Tag: Query Letters

Tips From the Slush Pile! When including comp titles, make sure they are actually a good comparison to your story. (Because that’s what “comps” mean.) For instance, if you have an adult Historical Fiction and both of your comp titles are solidly in the Middle Grade Fantasy section, then perhaps you should find something closer […]

Tips from the Slush Pile: Your query letter should feature your book. I know, I know. This should go without saying. I want to know about your Hero, the Goal, the Obstacles, and the Stakes. I’d also like to see the genre and word count (even if it’s an estimate). What I don’t need is […]

Items listed in your bio should be your publishing credits or relevant to the story itself. I’ve said before to not ramble on and on, listing all your cats or your woes from childhood–UNLESS you wrote a book about cats or miserable childhoods. Today, I got a query where the only thing listed in the […]

Tips from the Slush Pile: Please do not open your query letter by telling me your age. Seriously. I don’t need to know your age at all, unless your book is specifically about or for people your age, and in that case, you can tell me that toward the end, in the bio section. Photo […]