Not sure where to start your query letter? Sometimes looking at a sample query letter that has proven to be successful in the past is a perfect place to start.
Category: Querying
Genres vs. Tropes: Getting your novel to the right readers
How do you find your books’ target audience or even the right shelf? The first, simplest step: understand genres vs. tropes, and how they apply to your novel.
How to power up your query with charged language
Charged language is a method of conveying a specific way of thinking, implying more beyond the written word. When introducing your story to a publisher, your words must spark a feeling they want to explore, a desire that requires your full manuscript to quench.
Primary Conflict: How to create the right conflict
Most stories in any genre are going to have a good amount of conflict. Actually, any novel I’ve ever read has several types of conflict, one following another, all tumbling like dominoes until the big finish. But your primary conflict is the most important.
Elevator Pitch for Books: How to create one & why
An elevator pitch is the shortest, most boiled-down version of the mere essence of your story. It’s a quick hook that can take advantage of the smallest moment of potential opportunity.
Book Pitch Prep List: How to pitch your manuscript
There are many routes to traditional publishing—cold queries and pitch sessions, Twitter events and contests. Some of these options will take you directly to publishing house editors; most funnel through the ever-elusive Literary Agent.
Synopsis vs Blurb: Why you need both to create a powerful query
If there are two publishing industry terms I see mixed up the most, it’s probably synopsis vs blurb. Both are very important to the publishing process, so it’s important to know the difference to be professional in conversation, and to accomplish your publishing goals.
Pitching a literary agent this year? Get prepped.
Writing conference season is just around the corner. If you read my article about how to get a literary agent through pitching instead of querying, now is the time to prepare.
Writing Blurbs (Part 3): Progression
Blurbing, dear friends, is the art of condensing. We’ve talked about what a blurb is and discussed its essential elements. We dove into how to streamline a blurb and build emotional momentum by limiting proper nouns and decluttering our details. What’s left is to discuss is writing blurbs that progress —how to take those minimal details…
Writing Blurbs (Part 2): Limiting Details
In the previous post of this series, I emphasized limiting details when writing blurbs. But why do that—and how? How does an author narrow down exactly what to mention, and what to exclude? Limit or eliminate place names The most obvious reason for this is to avoid visual clutter. Especially in fantasy or historical fiction,…