Perfect Query FORMULA 5 critical sections in every successful - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Perfect Query

FORMULA

5 critical sections in every successful query letter

Why am I not hearing back? is this you

the query conundrum

giving up too early

the query conundrum

blaming the system

the query conundrum

blaming the system

no one gets book deals anymore

the query conundrum

blaming the system

I should just self publish

the query conundrum

blaming the system

agents won’t take new writers

We love new writers…

LITERARY AGENT - LIZA DAWSON

“…There is nothing in Bookland that is

more enticing than a debut author:

No bad sales figures! Endless potential! The drama of discovery! In other words, we want you to be

• ur Cinderella; we want the slipper to fit; and

when it does, we will commit with all our heart.”

LITERARY AGENT - LIZA DAWSON

Debut authors

Debut authors

AGENTS WANT DEBUT AUTHORS.

pesiod

book

Agents need you

book agent

Agents need you

Emails from you

book query agent

Agents need you

jane friedman “Most queries I read are so focused on the intricacies of the work (and have so little distance from the work -- or perspective

• n what makes it salable) that

the query is dead on arrival.”

prove the slipper fits

carly watters “If we’re not confident you can pitch us your book, we’re not confident you can write a book.”

bad queries don’t land agents

“A compelling query should get a 75% response rate.”

Source: Midwest Writers Conf

good queries get responses

“That’s a proposal I’d like to read.”

Jill Marr Sandra Dijkstra Agency

I love the way you think. Go for it! Michael Larsen Larsen Pomada Literary Agents Paul Fedorko NS Beinstock, Inc. Adam Korn Defiore & Company

This debut writer GOT an agent!

Andrea Hurst Andrea Hurst & Associates Paul Levine Paul S Levine Literary

First-time authors can get agents & book deals!

This First-time author GOT an agent!

AS SEEN IN:

Your book is a product

Prove your product is marketable

Prove your product is marketable

What You’ll Learn

the 5 sections of every successful query the proper order, and when you can switch it up insider tips, tricks to make the process easier real world examples Q&A + query review + BONUS

Successful pitch

bond

• Dr. Ms Nelson

I’m a faithful reader of your blog. I admire your enthusiasm, your humor, and your candor. Since you represent all subgenres of romance, I’d like you to consider Schemes of Love, my historical romance set in late Victorian

• England. The manuscript is

complete at 100,000 words.

Author: Sherry Thomas Agent: Kristin Nelson

the OPEN

Dear Sharon, I am seeking representation for ALL SHE NEEDS, an 85,000 word Romantic Suspense with a fresh angle: A Cuban-American who can talk with horses. At thirty- something, it’s time she finds love not unlike the protagonist in FLIRTY THIRTY by Cassie Mae.

Author: Kat Canfield

the OPEN

Especially effective because it shows you’ve done your research. It shows you are targeting me for a reason… and not just every agent you can find online.

Dear Ms. Jeglinski, I’m pleased to share with you my historical novel GLORY DAYS. At 97,000 words, it should appeal to readers who are drawn to the strong women in Aimee K. Runyan’s

• work. With its elements of romance and

suspense — and animals — it will resonate with fans of Water For Elephants and Magruder’s Curiosity Cabinet.

Author: Jan Flynn

the OPEN

When you find an agent, you’re finding a business partner. You want to make sure you’re communicating to them that you want to work specifically with them. It really matters in terms of how we receive the pitch.

professional framed

Dear Jessica, I’m contacting you because you represent Ellery Adams. I love her Secret Book & Scone Society Series and feel the main character in my cozy mystery has the same kind of appeal. She shares a similar belief around secrets—it’s dangerous to bury them.

Author: Irene Jorgensen

the OPEN

Successful pitch

bond hook

… . K a t i e C h a n d l e r a l w a y s t h

• u

g h t s h e w a s

• r

d i n a r y , b u t t h e n s h e l e a r n s t h a t s h e ’ s a s p e c i a l k i n d

• f
• r

d i n a r y , s

• n
• n
• m

a g i c a l t h a t s h e ’ s e n t i r e l y i m m u n e t

• m

a g i c .

Author: Shanna Swendson “Enchanted, Inc.” Agent: Kristin Nelson

the HOOK

the HOOK

….

I m u s t a d m i t I h a t e A s i a n s t e r e

• t

y p e s . Y

• u

k n

• w

t h e

• n

e s . G

• d

a t m a t h . H a r d w

• r

k i n g . W e a l l l

• k

a l i k e . C

• m

e t

• t

h i n k

• f

i t , t h a t l a s t

• n

e m i g h t h

• l

d w a t e r . A f t e r a l l , m y f a t h e r

• n

c e w

• r

e a b u t t

• n

t h a t r e a d “ I a m C h i n e s e , ” w h i l e g r

• w

i n g u p i n S e a t t l e ’ s C h i n a t

• w

n d u r i n g W W I I . I t w a s t h e

• n

l y t h i n g t h a t s e p a r a t e d h i m f r

• m

t h e J a p a n e s e , a t l e a s t i n t h e e y e s

• f

h i s C a u c a s i a n n e i g h b

• r

s .

