The Top Things Sinking Your Query Letter

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Literary Agents Jessica and James formulated a list of the top things that might be sinking your query letter. We hope this proves a helpful checklist as you write and revise your query!
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Jessica Faust’s love for books is what first brought her to open BookEnds Literary Agency. It is her desire to be an advocate for all authors that pushed her to create her blog, the BookEnds RU-vid channel and to maintain a vibrant presence on Twitter.
Jessica is proud to have grown BookEnds to an agency that represents authors of all genres for children and adults, allowing her to reach more readers and help more authors and illustrators achieve their dreams.
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Since interning at BookEnds as an undergrad in the summer of 2015, James has (basically) never left. He's just continuously level-up-ed inside of BookEnds. Now he is the Literary Assistant and Social Media Manager for the team. He’s been a reader since his mom gave him the first A Series of Unfortunate Events book and ordered the sequels regularly through Scholastic book orders.
James is currently growing his own list and is actively seeking submissions in adult literary and upmarket fiction, mystery, thrillers, and suspense. He is also actively building his picture book list.
Connect with BookEnds!
Twitter: bookendslit
Instagram: bookends_literary
Website: www.bookendsliterary.com
Connect with Jessica: bookendsjessica
Connect with James: jmcgowanbks

Опубликовано:

27 окт 2020

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Комментарии : 68

@KC-fl2ft 2 года назад

Jessica and James are a perfect pair! I enjoy and appreciate BookEnds for taking the time to make these videos. I am thankful each time I watch!

@darlachristie7780 3 года назад

The hook, the book, the cook! I will never forget structure again....Love!

@JDMcFarren 3 года назад

It would be helpful to actually cite specific query letters you received that worked. Alexa Donne posted a query letter video with specific examples that got writers an agent. Everyone should check that video out.

@BookEndsLiterary 3 года назад

Thanks for this recommendation!

@TheMusicscotty 3 года назад

^yes please!

@pbllomas 3 года назад

@@BookEndsLiterary I don't know if you'd be ok with this, but it'd be interesting and useful to see you analyse the queries you got from an author you ended up signing with.

@BookEndsLiterary 3 года назад

We have done a series of blog posts "how I pitched" that show the pitch letters we used to sell a client. Often much of the letter comes from the author's own query. www.bookendsliterary.com

@johnlevins8973 3 года назад

Thanks for the great tip!

@christiblue 2 года назад

I could watch you both all night, you make me happy!

@chellysbooks8248 3 года назад

This video was very helpful. Remembering that a book's goal (especially in fiction vs nonfiction) is primarily to "entertain" not necessarily "teach" although teaching is a byproduct. I write picture books and they always have subtle lessons, but this was a great reminder not to forget what your hook is and how to engage your reader and show them the entertaining aspects of your manuscript in the query. The Jurassic Park comparison was brilliant.

@inuzuki8605 2 года назад

I have been binge watching your query videos in preparation for my query journey coming up soon. I can’t tell you how helpful you both have been! Thank you for all the angles! I need them!

@BookEndsLiterary 2 года назад

Good luck 🍀 and thanks for watching!

@inuzuki8605 2 года назад

@@BookEndsLiterary Thanks and no problem! 😊

@karenl.hallam1306 3 года назад

I love remembering that we're in the entertainment business! Thanks for the video.

@TheMusicscotty 3 года назад

Love it. I'm finishing my second novel and looking into the business side of this. I watch all of Sanderson's videos and never miss your stuff. Thank you!!

@mariaoglesby4003 3 года назад

Great tips! Your videos are always so helpful and informative

@michaellayne-vw4jp 7 месяцев назад

This was very helpful.

@mistyspencer2553 2 года назад

Thank you for all your videos. They truly help, and I mean this humbly. My query sounds so much better, after taking your advice. ((Hugs to you, both))

@colleenheitmann6686 2 года назад

I really have appreciated all of the query insight! Thanks!!!

@barbaralockard2819 3 года назад

Thank you for your welcoming, informative website. It is one of the best I have found, and I appreciate the time and effort you spent to help writers become more knowledgeable and potentially successful.

@KierstenMarcil 3 года назад

As if to prove your point! - I hadn't really thought about the query as needing to demonstrate the action of the book. Got the characters' driving conflict/motivation and the setting, but somehow never looked at it from the action side. Totally a different angle. It made me open up my draft query letter to review for that (Historical Fantasy). Thankfully, still good to go! Thanks for this latest video. It was a great addition!

