Write My Query
6 Steps to Getting Your Query Letter Out of the Slush Pile
From how long it should be to how long publishers spend reading it, author Aileen Weintraub shares six steps to getting your query letter out of the slush pile.
13 Things You Should Not Say to an Agent or Editor in a Pitch or Query Letter
Often, we're so focused on what to put in a pitch or query that we don't focus on what you should not say to a literary agent or editor. Here are 13 things that writers should avoid in their pitches and queries.
6 Secrets for Freelance Writers to Craft Better Pitches
Editor Robert Lee Brewer shares six secrets for freelance writers to craft better pitches, inspired by a recent experience critiquing query letters from aspiring freelancers and finding some common trouble areas to avoid.
Do I Pitch Different to Agents vs. Editors?
Every so often writers ask if they should pitch different to agents vs. editors. This post answers that question and provides some extra help on how to successfully pitch both.
What Is the Hook, the Book, and the Cook Query Pitching Technique for Writers?
Find out what "the hook, the book, and the cook" are in relation to writing query letters and pitching books to literary agents and book editors. This post answers the question of what each one is and how to successfully assemble the pieces.
60 Examples of Hooks for Books
This post collects 60 examples of hooks for books. Also called elevator pitches, these book hooks show real-life examples in a variety of writing genres for fiction and nonfiction books.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Correcting Submissions Before You Hear Back
The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so this series helps identify them for other writers (along with correction strategies). This week's mistake is trying to correct errors in your submission before hearing back.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Hiding the Pitch or Selling Point of Your Writing
The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them for other writers (along with correction strategies). This week's writing mistake is hiding the pitch or selling point of your writing.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Trying to Write for Everyone
The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them for other writers (along with correction strategies). This week's writing mistake writers make is trying to write for everyone.
9 Tips on Writing Query Letters to Publishers and Literary Agents
In this post, find 9 tips on writing query letters to publishers and literary agents from publishing professionals that will improve your chances of publishing success.
Can Writers Query Multiple Agents at Once?
Can you query multiple agents at once? Do the query letters need to be personalized? Does it make sense to pitch one literary agent at a time?
Psst: Novelists – Steal These Screenwriting Secrets! Part 3 Query Letters
In part 3 of "steal these screenwriting secrets," we delve into marketing and query letters. In other words, these are screenwriting secrets to steal after you write and specifically related to crafting killer query letters.
How to Write Successful Queries for Any Genre of Writing
Learn how to write successful queries for any genre of writing. In this post, we look at what elements go into a query letter and 39 real examples of query letters that have worked for writers with commentary from their agents.
Thinking Outside the Books: Write Your Query Letter First
If you’re feeling frustrated by the querying process, Scott Wilson suggests writing your query BEFORE writing your book.
When Personal Isn’t Good Enough: Just Keep The Rejection Letters Coming
Rachel Howzell Hall writes about how she coped with rejection while battling cancer—and ultimately found a publisher for her critically acclaimed Detective Elouise Norton series.
Taming the Synopsis: 4 Steps for Perfecting One-Page and Long-Form Synopses
When approached one step at a time, the dreaded synopsis can become a trusted companion on your publishing journey. Ammi-Joan Paquette explains how to write a synopsis for any novel.
How to Sell an Essay or Article: 21 Tips for Writing a Winning Cover Letter
Wondering how to sell an essay? Writing a cover letter that's short and perfect to introduce your pages will sell a piece faster than submitting an excellent article or essay with an uninspired note.
Pitching Articles: 5 Tips for a Successful Freelance Writing Pitch
If you want to make a living writing for your favorite publications, you need to perfect your freelance writing pitch. Here are a few things to keep in mind when pitching articles for magazines, newspapers and the web.
Successful Query: Jennieke Cohen & Agent Jennifer Unter
Debut author Jennieke Cohen shares the query letter for Dangerous Alliance that landed her an agent. Jennifer Unter shares her commentary on the query letter.
Magazine Query Letter: What Should You Include
When writing a magazine query letter how much info should you include about your idea (and what else should you include)? Here's the scoop.
Freelance Writing: How to Track Magazine Query Letters (& Follow Ups)
For a freelance writer who doesn’t have a query tracking system—or has the organizational skills of a bowling ball, like me—here is a simple spreadsheet to help you keep track.
How Long Until You Can Follow Up on Magazine Query Letters?
Here's what you need to know when considering how long to wait before following up with a magazine editor.
Successful Query: Agent Adriann Ranta and "Sad Perfect"
The 76th installment in this series is with agent Adriann Ranta (Foundry Literary) for Stephanie Elliot's young adult novel Sad Perfect (Feb. 2017, Margaret Ferguson).
How to Query an Agent When Writing a Trilogy (or Series)
When you are writing a book series and you're ready to query an agent, do you just pitch the first book or do you pitch the whole series? We have the answer here.