R. Lille·Do you recommend personalizing a query for each agent? If so, do you prefer to see this at the beginning or towards the end of the query?
- Valerie·
When you think of memorable queries you have received, what was it that made them stand out?
- Chelisa·
How do you make quiet contemporaries stick out amongst all the other queries? Is it harder for them to sell?
- Cynthia·
If I’m querying a YA fantasy and my only published work is a nonfiction science PB from 2011 (traditional publisher), should I still include it in my bio?(I no longer want to write that kind of book)
What if the genre you put in your query is a subgenre? What if the genre is unknown or very new like Gulf Fututism or Jungle Opera? Also what if they’re a genre-bending one?
- Taraya Grierson·
Would it be a faux pas to query an agent using comp titles they themselves have represented?
If you query to an agent who is open or not open to New Adult but prefer YA, could I query with an NA MS that has crossover appeal with YA?
- Pamela Brunskill·
What happens if you send queries to all the agents you know personally or have a solid reason why you’re querying them, but you get nice rejections so you need to move to agents you don’t know? Can you say, “I’m querying you because you represent X genre, and I think you might like Y?” because here’s not enough time to personalize each query at that point…
- Valerie·
You say to look for agents who have worked with projects similar to yours. But I have also heard of instances where agents reject a manuscript because it is too similar to something already on their list. Can you comment on that?
- Jacqueline·
How does the importance of having a good query compare to the importance of the quality of the synopsis and first few pages?
What if your book has competition but it’s from a different age category? For example what if an YA MS has competition from an MG or A book that’s similar?
- Jodi·
In a query, should I mention writing classes I’ve taken or small local writing contests I’ve won? Should I mention writing contests I’ve participated in but not won?
12 Comments
Leave your reply.