Query Letters
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.
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.
3 Ways to Find Your Book's Unique Selling Proposition
Agents have to consider where your work fits in a crowded marketplace. By including your book's unique selling proposition in your query letter, you’re making their job easier— and what stands out about your manuscript even more evident.
5 Steps to Nailing Your Query Letter, from Literary Agent Britt Siess
Literary agent Britt Siess shares a few tips that can make the process of writing a great query letter a bit less scary and more productive.
What Is (and Isn't) High Concept Fiction, and How Do You Pitch It?
Pitching high concept fiction can be the key to skyrocketing to the top of agents' slush piles, but what is it, and how do you go about framing your story as high concept?
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.
Funny You Should Ask: What are the best times to query a literary agent?
Funny You Should Ask is a humorous and handy column by literary agent Barbara Poelle. In this edition, she answers a reader's question about the best times to query a literary agent.
7 Query Letter Strategies That Don't Work (But Many Writers Try)
Hand over the glitter, the construction paper and the creative half of your brain, and let’s talk about seven common query letter strategies that are terrible, no good, very bad ideas, so you can learn from those who’ve made these mistakes.
Debut Author Interview: Ashley Woodfolk and 'The Beauty That Remains'
Ashley Woodfolk is the debut author of the new book The Beauty That Remains. Here, she talks about what inspired the book, what's selling in today's book market, writing about grief, and crafting strong beginnings.
Successful Queries: Anna Quinn & "The Night Child"
This article is part of a series called Successful Queries. It features actual query letter examples to literary agents that were successful for authors. Today’s features Anna Quinn and her agent Gordon Warnock (Fuse Literary).
Which Sample Chapters Should You Send to Agents?
When agents ask for sample chapters, which chapters should you include? If your strongest chapters fall in the middle, is it OK if I send those? The answer is different for fiction and nonfiction.
How Many Sample Chapters Are Necessary?
When submitting your work to an agent for consideration, how many sample chapters should you include in your proposal? Writer's Digest online editor Brian A. Klems explains.