GumboWriters Article: 7 Signs of a GREAT Query Letter

Three years ago I set out on a dream to purposely be one of those rare writers who self-published a book and landed a deal with a major publisher, and I'm happy to say I achieved that goal. A lot of writers ask me if there was one thing I learned that I would advise them on achieving that goal too and I tell them GET THE RIGHT AGENT. The right agent can speed up the process tremendously. To give you an example, before I signed with Warner Books my manuscript had been rotting on their slush pile desk for 3 months. The moment I got an agent they read it over the weekend and had an offer within 7 days. Do you see my point? Editors receive hundreds and in some cases thousands of manuscripts a month. They need some way to cut down the process. They need someone with credibility to filter the manuscript and sift the wheat from the chaff, and that's one of the reasons they like to work with top agents. But how does a self-published author or any writer for that matter, get a top literary agent? Two words: a query letter. Not just any query letter, but one that is crafted in such a way that it presents you in the best light. A difference between a query letter you might get from reading a couple of books on query letters and one crafted by a professional can be the difference between signing a deal with a major publisher and getting a pile of rejection letters. After interviewing quite a few top agents, I really got inside the inner workings of an agent: what they look for, what they want to hear and what immediately turns them off. I started helping quite a few writers craft their query letters and found that I had a knack for it. So much so that every single author I ever helped had requests from top agents for their manuscript or self-published book. Most had at least 15 agents request their books some more than 80 agents. One even had 3 television producers offer her a deal without even reading the book, based on the query letter alone. Here are a few key things to remember when crafting your query letter: 1) Grab them from the first sentence. This can be in the form of a question, a logline or even the opening line introducing yourself. It can also be in the form of telling them who referred you. 2) Get to the point. The most successful query letters I've written for other authors are short. They are about 1/2 a page long. If you say too much you'll bore them, if you say too little you will not pique their interest. It has to be the right balance. 3) Remember agents, although often passionate about reading and books, are really only glorified sales people. Many do not make hourly wages or salary. They rely on 100% commission to put dinner on the table. So they need product, as much product as possible. 4) Here's something to think about. Most good agents don't want to sell just one book, they want someone who will stick by them and who want a long-term career. This doesn't mean you need to mention you have an 18-part series you've written but do let them know you want to work with them for the long term. 5) Stop thinking about your book as "art" or as your "baby" and start thinking about it as product that needs to be sold. 6) Think about what makes you different and special. Think about the "so what?" factor. Assume they've heard it all before (and they probably have). Is there something about your day job that makes you unique to write this particular book? What about where you grew up or how you grew up? Are you a teacher? A single father? A part time publicist? What about you makes you special? 7) Close your letter with a simple brief statement such as: "If you would like to see a copy of my book please feel free to contact me." And then leave your phone number and email address. Keep these tips in mind when crafting your query letter and you'll be leaps and bounds above the rest. ____________________________________________________________ Jeff Rivera: Need help getting an agent? We'll help you craft the perfect query letter and send it to the right list of agents. We guarantee you will receive at least 10 reputable and legitimate literary agents requesting your work or your money back. Contact: gumbomarketing@gmail.com for more information.

