Query Letters

Erin worked with me to craft a killer query letter. She made a real effort to get to know my book and its characters so she could strike the right tone and voice. She was generous with her time, her thoughts and her amazing creativity. I could not be more pleased by the result: a clever, concise query letter that encapsulates my heroine, hits the high notes and leaves the reader wanting to know more. This is one query I’m proud to send out the door.

—Gilly S.

Help with queries!

A query is the cover letter you send to potential agents and editors to interest them in reading your book. It’s got to be short but not choppy, catchy but not gimicky, intriguing but not irritating. Writing one is hard, and requires a whole different set of skills than writing a novel.

What’s more, writing your own query is like doing your own dentistry. You are way too close to the matter. And if you’ve tried it, you know: it’s painful. Working with me instead: query writing may actually make you smile!

What it costs:

For my editing clients, whose books I already know, this service costs $75. For all others, it’s $125, which reflects the extra work and reading I have to put in to getting to know your book and your voice. (Also, I love my clients. Hi, clients! Read about becoming one, here.)

How it works:

You send me your draft query, your synopsis (if you have one), and your first chapter or so. The idea is for me to learn the high points of the plot from the synopsis, and get to know your characters and their voices a little bit from the chapter. (It’s good for the tone of the query to match the tone of the book). From your draft query, I can see what points you think it’s vital to hit. (If you don’t yet have a draft query and/or a synopsis, you can send bullet points.)

I’ll read, and I’ll take a crack at a new pitch for you. Then we’ll spend a couple of days going back and forth: you’ll wonder why I didn’t include X, I’ll think of a way to recast Y, etc. (The poet in me tends to strip things down: authors of course love each and every one of their details — it’s a productive back and forth.) It may take four or five passes to come up with a final version.

Finding an agent:

People often ask me if I can help them find an agent. That’s not what this service is about. I’m glad to tell you how I found my agent — I wrote about that, here — and if specific agents occur to me while I’m working on your query, I’ll be sure to tell you. But I don’t have the contacts to be a matchmaker, and really, looking for an agent is a pretty personal matter. You have to decide which one is right for you.

Erin’s services went well beyond my expectations. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend working with her or to work with her again myself. In fact, I’m almost hoping for a full manuscript rejection, so I can have her look at my whole book!

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