Who else is struggling with query letters? Come on, raise your hands. Don’t be shy.
I have written query letters for awhile now. I have even put them into the bodies of emails, clicked “send”, and whisked them into cyber space. I have stuffed them into envelopes, licked the nasty glue-like seal, put a stamp on, and slipped them into the depths of a postal box. So why the apprehension now?
I am no stranger to rejection. In fact, I have developed a pretty hard shell. The problem is not the rejections themselves. It is that with each one, I run closer to depleting the list of agents and publishers to query. Sure, I’ve had a nibble here and there. I even had a request for a full at one point. But my novels (and my memoir) still remain unagented and unpublished.
So suddenly my queries are not good enough. I write them. I rewrite them. I agonize over them. Are they too long? Too short? Too…something. Or maybe they’re not enough of something.
From the agent blogs and published books I have read, there really is no set formula on writing the perfect query letter. But now mine has to be perfect all of a sudden. It has to appeal to every agent’s whim and desire—even though that is totally impossible.
So, I ask, does anyone else struggle with this same sense of inadequacy when it comes to fashioning the ultimate query letter? And—if so—how do you work through it. (Hint: giving up is not an option).
My queries (well, the one query I've attempted) are god-awful. Too blah and I can't seem to stop adding in details that don't need to be there. I hear you!
ReplyDeleteOh- and Willow came in the mail on Saturday. I'm so excited to read it! Thanks again :)
Haha! I am...I will probably send some when i am done with blogger. And I just did short post series about queries: )
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's nearly impossible to appeal to every agent. For the same reason that not every book will appeal to every reader, you know?
ReplyDeleteI've gotten a lot of query critiques (from both authors and agents) by participating in contests. it's been super helpful but also VERY confusing. What one agent thinks is great, another will say they don't like at all. Grrrr.....
If you're interested, I took C.J. Redwine's query workshop and it was very, very helpful. I blogged about it during Day "W" of the A to Z Challenge.
Oh yes! Almost every writer suffers over this one. Once I started getting requests, I jumped out and down, cheering, knowing I'd finally written something that was sparking some interest. Nathan Bransford has written some amazing helps on the query. Some that are practically 'fill in the blanks' for almost any novel. Good luck in your quest! I'll be sure to watch for updates! :)
ReplyDeleteQueries are hateful but necessary things. I'm querying my second book now, and I still don't know the magic key that opens the door. Honestly, I think it's getting harder and harder, just because the business is taking it on the nose right now. But I am getting requests - so I figure that's the only job of the query. After that, the book has to close the deal.
ReplyDeletep.s. I'd be happy to crit your query if you need some help! :)
I know exactly how you feel. I definitely need to revamp my query letter as the ones I sent out last month didn't do the job at all. Sigh. One of these days, we'll get it right.
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