1. Query Letters The Way to Get Noticed and Your Book Published

2. Why Bother?  Agents take queries very seriously and really do read them  Agents actually respond to ones that spark their interest  Agents take queries very seriously and really do read them  Agents actually respond to ones that spark their interest

3. What is it?  A single page cover letter, introducing you and your book  Has three paragraphs: Hook, Synopsis, Bio  A single page cover letter, introducing you and your book  Has three paragraphs: Hook, Synopsis, Bio

4. The Heading  Your Name (Maybe a picture of your book)  Your Address / Your Number / Your Email  The Date  Your Name (Maybe a picture of your book)  Your Address / Your Number / Your Email  The Date  The Attention:  Name of Agent  Position in Company  Company Name  Address  Dear ________:

5. The Hook  One sentence introduction to your book  Should include:  Title  Word-count  Genre  One sentence introduction to your book  Should include:  Title  Word-count  Genre  Examples:  House of Sand and Fog: When Massoud Amir Behrani, a former colonel in the Iranian military, sinks his remaining funds into a house he buys at auction, he unwittingly puts himself and his family on a trajectory to disaster; the house once belonged to Kathy Nicolo, a self- destructive alcoholic, who engages in legal, then personal confrontation to get it back.  The Da Vinci Code: A murder in the silent after-hour halls of the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Christ.

6. The Mini-Synopsis  One paragraph summary of your book  You can refer to:  Book flaps in your favorite books  Blurbs on the back of books  Your own blurb

7. The Bio  All about you!  Only information about writing career.  Agents don’t care where you work  All about you!  Only information about writing career.  Agents don’t care where you work  Awards  Publications  Degrees  Current writings

8. Closing  Thank the agent for their time and consideration.  Nonfiction: tell them that you’ve included an outline, table of contents, and sample chapters for their review.  Fiction: alert the agent that the full manuscript is available upon request.  Don’t query agents until you’ve finished your full fiction manuscript.  Agents will want to read the whole novel before they offer representation to you and your book.  Thank the agent for their time and consideration.  Nonfiction: tell them that you’ve included an outline, table of contents, and sample chapters for their review.  Fiction: alert the agent that the full manuscript is available upon request.  Don’t query agents until you’ve finished your full fiction manuscript.  Agents will want to read the whole novel before they offer representation to you and your book.  Be sure to include a SASE with your letter

9. Do’s and Don’ts DO  Address specifically to an agent  State the title of your book  Mention word-count and genre  Mention why you came to that particular agent: do RESEARCH  The style should match the book’s tone  Keep the letter to ONE PAGE  Format snail-mail to business alignment and heading  Have someone proofread DON’T  Start by saying, "I am querying you because I found your name in 'such and such' writing guide or internet agent database“  Compare your book to other books  Send gifts or bribes  Use colored paper  Shrink your font  FedEx your query  Apologize for being a newbie writer  Include sample chapters  Forget to include your contact info and SASE

10. Useful Additions  Synopsis  No more than three pages  Summarizes your ENTIRE book  Describe events that happen to the main character, don’t include subplots  Synopsis  No more than three pages  Summarizes your ENTIRE book  Describe events that happen to the main character, don’t include subplots  Vitae  Relevant education (not high school)  Awards  Writing Experience  Publications  Organization memberships