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I know #querying is bad rn. BUT, I've also looked at several query letters recently... And please, please, please -- don't shoot yourself in the foot before an agent even gets to your pages. Follow the standard query format. Make it engaging.
A 🧵 for the #WritingCommunity ...
A 🧵 for the #WritingCommunity ...
1/7 Include your meta data! At the top or at the bottom! (I prefer top, so the agent knows what to expect, right away.) It should have your title, (CORRECT) genre, age group, word count and comps. The comps should be recent, recognizable and multiple. Better yet, get specific...
2/7 ...About why you're using the comps you are. Don't just say "My book is similar to The Night Circus." Tell us that you have a cast of strong female characters like in Comp 1, a tantalizing mystery like Comp 2, and a sexy love story like Comp 3.
Dropping in with some #querying stats! After reopening my query inbox on 3/1, I received nearly 1100 queries in March 2022. Which is significantly more than normal (I usually average ~400 queries a month). So, just a heads up, it may take me some time to get back to everyone.
I don't read queries chronologically, but by genre (I've found that much easier), so I'm working my way through in batches. Far and away, the genre with the most queries was YA Fantasy (230), followed by Adult Fantasy (155).
I haven't made any requests yet (I still have full MSs that I need to respond to), but have marked the queries I want to revisit as a "maybe." I'm trying to be strategic, keeping in mind where I want to grow and develop, as well as realistic about what I'm able to take on.