@KarlMokross 3 года назад

I find these videos very informative. Thank you guys for doing this. Any chances of doing an episode on Graphic Novels? There seem to be so many different rules for querying, such as word vs. page count, the need of a finished script vs. finished artwork, and especially, if it is better to send it only to agents who specify this format in their interests. I would very much like to hear your takes on this.

@KathrynFaye007 3 года назад

I love this especially since I'm diving back into the query trenches after an amicable separation from my agent and a change into the MG genre lol. Thanks 😊

@eliasmcclellan7940 3 года назад

Buona fortuna, Ms. Faye.

@KathrynFaye007 3 года назад

@@eliasmcclellan7940 Grazie!

@KarmaSpaz12 3 года назад

There are plenty of authors who write long novels and get them through the door, big triple book deals or series that never seem to end. I would like to think that no matter the length someone might at least have a look at the writing. If my book has something to say then that is up the the reader to decide if it does but if the premise is not enough because nothing is truly unique then nobody will read it in the first place. Sending the query off to people, and whether it is because of length or maybe it is too similar to what they already represent I don't know, only that "it wasn't for me" which can mean anything seems to be the common response just behind not responding at all.

@MerlinGal 3 года назад

In my head, I'm hearing The Beatles, "Dear Sir or Madam will you read my book? It took me years to write -- will you take a look?" I think of writing as building a theme park ride. The enjoyment has to be worth the cost of the ticket to ride. Another Beatles reference.

@passive.aggressive 3 года назад

I love your videos. I'm currently in my final year at SNHU (Creative Writing) and your videos help me with my assignments. Of course I get A's.

@BookEndsLiterary 3 года назад

This is my favorite comment ever. Congrats on nearly finishing!

@Ruthie888 3 года назад

The hook, the book, the cook. I want more.

@jaredtrent8114 2 года назад

you all probably dont give a shit but does someone know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account? I somehow forgot the password. I love any tips you can give me.

@ezrajoe5413 2 года назад

@Jared Trent instablaster ;)

@jaredtrent8114 2 года назад

@Ezra Joe Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and I'm trying it out atm. Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will reply here later with my results.

@shelleestories 3 года назад

I’ve seen a few agents (on Twitter) say they’ve placed query submissions on their “maybe” list. Can you please explain what this means for querying authors? How long do you stay a maybe?

@ArinKambitsis 2 года назад

A guy told me that he sent out over fifty queries with a program that shows which are read and which aren’t. He said 100% of his queries were left unopened, never even read.

@KathrynFaye007 3 года назад

I have a question, what advice can you give to an author who wants to query an agency but every agent who reps MG in that agency is closed to queries? Do I just watch that agency or move on?

@RadioactiveWeka 3 года назад

What's it like for writers from other countries trying to break into America? (For their first novel)

@carrieprime 3 года назад

Thank you for putting these super-helpful videos out! In QueryManager, there's often a space for the query letter and a space for author bio. Would you still include the "cook" portion of your query letter in this case? Or just put it in the bio section so you're not being redundant? Many thanks!

@BookEndsLiterary 3 года назад

yes you can still include

@carrieprime 3 года назад

@@BookEndsLiterary Thanks for the response!

@h.a.s.7336 3 года назад

If an agent is interested in your children's book and they ask if you have other manuscripts to send, do you need to have query blurbs for each manuscript as well? Or is it okay to send the scripts without query blurb descriptions?

@WolfyAteUrSocks 3 года назад

Lol, so not too general, not too specific. Aim for that perfect middle ground of informative yet brief and enticing. As always, thanks for your advice!

@BookEndsLiterary 3 года назад

When you put it that way...

@WolfyAteUrSocks 3 года назад

@@BookEndsLiterary Oops, I just realized that may have come off as sarcastic... I really did find this video to be quite helpful.

@BookEndsLiterary 3 года назад

@@WolfyAteUrSocks Not at all!

@ann.glimmer 2 месяца назад

What are the two words Jessica says at 6.24? Sounds like "Boxen Blonde"? (I have absolutely no clue!) 😅

@TunezCottage 3 года назад

I'm wondering about writing a query for crime fiction. The interesting thing about those novels is usually in the weaving of characters and the crime which makes it really hard for me to know how to start the blurb. Would an agent drop a query if the first line in the blurb doesn't immediately catch their attention?

