Romance Writers & Readers discussion
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Query Help!!
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Mod
I honestly haven't a clue. Never wrote a query before haha! Hmm, I think it sounds very "professional" and serious, which I reckon you'd want in a query...? Yeah, not sure. Sorry I'm not more help XP
Hugs,
Ann
Same boat...never written a query. Sorry I can't help.
I totally meant to come back and comment on this several times and kept forgetting! Sorry!!Make sure you start by saying the title, word count, and genre.
You might then have a a one sentence tagline or hook, followed by a mini synopsis, or just go straight to the synopsis, which should be about a paragraph not more than two
Finally you should make sure you say that the entire manuscript is available should they wish to read it or sample chapters.
Thanks for the feedback. I do think I'm going to keep to the general format recommended by agents, but I appreciate the feedback on the verbiage itself, especially comp titles, which I totally forgot about!
Mod
(I am no query expert, but I have written a few, some have gotten me book deals.)It's too long! It sounds awesome, but it should be shorter. As someone else mentioned, start with info on your book. Usually an agent just wants to know word count and genre. (an agent friend says she skims for that and if it's not something she's actively looking for, she moves on.) Some agents want comp titles, others don't care. So, give or take on that.
The query part should be two paragraphs.
Then the final is your writing creds and thank you.
I do think it sounds fun, but it's just too wordy imho. Check out Query Shark as well, that's a good website.
Annie wrote: "Just wanted to say thanks to the lovelies who actually know what they're talking about haha! Love you ladies!!! x"Love you too! (though whether I know what I'm talking about is all up in the air.)
I agree with other comments. One thing you might start with is how you selected them. Agents like to feel special too. Mentioning some of the clients or their work or something that impressed you.There is a repeat of "the footage" in one line.
I think you have the basics down. I might tweak it just a hair to this:
The tabloids call her America’s princess. Throughout New York City, Larke Wright’s family is known for its wealth, honor, and philanthropy. Their reality show, The Wright Way, is on its fifth season, and her father, a state senator, is about to leverage that fame in his bid for the national senate. Larke is the show’s unofficial star. Her charity work is legendary. Her style is flawless. Unfortunately, her timing is poor.
Hugo Parker’s parents are Hollywood royalty. When he was a child star, it looked like he’d carry on the family tradition. But now he’s just a reformed addict trying to break back in--his reputation’s hard to shake. When he figures out that the girl he found falling-down drunk at a seedy Brooklyn club is proper, perfect Larke Wright, he gets an idea. She’ll pretend to be his girlfriend, or else he’ll leak the footage of her passing out in his arms.
Okay, some people might call his idea blackmail. But Hugo’s out of options. And hey, maybe innocent little Larke could stand to shake things up. But Larke isn’t quite the good girl Hugo expects--she just plays one on TV. And maybe Hugo’s not quite the bad boy he once was.
TABLOID ROYALTY is a stand-alone contemporary romance with series potential, complete at 75,000 words.
I am a high school creative writing teacher, and I also work as a freelance editor and beta reader for [redacted]. This is my fourth completed novel.
Thank you for your consideration.
Dear Agent,
The tabloids call her America’s princess.
Throughout New York City, Larke Wright’s family is known for its wealth, honor, and philanthropy. Their reality show, The Wright Way, is on its fifth season, and her father, a state senator, is about to leverage that fame in his bid for the national senate.
Larke is the show’s unofficial star. Her charity work is legendary. Her style is flawless.
Unfortunately, her timing is poor.
Hugo Parker’s parents are Hollywood royalty. When he was a child star, it looked like he’d carry on the family tradition. But now he’s just a reformed addict trying to break back in--his reputation’s hard to shake.
When he figures out that the girl he found falling-down drunk at a seedy Brooklyn club is proper, perfect Larke Wright, he gets an idea. She’ll pretend to be his girlfriend, or else he’ll leak the footage the footage of her passing out in his arms.
Okay, some people might call his idea blackmail. But Hugo’s out of options. And hey, maybe innocent little Larke could stand to shake things up.
But Larke isn’t quite the good girl Hugo expects--she just plays one on TV. And maybe Hugo’s not quite the bad boy he once was.
TABLOID ROYALTY is a stand-alone contemporary romance with series potential, complete at 75,000 words.
I am a high school creative writing teacher, and I also work as a freelance editor and beta reader for [redacted]. This is my fourth completed novel.
Thank you for your consideration.