Hi all!
In my August newsletter I’m talking about how I got my agent, Penny Moore, what I’m working on, and other fun stuff. If you want to know how I got my literary agent go here to sign up. The newsletter comes out in a few days 🙂
Tag: literary agents
Work in progress: update!
As you may or may not know from following this blog I’ve been working on my young adult novel, The Other Side of the World off and on since 2015 (June 27, 2015 to be exact – I checked Microsoft Word). That’s approaching three years, people! During that time I almost gave up on the project, but am happy to report it has found life again. I recently completed the Writing in the Margins mentorship which really kicked my butt and helped me see the manuscript in a new way. I did some major rewrites and am now on the hunt for a literary agent.
You can read the full description of the project here. The novel has changed a ton and I’m happy to report it features a biracial main character (half Filipino, half white) like me 🙂
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The biggest mistake you can make in a query
It isn’t spelling the agent’s name wrong, comparing yourself to a bestselling author, or using all capital letters. The biggest mistake I see time and time again when reading other writers’ queries is that they’re all over the place and confuse the reader.
No one wants to have to think when reading a query. No one wants to remember seven named characters or try and connect points A, B, and X to figure out what you meant or what the point of your story is.  They want a succinct preview of the plot (i.e. book jacket copy) that makes them want to keep reading.
You never want to have someone read your query and think:
-Where is the setting?
-Who is this character?
-Is this character named John or Johnny? Are they two different people or the same person?
-Are we in the present day or is this set in the future?
-I don’t know what the hell I just read.
One way you can avoid a confusing query is to summarize your work in one sentence and go from there (i.e. the elevator pitch). Another thing you can do is write the query before you even start your novel. I usually do this to help myself stay on track and so I have a clear idea of where the story is going.
Remember, a query is your first chance to impress an agent. You don’t want to blow your chance because you confused them.
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Good vs. Great Query Letters
If you’re reading this I’m sure you’ve already read about how to format a query letter and the basic elements to include in one. Today I’m going to talk about what sets average query letters apart from great query letters.
An original premise. Now, this is easier said than done and somewhat subjective. But, as a writer you should read enough to know what isn’t being written about and whether your manuscript is filling a hole in the marketplace. If your query involves a vampire love triangle there’s a problem. Maybe somewhere there are still agents who are on the hunt for these types of stories, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Don’t have enough time to read? Check out Publisher’s Weekly or Kirkus. Reading book reviews is faster than reading an entire book and is a quick way to know if your story has already been done.
Interesting, relatable characters. The setting of your story is important. Plot is also important. But characters are what suck readers in. If you don’t paint a picture of an intriguing character others want to know more about it doesn’t matter what the plot is.
Stakes. Something has to happen to your characters. Something big. Whether it is external conflict, internal, or both, agents need to be assured that something exciting is going to happen when they read your manuscript. A query letter is your chance to convince an agent to come along for whatever ride your character is on.
A short, movie-like pitch. The best queries can be boiled down to one sentence. To be able to sell your book you need to be intimately familiar with it to the point that you can summarize it in a single sentence.  If you can’t sell it, how can you convince an agent he or she can sell it?
Clarity. What do I mean by this? I have critiqued many a query and commented that I wasn’t sure what the author’s story was really about. If an agent is confused at any point when reading your query it’s often the death of it. Write the query as simply as you can.
Lastly, follow conventions. Include the genre, word-count, and title of your story. Tell the agent why you are querying him or her. Mention any relevant bio information (awards won, conferences attended, special writing education, some nugget about what makes you the ideal person to write this story).
Happy writing!
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