Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Richard Donnelly's avatar

In all honesty, I found this query letter long-winded and unhelpful. And incomplete. ALL agents request three things: A synopsis, a bio, and a sample. The first paragraph includes a brief but usable synopsis. So where is the bio and sample? Or did I miss something?

The rest of the query wore me out. What difference does a wonderful story make if you can't write? IF agents are actually reading unsolicited queries (a big if, IMHO), but IF agents are actually reading unsolicited queries, why would they want to read all about your book, paragraph after glowing paragraph, becoming intrigued, imagining a market, formulating a mental response, only to find you can't write? How many writers can't write? 99.9 %. And let's face it friends, and again honesty, that's being generous.

In query letters you want to get the text in front of the agent as fast as possible. That means speeding up the first part, the synopsis and bio. The first part means nothing. The last part means everything.

Expand full comment
2 more comments...

No posts