Here is my biography, synopsis, and the first chapter of my story. If you’re interested in helping me to get it published, email me back, and I’ll send you the rest. Thank you.
The query itself should include a brief summary of the story and information about the author. The author did not give his/her name. This writer did not take time to write a professional query; therefore, I will not reply. Attachments and additional information are not accepted as clearly detailed on the agency website as well as in various online and print market guides.
In addition to the bad points above, there are a number of death signs in queries. A few include:
- To Whom It May Concern:
- Dear Sir:
- No name at all
- I will make you tons of money …
- The next best-seller
- My mom really likes this story.
- All my friends have read it and say that I should get it published.
- I know I’m not a good writer, but …
- Award-Winning …
Beginning a query with a generic title is a turn off, as is putting no name. I take this as a sign of laziness. If a writer cannot take time to write a professional query, why should I spend my time trying to decipher his or her intentions?
Agents love making money from their client’s work. That’s what we do. Confidence is a good trait. However, over-confidence is often a sign of arrogance, inexperience, or the chance this writer is going to be stubborn.
Stubborn writers are not open to change. Change means edits, revisions, meeting requests for additional information or material, and patience.
“The next best-seller …” Well, that would be awesome, wouldn’t it? However, when you look at the number of manuscripts send out across the nation every year and the number of manuscripts accepted compared to the number of titles that make bell-selling status, the chances of you holding that “next best-seller” is quite slim.
“My mom really likes this story …” Of course she does. She’s your mom. So does Aunt Martha and Uncle Billy. Cousin Lucy will buy twenty copies and your brother will tell all his co-workers, who will buy multiple copies, too. That is, if you sell it.
