The hook, the setup, the conflict, and the consequence are the four parts of the query letter. I believe you can write a killer query using those elements.
I studied my query and decided it could be better. Since the query letter is the gateway to getting your manuscript read, I wanted to have the shiniest gate I could.
This didn't just happen. I worked—hard. I broke my query letter down into the four parts and worked on them individually. Then I studied the query letters of others. I printed out the query letters of authors who had landed agents. I emailed friends who I knew had received significant requests and begged them to let me see their queries. Then I sat down at the kitchen counter and spread the queries out on the counter. I started at the top, took notes, and wrote my query by hand. This didn't just "happen." I made it happen. You can too.
Besides the query blurb, you’ve got the outlying paragraphs: Bio, introduction, conclusion, and publishing credentials.
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From the Query to The Call
Non-FictionFROM THE QUERY TO THE CALL outlines what a query letter -- or cover copy -- is, why every author needs to master the art of describing their book in just a few words, and how to successfully navigate the querying process. Authors looking to query pu...
