You know that hyper-blurbing copy they stick on dust jackets for books? I try not to read it--it spoils the surprise and puts all sorts of weird ideas about the story in your head.
Unfortunately, when your novel is finished, you need to write an agent query letter that uses that same hyper-blurbing style.
For better or for worse, this has spawned an entire industry of agent query writing books, webpages and sample sites--plenty of companies would love to sell you a false sense of security about your pitch letter.
Next week, journalist Kate Torgovnick will be our special guest, talking about how she pitched her new book on the crazy world of championship cheerleading, Cheer!
In the meantime, check out the frank, simple and free advice at AgentQuery. If you have a favorite site, add it in the comments section. Check it out:
"A query letter has three concise paragraphs: the hook, the mini-synopsis, and your writer’s biography. Don’t stray from this format. You won’t catch an agent’s attention by inventing a creative new query format. You’ll just alienate your chances of being taken seriously as a professional writer."
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