How to write a query letter:
- Rip still-beating heart from chest.
- Attach to paper. (Use rubber bands or binder clips, not staples.)
- Insert into envelope. Don’t forget to enclose an SASE!
I’m kidding, of course—most agents prefer email queries now. You can just put your heart in the scanner.
Okay, really, before somebody beats me over the head for implying you should send attachments: earn the “query letter” merit badge by being brave enough to put yourself out there and smart enough to learn how to do it effectively.
If you’ve been paying attention, you already know about Query Shark. What are some of your other favorite query-writing resources?
This is part of the merit badges for writers series, and may be posted on your site or blog. Have you earned this badge? Will you never earn it? Tell us why in the comments.
11 Comments
Public Service Announcement courtesy of the dinorodeo.com “Don’t make it too gross” Committee:
Maybe it’s a Friday the 13th thing, but we’ve had way more internal organs on the blog than usual. Just as a reminder, we also offer badges featuring happy fluffy things such as cute animals (here, here, and especially here).
My fave query helper is Nathan “Awesomesauce” Bransford. Super-helpful guy.
Okay, maybe I gave him that nickname.
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/
@sidekick55: Whereas the Shark is known as “Awfulsauce.” (She gave herself that nickname, I wouldn’t dare.)
And YES, there is some very helpful query info available from
VickyMr. Bransford. He also hosts a forum where you can get query feedback from other writers.Ugh. Isn’t that so true? Tearing your heart out and slamming it down onto the paper or computer screen?
Just found your merit badge blog and absolutely love it.
Badge earned. Earned dozens and dozens of times.
And by “heart”, you must mean “heart, brain, spleen, writing talent and firstborn child”. All which should be pasted into the body of the email, of course.
Earned many times over. Shoulda’ just self published with all the money I spent on heart donors.
IT’S SO TRUE!!! And yay for another one to add to my list!
Excellent query resources?
http://agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx
http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/CategoryView,category,SuccessfulQueries.aspx
…and of course, what NOT to do:
http://slushpilehell.tumblr.com/
I just posted five great links for writing queries and book proposals on my own blog,
http://annemartinfletcher.wordpress.com/
My very favorite query help, however, is http://www.querytracker.net/literary_agents.php
QueryTracker.net. It is a free service that helps me research agents and organize my queries. No one wants to query someone who already told them, “Not for me.”
BTW, I added your link to my blog as well. Thank you for the Merit Badge!
I concur about Vicky. One of the many useful things I’ve learned at his blog is how to address him should I every query him! Awesome!
In addition to the Query Shark, and Janet Reid’s other blog, I read these:
BookEnds, LLC, Literary Agency
Et in arcaedia, ego.
Miss Snark, the Literary Agent (This one is archived, but you can still read it!)
Pub Rants – Agent Kristin Nelson
Querypolitan (What?)
This is a great badge, Em. I’ll be back for it someday!
My thanks… and sympathies… to you all.
Since Friday, I found three more great links. They all come from foliolit.com, but can be hard to navigate to on your own. The exact links are posted under “Writing Links” on my blogsite. Click on my name to get there, and good luck.