RE-post! I am stilllll on vaction until the 6th, but I thought this would help jump start everyones querying process for the year. Heaven knows I need to send some out.
I started the querying process back in the summer, and to be utterly honest with you the reader and myself I really didn't put my heart into it.The first reason is because it scared the living daylights out of me, and reason number two is because it's very nerve wracking. I wanted to 'test" the waters so to speak before I actually plunged in head first. I have learned a bunch since I sent off that first query, and I am sharing with you!
For those out there that do not know what a query is here is your answer. A query is a inquiry to a literary agent to ask him/her if they would be interested in representing you and your work. Most times the query letter is a single typed page that is most if the time double spaced in font. Once completed the query letter is sent to the agent via the means they prefer.
The first thing you need to do it get this book "Writers Market Guide to Literary Agents", it has all of the literary agents listed, their websites, their preferences, etc. And it is MUCH, MUCH cheaper than the Literary Marketplace which is expensive, the on-line service to subscribe is $19.95 weekly, where the Writer's Market is going to cost around $20 for the entire book (it is available on Amazon.com). There is also this handy dany website that is FREE called QueryTracker.com, there they have Literary agents listed, other writers to connect with, they even have posting boards to let you know what to expect from the person that you queried based on other people's query submissions and their results. That's awesome all together, but what got me hooked on this web page is that there you can actually keep up with who you queried and when, and even rank the agents you most want to query. I'm a bit disorganized so this is a great tool that is free.
In the "Writer's Market" they have a section on how to formulate and write your query. They offer non-fiction proposals and fiction queries, and also examples of poor queries and good ones. The real help is on Nathan Bransford's blog (there's a link to it on the left side of this page). Since he is a literary agent he knows what he likes and dislikes to see in a query, and he has some very helpful information on queries and how to formulate your query. If your in doubt of your query check out his page I'm sure he has some answers for you there, if not e-mail him. Yep, he's awesome like that.
The first thing to do when composing (it's composing because your writing a single page masterpiece!) your query is to write a BRIEF description of your work. Keep it to two paragraphs tops. Just think of it as if your writing a summery for the dust jacket, if your unsure pick up a book and read it's summery. If your summery sounds dry to you re-do it. Think "Does this sound like something I would want to purchase?" when you are reading your summery.
Make sure that you have your grammar and word choice correct, if your not sure what a word means look it up. Don't be google shy. Try to refrain from slang jargon unless your character uses it often in dialogue. Simple and clean always is best, and remember your work will stand for itself, your throwing your work out there not yourself, so when your get to the section about yourself (if you include one in your query, it's optional), keep it short and sweet. Again your promoting your writing not yourself.
It's a MUST to check how the agent receives queries, some only accept queries by e-mail, others only by snail mail. If your unsure how to go about it look the agency up and call them, simply ask how they prefer to receive submissions. Tons of agents have info on the Internet, use that to your advantage. The Writer's Market and other books are wonderful tools, but even their information can be incorrect. Always double check before you send anything off.
Most agents are very specific about the queries the receive. Do not let this scare you. If they want a single page send only a single page, if they require a synopsis send one, if they want you to have a certain font and spacing use it. It wont kill you to change your font in a single query. So the best policy for submitting to ANY agent is to check their submission guidelines.
I have heard of writers hiring people to write their query letters for them. I don't do this or condone it. Every writer as a voice that is their own. If you pay someone to write your query for you then it gets declined you will always wonder if you could have gotten a better response if you had just bucked up and wrote it yourself. I think it's borderline fibbing too. You wrote an entire book, you can write a single page query no problem.
The most important thing to remember about the querying process is that yes it is agonizing and painfully tedious but that is the way to go unless you know someone who is a agent or a friend who has a agent. But this process is wonderful, it gives you the writer time to edit your manuscript if you need to, polish it a bit more, and get your feet wet. Go to conferences, workshops and join a chat group online or writers circle. Savor the process and use it to your advantage instead of it using you. You have all the time in the world to get your query right and to get the agent that is right for you. Why rush the process and get an agent you don't mesh well with?
I hope this was helpful, and if you have any tips and tricks for queries leave a comment, they are most welcome.
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