@BookEndsLiterary 3 года назад

We don't think so. We'll typically read most if not all of the query, unless there is a glaring discrepancy (like not out genre)

@TunezCottage 3 года назад

@@BookEndsLiterary Appreciate the quick reply, have a blessed day to all of y'all over at BookEnds.

@BookEndsLiterary 3 года назад

@@TunezCottage Back at you.

@andymoore9892 3 года назад

Which is more important in a query, why people will pick up the book or what the book is about? For instance, I'm not a fan of avocado toast but there's a market for it. If I work on commission, it would be silly to turn down an avocado toast baker because I don't personally like it, even if there's a market for it. And I feel like some agents base what the rep on their own personal taste instead of what will sell (for instance Harry Potter and one agent saying she doesn't like magic). The market is always changing and it puts writers at a disadvantage when people say don't write for the market but KNOW the market. As a writer querying, I don't want to make any long-winded query letters so which should I concentrate on: the pitch or the blurb?

@TunezCottage 3 года назад

Hey BookEnds, sorry to bother again but I have a question about explicit language. Would you inform the agent about it in advance during the query process or do you just send in the manuscript and let them find out through reading. Let's say hypothetically that my script is very contemporary and deals with racial divide. There's a lot of violent language etc. Is that something you would include and, if so, how would you advise one does so?

@newzealandcolorado835 3 года назад

In the query letter, shouldn't the first sentence be about why we chose to submit to this agent and something about how the agent is the right one for us, or do you not need that at all?

@jimmychurch9588 3 года назад

I recently finished the first draft of my first novel. I’m currently looking into how to go about getting a reputable agent. My biggest fear is getting an agent who is going to take advantage of my ignorance of the industry and sell me down the river. Does anyone know a good way to find out if a specific agent is reputable?

@chelseacoakley1302 3 года назад

QueryTracker is very useful in finding an agent. If you find one that you think is a good fit, research them on Absolute Write. They usually have a little more information on agents.

@christinacascadilla4473 3 года назад

If you have published 5 books with Viking, wouldn’t you already have an agent?

@saraeissa4954 Год назад

Do we send sample chapters in the initial query letter?

@saraeissa4954 Год назад

Why is 200k words an immediate rejection when the high fantasy genre frequently has novels at that length? My word count is 185k

@saraeissa4954 Год назад

Thank you for making these videos!

@BookEndsLiterary Год назад

Hi! Most agents will request a query letter and sample pages. The agent will usually tell you how many pages or chapters they want to see. :) Per your question about word count, many of the books you see with large word counts are by fairly established authors. These days, it's pretty difficult to ask a reader to make a commitment to reading (or buying) such a large book by an author they've never read from before (especially as the prices of books are going up!). And for an agent, it draws to question whether the author has had the book critiqued/betaed and if they're willing to make or have attempted to make edits to make it more concise and snappy, or if the story will include a lot of filler or tangents from the main plot. Of course, what you can get away with is genre specific-there are some people who might be willing to take on 150k+ fantasy, but if a romance came in that was so long, it makes it seem like the author does not quite understand the market they are working towards. Hope this helps!

@vivianwakoff 3 года назад

I get having problems with the pitch. Heck, I still have a hard time with them. I even understand people who put unnecessary stuff on their bio. But why be mean to someone you're hoping to work with? Or creepy? I just can't wrap my head around that!

@BookEndsLiterary 3 года назад

THIS

@maurinet2291 3 года назад

Okay, having done this back a loooong time ago (and hopefully those agents have forgotten completely...or left the field) You get in the headspace of, "all queries are so formulaic, I'm supposed to be creative, so how can I make mine stand out?" Not fully realizing that the structure of queries is a place to demonstrate your professionalism. Also, my book wasn't close to ready. I had no idea what I was doing. So I think I knew on some level that it wasn't going to get the green light, and got really defensive about it. Hoping someone would prove me wrong, of course.

@MerlinGal 3 года назад

Btw, "BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!" "Buxom blondes..."

@Dreadfire 3 года назад

200,000 words is an instant rejection even for an adult epic fantasy? For that genre, I feel like 200,000 is too short.

@saturnn77 3 года назад

I have Queryphobia! Agents/Publishers are as diverse as beta-readers... Everyone is hoping to get something different for a different reason, and what works for one, doesn't necessarily work for another.

@KierstenMarcil 3 года назад

From what the published authors in my circle have taught me - expect & accept that there will be lots of agents who say No but keep working towards the Yes. If you don't try, you automatically have a No. You can do it!