My First Query
So tonight was it: my fist official submission to a literary agent. I've been working on a query letter for a few weeks now, trying to make it perfect. It was a very unnerving process.
For those not in the know, a query letter is an official "look at me" letter. It is almost like a press release, though the target audience is that particular person who will likely ignore you, but just might make your career. The query starts with your "hook", a single sentence description of your story. From there you describe the characters, plot, and conflicts in a single paragraph. After that nightmare, you get to relax a little and list your writing credentials and why your wrote this particular story. Never been published? I guess you'd better have a great hook and an interesting story behind the story. After all that, you get to sum up the letter, thank the agent for their time, and leave your contact information.
Please allow 6 weeks or eternity for a response.
The purpose of a query is to introduce you as an author and the story you're trying to sell. Many books and articles have been written on how to write the perfect query, often with contradictory information. If an agent likes your query, he or she may ask to see a sample of your work (say the first 50 pages) or perhaps the whole completed manuscript. After that, an offer of representation may be made... or not.
Simply put, a query is the gateway through which agents and writers meet each other. A manuscript will not be read unless an agent takes interest in the original query. That being said, the query is most likely the single most important work of a new author's life.
And I sent my first query to perhaps one of the greatest literary agents of all time. I will not name names here, to avoid my own embarrassment, but also out of professional courtesy to this or other agents.
It is said that rejection is a writers most familiar companion, but I have a good feeling. This should be where I "CMA" by being humble and nervous. I wont do that. I've yet to watch or read "The Secret", but I do believe in positive thinking. What's more, however, is that I've worked my rear off on this novel (as well as the query) and I am confident in my success.
So tonight's the night.
In other news, I have spent some hours going through the manuscript again and have made some minor changes here and there. I've taken the feedback I've received from my early readers and it has been very helpful. The novel is much better off for their criticism and I've very pleased with the result. I've managed to trim off a couple thousand more words and I could send out a copy of the manuscript today and be at ease.
For those not in the know, a query letter is an official "look at me" letter. It is almost like a press release, though the target audience is that particular person who will likely ignore you, but just might make your career. The query starts with your "hook", a single sentence description of your story. From there you describe the characters, plot, and conflicts in a single paragraph. After that nightmare, you get to relax a little and list your writing credentials and why your wrote this particular story. Never been published? I guess you'd better have a great hook and an interesting story behind the story. After all that, you get to sum up the letter, thank the agent for their time, and leave your contact information.
Please allow 6 weeks or eternity for a response.
The purpose of a query is to introduce you as an author and the story you're trying to sell. Many books and articles have been written on how to write the perfect query, often with contradictory information. If an agent likes your query, he or she may ask to see a sample of your work (say the first 50 pages) or perhaps the whole completed manuscript. After that, an offer of representation may be made... or not.
Simply put, a query is the gateway through which agents and writers meet each other. A manuscript will not be read unless an agent takes interest in the original query. That being said, the query is most likely the single most important work of a new author's life.
And I sent my first query to perhaps one of the greatest literary agents of all time. I will not name names here, to avoid my own embarrassment, but also out of professional courtesy to this or other agents.
It is said that rejection is a writers most familiar companion, but I have a good feeling. This should be where I "CMA" by being humble and nervous. I wont do that. I've yet to watch or read "The Secret", but I do believe in positive thinking. What's more, however, is that I've worked my rear off on this novel (as well as the query) and I am confident in my success.
So tonight's the night.
In other news, I have spent some hours going through the manuscript again and have made some minor changes here and there. I've taken the feedback I've received from my early readers and it has been very helpful. The novel is much better off for their criticism and I've very pleased with the result. I've managed to trim off a couple thousand more words and I could send out a copy of the manuscript today and be at ease.
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