end of the year special
from your favorite writing coach huckster
When last we visited, I invited you to partake in the prompts laid out in my Post-NANO Advent Calendar. Today’s invitation on that calendar is to draft a query letter. I’m gonna go a bit rogue here, and suggest that, writing and rewriting your query letter (along with your synopsis) is a useful tool DURING the drafting process. A way to home in on the treasure that will eventually be your completed full-length manuscript.
Think of your query letter as a dynamic representation of your WIP. An ever-changing blueprint-slash-pitch for the project that kicks and screams in your head and hard drive.
The trick is: keep it short (400 words max); focus on plot-not-theme; accentuate what’s at stake for your character(s); and offer the boilerplate line items (word count, comps, genre, category). Begin with a specific salutation and conclude with a brief bio and respectful call-to-action/signature (as in, Thank you for your time, I would love to send the complete manuscript your way. Very truly yours, Writer X + contact info).
Here comes the huckster part. (Nope, not NFTs of Suzy Vitello Super Hero cards, sorry.) As January often kicks off query season, I’m offering a “get ahead of the game” service if you book before the end of the year! If you want to book a slot, respond to this e-mail newsletter with the subject line: QUERY DEAL, and for $107, I will review and critique a word document of your query letter and first ten pages of your manuscript.
And if you are a paid subscriber, the deal is even sweeter: