’s some stuff about my publishing credits……
Leave a comment, ask a question, whatever. I’m giving away a copy of MAKE U SWEAT–if I don’t forget 
I love writing query letters and I actually miss it now that I have an agent. I think most people find it difficult because they are trying too hard. I would suggest that before sending it out, get a few people’s reactions to the letter. Think in sound bites and focus on your voice rather than the story.
You know I also like writing query letters. If only I could substitute those for sucknopsis. BUT it takes me at least ten tries before I get them just right.
Second, DO Create a spreadsheet so you can keep track of who you send(t) what, when and what the response was.
I found this one very helpful when I was actively agent searching. I kept imagining getting the call and wondering “when did I query them?” That thought also made me more selective.
Query letters don’t bother me — they’re basically the same concept as a cover letter for a resume. Great suggestions for do’s and don’ts as well. I keep a spreadsheet, but if you’re not into that, Query Tracker is a neat way to track submissions online.
I’d say that’s a pretty good query, Ames.
I don’t LIKE writing them, and certainly wouldn’t miss it if I never had to write one again.
But I’ve gotten a fair share of requests, so I guess I don’t suck at ‘em.
Tricky part (to me) is not necessarily making the storyline interesting, but trying to get some sense of your voice in the short space allowed.
Thanks for the tips, Amy.
I’m curious. Did anyone go read those query letters?
I went to the Palmatier site, yeah.
What kind of rules should be broken?
I went to the web site and read the query letters offered. The queries I have circulating seem to have all the ingredients. One thing, Amy, I read on more than a few blogs an opening like: ‘FORBIDDEN, is a futuristic erotic romance in the vein of X-Men meets Bladerunner’ gets you a direct pass to the slush. When you were doing a lot of query letters, did you always do a comparative sentence?