GumboWriters Article: 10 Signs of a Bad Query Letter

There are a few things I've learned from helping so many authors get agents, and I have developed what I like to call the "10 Deadly Sins." Commit any of these sins in your query letter and you can kiss your shot at getting an agent goodbye. 1) Write a letter that's too long.-- Agents don't have time to read four-page query letters. You should be able to make your point in 1/2 page. If you can't grab them in 1/2 a page then some agents may think you won't be able to grab them in your manuscript either. 2) Come across cocky. -- There's a big difference between being comfortable in your own skin and masking your insecurities by dropping names or bragging about your accomplishments. There is nothing wrong with listing your relationships or your credentials if presented in a humble way. You want to always come across as easy to work with and cocky people are not attractive to a top agent. 3) Bad grammar and spell check. -- Grammar and spelling ain't my forte, as they say, but I do know this: although agents will forgive a few misspellings in a query letter, you should make it a point to double-check your letter and have an anal friend read through it to. A trick is to read the letter from the last sentence of your query letter to your first sentence in the letter aloud. It's amazing what you'll find. 4) Unprofessional format. -- You might be blown away with the amount of talented writers who do not know the basics of writing a professional letter. Starting out by saying "Hey, How are ya'?" isn't going to cut it. 5) Don't get to the point. -- You need to immediately answer the following questions: 1)Who are you? 2) What do you want? 3) And what does this have to do with me (the agent)? Put yourself in the agent's shoes and show them realistically that you and your book are salable. 6) Write a long-winded synopsis. -- You really need to be able to pique your agent's attention immediately. They run across thousands of query letters a month so grabbing their attention from the very beginning is pertinent. You should be able to boil your story down to 2-3 sentences that sell the sizzle, not the steak. 7) Don't outline who your target audience is. -- You should know exactly who your consumer is. What age group are they? Are they male or female? Professionals or working class? What language do you speak? Because if your answer is "everyone is my target audience" then that's just not going to cut it with a top agent. 8) Have no clue what your genre is. -- As a professional, you should know the up-to-date terminolgy for your genre. Do you write techno-thrillers or do you write mystery? Do you write women's contemporary fiction or do you write chick lit? Are the terms you're using out of date? Find out by reading trade publications. 9) Have no decision on what direction you want to go with your career. -- You should have a clear idea where you want to go with your writing. Do you want to write romance? Do you want to write non-fiction then move into young adult? What do you want to do with your career because if you don't know your agent is not going to figure it out for you. Be open to change, and you may very well change your mind as you progress with your career but have a clear idea what direction you want to go from the beginning. 10) Have no personality in your writing that reflects the style of your writing. -- If your book is humorous your query letter should be a little fun and witty too. Agents get a real reflection on who you are through your writing and first-impressions are important, sometimes that is all you have. If your story is a thriller and gripping, your query letter should be too. If your book is touching then get to the real heart of the matter by making the agent feel even with the query letter. ____________________________________________________________ Jeff Rivera: Need help getting an agent? We'll help you craft the perfect query letter and send it to the right list of agents. We guarantee you will receive at least 10 reputable and legitimate literary agents requesting your work or your money back. Contact: gumbomarketing@gmail.com for more information.

GumboWriters Successful Query Letter Sample #5

Dear Janet: I was clear at that moment that my mother, was going to kill me. Gasping for air, I tried to loosen the cord to no avail. The gushing blood from my head wound and the incessant throbbing created waves of nausea. Such is the life of Miguel and countless other young people I've worked with. Bob, my name is Professor Samantha Willing, I am a Columbia University grad with an M.A. in Special Education. I have 35 years of experience in Neuropsychology, counseling and coaching. My book, SUCCESSFUL KIDS chronicles 7 heartbreaking stories of amazing young people. These stories are inspired by true accounts of children whom I've had the honor and privilege to counsel. They are survivors of drug addiction, multiple personalities, abuse, physical challenges, and crimes words cannot describe but they all have one special thing in common: Gifts, some are clairvoyant, some are empaths, yet others have the gift of telekinesis. I have fictionalized parts of the accounts in order to protect their identities. Part Paulo Coelho, part Chicken Soup for the Soul with a dash of S.E. Hinton, all of the stories are based on real people. I successfully independently published an educational book called, Three Mean Alligators, which quickly sold nearly 3000 copies in 6-months without a distributor. And because of that experience, I have built strong alliances throughout Florida and across the nation that are poised to include POWERFUL PEOPLE: POWERFUL LIVES as part of the school curriculum and the school library system. In fact, I have developed a lecture seminar series to take on the road. If you would like to read a copy of PSUCCESSFUL KIDS, please contact me. Best Regards, Professor Samantha Willing ____________________________________________________________ Jeff Rivera: Need help getting an agent? We'll help you craft the perfect query letter and send it to the right list of agents. We guarantee you will receive at least 10 reputable and legitimate literary agents requesting your work or your money back. Contact: gumbomarketing@gmail.com for more information.