Please, I'm Begging

 

Terry here with our question of the week: 

What tips do you have to get your query letter noticed and pulled from the slush pile? 

Having queried and been turned down or ignored by 75 agents before I signed up with the agent who sold my first book, I’m not sure I’m the right person to give anybody tips. But here goes: 

 In my writers’ group we recently had a discussion about query letters. It seemed that different writers in the group had gotten different advice. What? Who knew there would be conflicting advice for writers? Sorry, I’m laughing as I write this. No advice, ever, to writers has ever been without a conflicting piece of advice. 

For example, “Never start with the weather.” 

                        But then, “It was a dark and stormy night.” And yes, I know that’s a cliché that has spawned a thousand hilarious entries in “worst first line” contests, but taken by itself, it sets a scene. 

 There is advice about point of view, number of characters, dialogue, setting, you name it. There will be conflicting advice. But none of it is as dire and contrarian as the advice about query letters. 

I used to have an agent, Janet Reid, who as gone on to that great Agent Firm in the Sky, who called herself The Query Shark. She critiqued query letters with great glee, and with unparrelled snarkiness. But also, with a heart. She wanted writers to succeed. Her point was usually—get to the point! 

 My advice is, take that advice. Get to the point. The agent knows you are looking for representation, so don’t be coy. 

“I’m seeking representation for my 200,000-word book, The Saintliness of the Writer. 

 Then, say what it’s about in a few sentences. “Writers are the unrecognized saints of the world. I’ve showcased sixteen writers whom I think deserve sainthood, and why.” 

 Then say why you are the person to write this book. “As a graduate of the seminary, I have studied saints and written numerous essays on the subject published in religious publications, so I am eminently qualified to write this book.” 

Then say who will be interested in reading it, mentioning any comparable books. “The book is written for the general public, and would be well-received, as it is in the same vein as the best-selling The Writer and His Demons. 

 Try to put some of your own personality into the query letter. That doesn’t mean you have to try to be funny, or super-smart, or self-effacing. Try to think of yourself as talking to the agent. Pleasantly. Not demanding. Not begging. Just requesting that they take you seriously. 

And finally, I have a bit of personal advice that I’ve rarely seen. In fact, I’ve seen the opposite advice: Include a blurb from a well-known writer if you can. I had a well-known writer read my book and give me a blurb before I sent out query letters. Bill Crider said he wasn’t sure how much good it would do, but he’d be happy to read it. He gave me a great blurb and I put it right up front in the letter. The first agent who took me on said that’s what had caught her eye. It can’t hurt. Or can it? I’m sure someone will tell you why it’s a terrible idea. Make of it what you will.