If you’re already laughing, then you know the perfect query letter does not exist and you’re reading to prove yourself right. It’s true! There is no perfect query letter, and no formula that guarantees anyone will be interested in your book.
Still reading? Here’s what I did before I ever attempted to write one.
First, I Googled “how to write a query letter”. Great advice. Most of it was the same. Include a short, exciting synopsis (without spoilers), a little about the author, and basic info such as genre and word count. Some suggest comp titles.
Then, I Googled some query letters. There are examples of successful letters out there. You should read a few. Don’t be surprised when the most successful letters break all the rules you learned in your first search.
Even so, I wouldn’t label it a waste of time to read some suggestions and sample letters, especially if you’re like me and doubt your marketing abilities. There’s a tone to query letters that doesn’t come naturally to everyone. It’s the “you want to buy this” tone. I, for one, was not born knowing how to address anyone in that tone.
What is a successful query letter? My definition is a letter that gets partial or full requests. I’m proud to say I’ve written three of those letters. If you’ve sent twenty or more and haven’t received a request, it’s a sign you should rewrite yours.
I’ve received requests by including:
- a blurb-ish beginning, the most enthralling hook placed directly after the salutation
- a very short synopsis, keeping to the main plotline
- wordcount and genre
- basic biographical info with my blog URL
I have several queries for each book. Some agents/publishers have very specific guidelines so I try to make my letters easy to manipulate and rearrange.
So far, I have never used comp titles in a query. My honest reason? I don’t want to find books similar to mine. Knowing something is already out there like mine is depressing. However, some agents and publishers demand them. (There’s a fiverr.com gig for someone because I would pay a rabid reader to find comp titles. I spend more time writing than reading.)
You can pay for someone else to write your query, but who knows the work better than the author? I haven’t trusted a reader enough to hand over the duty of querying. Not yet, anyway.
It could happen.