Author: Jamie Ford, “Hotel at the Corner of Bitt and Sweet” Agent: Kristin Nelson

the HOOK

“There is simply not enough room in a Toyota trunk for a spare tire and a dentist—a lesson Charlie Miller learns quite by accident…”

Agent: Jill Marr

Successful pitch

bond hook goods

care action conflict

reel them in (fiction)

… . M a r k M a l l e n h a d b e e n a g r e a t c

• p

, b e f

• r

e h e s u c c u m b e d t

• t

h e n e e d l e . D r i v e n f r

• m

t h e n a r c

• t

i c s d i v i s i

• n

a n d r u n

• f

f t h e f

• r

c e , M a l l e n ' s b e e n s u r v i v i n g d a y

• t
• d

a y i n t h e g r i t t y w

• r

l d

• f

S a n F r a n c i s c

• '

s T e n d e r l

• i

n d i s t r i c t . B u t j u s t a s i f i t l

• k

s l i k e h i s l i f e w i l l e n d i n a d d i c t i

• n

, h i s u p s t a i r s n e i g h b

• r

c

• m

e s t

• h

i m b e g g i n g f

• r

h e l p i n fi n d i n g h e r d a u g h t e r ' s m u r d e r e r . T h e m a n h i d d e n d e e p i n s i d e t h e a d d i c t i s p r

• m

p t e d t

• a

c t i

• n

, a s M a l l e n s e e s a n

• p

p

• r

t u n i t y t

• r

e d e e m h i m s e l f a n d r e

• e

m e r g e .

the SYNOPSIS

Author: Robert K. Lewis, “Damage Untold” Agent: Barbara Poelle

…. However, staying clean turns out to be the least of his problems. As Mallen struggles to find the killer before another child is murdered, a couple of rogue cops come after his head, his ex-partner tries to turn him into an informant, and a growing number of people seem to want him dead the deeper he dives into the tangled threads of the investigation. When he finally comes close to unraveling it all, he discovers at its center something darker and more sinister than any nightmare he's ever known: the murder trail leads directly to a police officer he once trained.
 .

the SYNOPSIS

Author: Robert K. Lewis, “Damage Untold” Agent: Barbara Poelle

Successful pitch

bond hook goods

unique

reel them in

Americans are under attack. Obesity, lethargy, depression, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are a ghastly epidemic in our country. And all these serious health issues can be attributed to a lack of

• nutrients. How severe is this problem? According to

the National Center for Health Statistics, 90% of Americans are nutrient deficient. Armed with little more than “symptom masking drugs,” Western Medicine is powerless against the onslaught. The Wal-Mart Cure: Ten Lifesaving Supplements for Under $10 will teach Americans how to easily and inexpensively avoid being nutrient deficient by using key nutritional supplements that are readily available

• n the shelves of Wal-Mart.

Author: Shane Ellison, M.Sc. Agent: Sammie Justesen

the SYNOPSIS

unique explain

reel them in

Limited to three hundred characters, each Dumbemployed story is a Twitter-sized chat around the water cooler. Categorized into five distinct aspects of work—Bosses, Customers, Just Dumb, Overtime, and Weird Shift—every story reflects a different side of life on the job. Whether it’s slinging burgers at the drive thru, dodging bosses at a corporate conference, or even reading query letters from a stranger, Dumbemployed covers the gamut of work. Each story begins and ends the same way, starting with “At work today,” and ending with “I’m dumbemployed,” making an anthology great reading material during a dull moment

• n the job. Imagine the TV show “The Office” as a

Facebook status update, and you’ll understand

• Dumbemployed. We’re all dumbemployed sometimes—it’s

recognizing it that makes it bearable. Author: Matt Krafu, “Dumpemployed” Agent: Roseanne Wells

the SYNOPSIS

…a guided journal for trauma survivors seeking to discover, explore, and re-story their own experiences of trauma and its aftermath, with 16 writing exercises to be completed over 60 day…

Author: Jen Cross, “Our Words Restore” Publisher: Mango

the SYNOPSIS

unique prove conflict

reel them in

Successful pitch

bond hook goods bio

I am a Human Resources and Career Strategy Consultant on the West Coast. My insider approach to career advice has been published in 44 newspapers including the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, and Newsday

• NY. My most recent interview for

publication will be in an upcoming issue

• f Entrepreneur magazine.

Author: Cynthia Shapiro Agent: Jessica Faust

the BIO

jessica faust

“When querying non-fiction include credentials/ platform in query. It’s your biggest selling point, without I ofuen reject.”

A thriller drawing on my 35 years’ experience designing and building classified communication, intelligence, and anti-terrorist computer systems for the Department of Defense (DoD), and US Intelligence Agencies. As required with my Security Clearance, the DoD has cleared this manuscript for public release.

Author: Craig Hastings

the AUTHORITY

Successful pitch

bond hook goods bio close

This is the first in a proposed series.

the MAGIC phrase

Successful query

thanks fos the quesy, I’d lowe to leasn mose…

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