Query letter
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sounds like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest.
The intro:
Review of query letter
You’ll receive written feedback with guidance and advice for sharpening your query, along with in-line edits on your query letter.
The excerpt:
Review of query letter, first 10 pages of manuscript, and a 2-page book synopsis.
You’ll receive written feedback with guidance and advice for sharpening your query, with in-line comments on your manuscript’s first 10 pages.
the complete package
Review of query letter and full manuscript.
You’ll receive written feedback with guidance and advice for sharpening your query, and a 30-minute Zoom to discuss your letter and manuscript.
Why work with me?
As a kid, I vowed I would publish my first book by the time I was 10 (my dad said he would get me a puppy - neither happened).
My first NYT-bestselling series, The Princess Swap, is traditionally published with Random House Children’s Books.
My books have received critical acclaim from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and the Kids Indie Next List, and the first was selected as an Amazon Editor's Pick.
But I’ve also been in the trenches. I’ve queried, I’ve switched agents, I’ve
fAQs
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A query letter is, essentially, a one-page pitch that you send to agents. It summarizes your project, contextualizes it against comparative books (“comp titles”), and introduces you to the agent. This is when you need to pivot from author brain to business brain.
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You send query letters to agents. Agents take writers on as clients, and they submit their books to publishers. Agents are many things: they negotiate on your behalf, build a strategy for your career, cheerlead you when you need some extra love, etc.
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Knowing how to hook your audience and paying attention. You want to capture an agent’s attention so they move from your query letter to your sample pages and fall in love with your writing.
It’s important to read an agent’s submission guidelines very carefully to ensure that 1) they represent your genre, 2) that you’re submitting the materials they’re looking for, 3) that they’re open to submissions at all.
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Nope! Often, agents will only ask for 5-10 pages of your manuscript with your query letter. If they’re interested, they might ask for a partial (usually around 50 pages of your manuscript). If they’re super interested, they’ll ask for the full thing.
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I wish, but I can’t make that promise. What I CAN help you do is finesse your materials so you can put your best foot forward continue to grow as an author. I can also be your accountability buddy and cheerleader.
The reality of the industry is that a writing career is a long game. But putting in the effort, learning from how people react to your project, and beginning a new book are crucial to building that career.
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I mean, you could, but it would be like using a ham sandwich to clean a mirror (aka - it’s not going to get clean. And no matter what you thought of that joke, it wasn’t written with AI.)
For one, agents, unsurprisingly, tend to frown on AI. It’s not a good look if that’s the first way you introduce yourself (it’s hard enough to win an agent’s attention).
For two, if you want to write books, I seriously hope you…like writing. Yes, query letters are tricky, but they do help you develop a new understanding of your book, looking at it from a new lens that can give you greater insights into what it’s about and what you’re trying to say.
For three, a query letter, like a book, is not meant to sound like generic, monotone, AI-created copy. It’s meant to show your personality and capture your voice so you stand out.