Four Keys to Query Success
Today’s blog post comes to us from Author Accelerator certified book coach Grace Pelley. You can learn more about the services she offers writers at her website.
If you have learned anything about getting a literary agent, you probably have heard about the euphoric feeling of signing with one.
It is an exciting event: you are approved by an industry expert and have taken a significant step towards getting a book deal. You and your agent are thrilled to be working together on a book you both love.
Because of how emotional this moment is, sometimes the process almost sounds like a romance: just an ordinary writer finds the agent of her dreams.
As an intern at Creative Media Agency, I read queries that had a tone more appropriate for asking someone out than asking for a business partner, which is what a query is.
An Example
Let's pretend you want to open an ice cream shop and were meeting with potential investors. What are you going to do to convince them to give you money? You'll probably bring your best ice cream. You might talk about your credentials to start a business. Or you'll bring reviews from people that love your ice cream. In short, you'll do everything you can to prove that you are a safe investment.
It's the exact same thing when you query. You're asking an agent to invest in you and your manuscript without any guarantee of profit.
When you query, you need to remember how agents get paid.
Agents are paid commission when their clients make money. That's it. Any time an agent spends on a manuscript they do not sell is time they work for free. This is one reason agents are notorious for reading queries at lightning speed. Why would they spend more time than is absolutely necessary on a project they cannot sell?
What does this mean for writers? When you query, your main objective should be convincing agents you're a safe, profitable investment. This isn't the time to be charming or clever. The agent reading the query is thinking business, so you also need to think business.
Today I want to explore four keys that will prove to agents that you are a good investment.
Key 1: Be Professional
The first is to be professional and courteous in your query. Address agents by their last names and honorifics. Follow standard practices for queries and any specific guidelines on the agents' websites. Spend some time learning about the different parts of a query and what works best. Remember that agents are doing you favor by reading your submission. You hope that your manuscript will make them money, but they are not compensated for reading your query. Your tone should be confident, but not cocky. You firmly believe that the book you are selling is a good one. Avoid promises of astronomical success. Never beg.
Key 2: Do Your Homework
Another essential step to presenting yourself as a good investment is to research. Become thoroughly knowledgeable about your genre. Know what readers expect. What tropes are common? How is sex presented? What word count is normal? Agents are extremely familiar with genres they represent, and doing something unusual for your genre will be a red flag.
You also need to research what agents represent your genre. "Well duh, Grace," you're probably thinking. "I'm not going to send my cozy mystery to Mr. Sci-Fi Only." Mistakes happen. When deciding whom to query, double check what they want. If your genre is broad, like romance or historical fiction, search for sub-genres. What you need isn't so much a book they've sold exactly like yours, but an idea of what does and does not interest them.
As you prepare to query, spend some time reading tips on writing query letters and synopses. Your query letter is the first impression you'll make on agents. To go back to our example of a meeting with investors, this letter is equivalent to how you dress, shake hands and make eye contact. A good query can't sell a bad book, but few agents will keep reading if a query is bad.
I don't want to spend too much time on what makes a good query; there are plenty of resources on best practices. But, polish the query. Make sure you're putting your best foot forward.
Key 3: Edit, Edit, Edit
To pitch your novel successfully, edit all your submission materials. Your query should be flawless, and your manuscript must display your best writing. The commodity you're selling is your writing. Rewrite and revise until you know you're ready.
Key 4: Invest
The last component to query success is to invest in your writing before you query. This will look different from writer to writer. Before we look at how to invest, let's look at why to invest.
Everyone wants to believe that raw talent is enough. But, even the most talented train to improve. Being willing to invest teaches you how to see where you need improvement. Getting a book deal requires luck, talent and determination. But it also requires an understanding and demonstration of skilled writing.
Books on writing are a great first investment. They contain tips on how to better craft stories. Likewise, writing workshops provide an opportunity to dig into writing. One-on-one coaching blends expert advice, a structured process and emotional support.
I’m biased, but I think all that’s standing between some good writers and signing with an agent is a book coach.
Before and during the query process, do everything you can to be a good investment. Agents want writers worth their time. With the right preparation, you can make an offer that's hard to refuse.
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