- Contact Information: 10-22-10 Put your contact information, type of story (ie Children's Fantasy) and word count at the bottom of the page. Start the querry letter with Dear _______ and go right into the story description.
- Length: 10-22-10 One page sould contain everything. That means the description will be less than 250 words (230 would be better) AND YES, YOU CAN DO IT! Trust me. See my query letter under PAGES. It's 226 words.
- Opening: 10-25-10 The first two sentences must have a captivating reason to keep reading (danger, action, decisions for the hero, or a surprising hook) - Stats (age, descriptions, location - unless it's a surprise) are not captivating. - Open with the main character(s) - First two sentences must be creative.
- Present Tense: 10-27-10 Write the query letter in present tense. It should look like it is happening right in front of your eyes right now.
- Point of View: 10-27-10 Your story is about the main character so stay with that character's POV. This also helps keep you from wandering from the main theme of the query letter - what happens to your hero. It's only 250. It's a snap.
- Sentence Structure: 10-29-10 Do the best you can with each sentence. Don't use lengthy sentences. The longest sentence in mine is 24 words. It was the wrap up at the end. Don't start with the word "As". Keep the use of commas to a minimum. Sometimes, commas indicate poor sentence structure. If you have a comma, recheck your sentence. Make sure it's as simple as possible. Try to stay away from lists - get to the point. The total of your sentences will demonstrate the kind of writer you are. If an agents sees to much of something he/her doesn't like, they will believe it is in you book and your query will be rejected.
- Make it Match: 11-2-10 The body of the letter must be complete enough that the wrap up does not tell something new.
- The Original Twist: 11-24-10 Show that the book has a fresh original twist. (And make sure that it does) In the query letter, don't tell it! Show it! Don't tell us it's a lighthearted romp through adventure land, show us why and how.
- Don't Tell the Story: 11-24-10 Show the major parts of the story that make it real and fun to read but don't tell the story. Don't wrap up each part with nothing for the agent or editor to look forward to. Build their antipation but don't give them the payoff. Make them want ot read the story!
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