Why Your Query Letter Should Focus On Plot Not Theme

Monique Desir:

Gratitude!

Originally posted on Carly Watters, Literary Agent:

This is my number one gripe with queries: pitches that focus on theme and not plot.

It seems writers like to cover everything in a query letter, including how to make us feel.

Here’s why focusing on theme when you pitch is a bad idea:

1. You’re wasting valuable space that should be spent on facts not proposed emotions. Ultimately, the writer doesn’t truly know how the reader will feel after reading their work. So whe...