A Lil' Query Help From Shelly Beach

I had the privilege to attend the Christian Writer's Workshop in Cedar Falls, Iowa with Christy Award winner, Shelly Beach. Although my attendance was limited because of the need for childcare (can I just give kudos to my hubby for making it work by taking time off and working out of the house? What a supporter!!), I still walked away from the sessions with a bunch of knowledge.

Can I say, the one word that makes me shudder and want to throw in the towel?

QUERY

Yikes!

Wouldn't it be great if a you could slip your manuscript under the nose of an agent or editor without having to figure out how to wow them in summaries and pitches? Well, Shelly did a fabulous job at summing up the elements of a query, so although my technical writing skill is subpar, I think I have a better grasp on my once dreaded task. ;)

Shelly defines the query as “a single page cover letter, introducing you and your book. A query letter has three concise paragraphs: the hook, the mini-synopsis, and your writer's biography.”

You want to use a professional business letter tone, but still allow your voice to shine through your query and reflect who you are.

SHELLY'S OUTLINE OF A KILLER QUERY:


Paragraph 1: The Hook

• You should get the agent/editor's attention in the first paragraph by using a hook or “one concise sentence." Shelly referenced the AQ database at www.agentquery.com You can link to agencies' websites who represent your genre and find examples of loglines of their books.

An example from The Kite Runner-- "An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the atrocities of the present." 

• This paragraph should also include the genre, title of your book, word count, and why you are querying that agent/editor...see tips below.

Paragraph 2: The Mini-synopsis
This should be around 150 words, and it expands on the hook. It should show the main character and conflict that changes the lives of the characters. You should convey the story arc in this paragraph. Your voice should be present!

Paragraph 3: Your Writer's Biography
Something I didn't realize, is you don't necessarily need your educational background here, unless it specifically relates to you as a writer or your expertise in writing for a non-fiction topic. What you do want to include is:

• Your writing background, publications
• If something in your life relates to your main character, you could mention it to show you have first-hand knowledge of what you are writing
• Contests and awards

The Closing:

And close the letter by thanking the agent or editor for their time.

SOME MORE TIPS:

• Send thank you's even if your letter is rejected, and especially if they take the time to give you input.

• Don't query unless you finish the manuscript: They want to know you can write your way out of a corner, and see the plot concluded.

• Address agents/editors specifically. Know that they can change publishing houses, so check where they are going. Let them know why you chose to query them. Read their blog, website.

• Make sure your book has a catchy, memorable title. :)

REFERENCES WITH SUCCESSFUL QUERY EXAMPLES:

Chuck Sambuchino's blog: www.guidetoliteraryagents.com

Query Shark blog: www.queryshark.blogspot.com