I don’t usually do publishing hot takes, but I do wonder what everyone else’s opinion on this is. I've seen people agree that comp titles (comparative titles) are necessary, and I don’t think they see the other side. Comp titles are popular in queries, and in some places, they are required. I’ve been in Q&As … Continue reading Should comp titles be necessary?
Tag: query letters
2 methods to send out query letters to agents
After getting your query package (query letter, synopsis, beginning pages, etc.) together, it can be impossible to know how well it will do on the agent market. It's so subjective out there. And after getting a rejection, you usually cannot query that project again to that same agent unless it goes under intense revision. That … Continue reading 2 methods to send out query letters to agents
Tips from a literary agent
I attended a Reedsy livestream that featured a literary agent. I got to see the agent go through query letters before my eyes! I decided to take what I learned and share it with y'all. Hope you enjoy! How to start your query If you are a debut author, he suggested going straight into talking … Continue reading Tips from a literary agent
What credentials should you put in your query letter?
At the end of a query letter, it's important to write something about yourself. But...what do you write? Some people write about where they got their college degrees from. Or perhaps how long they've been working on this manuscript. But is that necessary? Let's find out! Degrees (BA OR MFA) Degrees are usually only necessary … Continue reading What credentials should you put in your query letter?
What writers submit queries and when?
Some writers have to their work completed and edited before submitting a query to an agent. But not all writers. Sound weird? There are two main genres that define how a writer publishes their work in the traditional route: non-fiction and fiction. Fiction queries are the kind of queries that everyone hears about. You finish … Continue reading What writers submit queries and when?
How to use social media when querying
At the base line, social media is a good way to connect with agents. Agents talk about their manuscript wish list (#MSWL) from time to time. They list what they're looking for in the next book they represent. Look out for them. You might see one that matches your book. However, warning: do not directly … Continue reading How to use social media when querying
Common query mistakes
At my new internship, I got to see what was in the bottom drawer: rejected queries. For over an hour, I read query after query. The rejected queries all had repeated mistakes. Here's some of the most common ones: Misspellings One writer wrote aknolegments instead of acknowledgements. Spelling, especially in the writing career, is essential. … Continue reading Common query mistakes
Query letter structure
Write an awesome hook sentence. The hook sentence is the most important part of your query. It grabs the agent’s attention and keeps them reading. Usually, it mentions an interesting part of the plot as well. Hook sentences are difficult to make, so don’t get discouraged if it takes a long time to find the … Continue reading Query letter structure
How to find a literary agent
After editing your query letter to the best it can be, it's time to find literary agents. Here are some tips on how to find some: acknowledgmentS section Find books that are similar to yours, and go to the acknowledgments section. Writers thank their literary agent there most of the time, especially if the agent … Continue reading How to find a literary agent
Robin LeeAnn 