Shannon Delany's Blog: Shannon Delany's Goodreads Blog - Posts Tagged "agent-query-letter"
Weekend Writing Warrior: Conquering the Agent Query Letter
It's Friday and, as I'm trying to be better about blogging, I wanted to share a quick resource for you, dear writers.
When I do my workshops or just sit down and chat with aspiring authors, one of the most confusing (and daunting) moments we all face is writing a query letter to land an agent.
Published authors frequently tell you that you need an agent--that you should want an agent. For many major publishing houses you do still need an agent (but there are lots of options out there that do not require such and I think the tide will continue to change with so much indie publishing).
FIRST: Make sure you REALLY know your story and can summarize it into an "elevator pitch" or "logline". Maybe you don't have it fully written--hopefully you do. And polished! It needs to be polished because if an agent asks to see the first 10, 50, 100 or--yes, even--the whole blessed thing--you need it to SHINE.
SECOND: Do your research. Know who you want as an agent (there are books available that you might be able to get through your local library that will give you gobs of useful literary agent info--check them out)! Look at books that are like yours (Oh, I know--yours isn't like any other book out there--you're an original. Yes, aren't we all!) and check their Acknowledgments because it's very possible they name their agent.
THIRD: Don't be cocky. Seriously.
FOURTH: Fulfill any expectations (follow directions!)the agent may have thanks to the research you've already done about them--be smart!
FIFTH: Before you press Send make sure you have no typos. Make sure your contact info is correct and readily available. And, please, please, address the agent you are courting appropriately--deals have gone no further because of agents being addressed by the wrong gender or by the wrong name entirely.
Now, if you're really ready to try and hook a literary agent, the following link will give you great information (and very specific links to examples) so you can start on the way to constructing a firm query.
Make sure you notice the things the queries have in common and always keep it simple, short and clear.
"Successful Query Letters for Literary Agents" through GalleyCat
Good luck out there, gang!
~Shannon
When I do my workshops or just sit down and chat with aspiring authors, one of the most confusing (and daunting) moments we all face is writing a query letter to land an agent.
Published authors frequently tell you that you need an agent--that you should want an agent. For many major publishing houses you do still need an agent (but there are lots of options out there that do not require such and I think the tide will continue to change with so much indie publishing).
FIRST: Make sure you REALLY know your story and can summarize it into an "elevator pitch" or "logline". Maybe you don't have it fully written--hopefully you do. And polished! It needs to be polished because if an agent asks to see the first 10, 50, 100 or--yes, even--the whole blessed thing--you need it to SHINE.
SECOND: Do your research. Know who you want as an agent (there are books available that you might be able to get through your local library that will give you gobs of useful literary agent info--check them out)! Look at books that are like yours (Oh, I know--yours isn't like any other book out there--you're an original. Yes, aren't we all!) and check their Acknowledgments because it's very possible they name their agent.
THIRD: Don't be cocky. Seriously.
FOURTH: Fulfill any expectations (follow directions!)the agent may have thanks to the research you've already done about them--be smart!
FIFTH: Before you press Send make sure you have no typos. Make sure your contact info is correct and readily available. And, please, please, address the agent you are courting appropriately--deals have gone no further because of agents being addressed by the wrong gender or by the wrong name entirely.
Now, if you're really ready to try and hook a literary agent, the following link will give you great information (and very specific links to examples) so you can start on the way to constructing a firm query.
Make sure you notice the things the queries have in common and always keep it simple, short and clear.
"Successful Query Letters for Literary Agents" through GalleyCat
Good luck out there, gang!
~Shannon
Shannon Delany's Goodreads Blog
A simple (and most likely infrequent) blog about Shannon Delany (c'est moi!) and the release of her (er--my) books including her (that's mine too...) 13 TO LIFE, SECRETS AND SHADOWS, BARGAINS AND BETR
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