shannonspeaks

You know where I’m going with this…it’s gym class, you’re 13 or 14, Aunt Flo just showed up unannounced and that’s not the worst of it. Your mom still won’t let you shave your legs with the real razor – just the electric one that only barely does the trick.

And you, dear writer, would rather go back to that day and walk three miles each way – uphill! – than write that query letter.

Or worse yet – the synopsis.

Now in my fourth year of patiently querying, I consider myself an expert and offer up my advise.

And my advise is this: it’s not you, it’s me. It really really is. It’s your 8th grade gym class, or maybe high school algebra or whatever it is that you dread, fear, cannot stand another thought of.

It’s all of your fears coming to light, and you can fight your fears! Your wrote a novel for crying out loud – you can write three paragraphs. I believe in you, you believe in you, the agents you will be querying believe in you too! They need you – us – as much as we need them, and the name of the game is to never let yourself forget it.

Your query letter should be, simply, clear, concise and professional. It is a snapsnot of your work and like anything in life it is all in the presentation. In general, agents want you to succeed, they make money when you make money, and not a moment before. So put your big girl panties on (sorry guys, you can keep sporting those Underoos) and craft the query.

Most agents want the same thing – three paragraphs.

1. The hook – this is the snapshot of the story – your novel in a few sentences. YOU CAN DO THIS!
2. Who are you and why should they work with you? Very simple – include the word count, the genre, any writing credentials you might have, etc.
3. And your closing. Thank them for their time, tell them you look forward to hearing from them, working with them, their next contact – however you want to write that, whatever your style is. This is a professional solicitation, keep it simple, keep it classy.

AND THAT’S IT!

It is not by any stretch of the imagination anything like 8th grade. I promise.