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Covers, Blurbs, 1st Line, Query
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Query for YA Contemporary
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Sounds like a romance, so you should probably add that to the description.Two main things: it's a little long at 175 words (the supposed sweet spot is 100-150). Also, it's good to break up larger paragraphs to draw the reader's eye.
Don't forget to leave room for personalization. One or two sentences is fine. The only point is to show you've done some research to believe the agent is a fit and are not just spamming.
Any kind of writing credits, or interesting personal background to put in a bio? No worries if not, but if so, you should consider it. While agents are going to make their decisions primarily about the blurb/synopsis/first few chapters, if they like that, they'll want to know something about yourself. Do you have a social media presence? I've read that the first thing they'll do if they're prepared to ask for your MS is to Google you.
Be sure to have an editor look over your query, you have at least one typo.
Good luck!
Thanks so much for the help, Keith. I'll try to make it a little shorter and break up the paragraphs.
I am seeking representation for my 78,000-word YA contemporary novel, “A Formative Foreign Exchange.”
After the sudden death of his first love, seventeen-year-old high school senior Theo Whittaker finds himself confused with how to continue high school. His grades plummet and he closes himself off from his friends. When Theo finally snaps and shatters his friend’s cheekbone, his parents put him into a German exchange program with his friend Sharon. The idea being that it will make him start being accountable. This means he will have to look after a seventeen-year-old German boy, Fritz, for the coming weeks, before reversing roles when he goes to Hamburg. They’re going to have to go to class together, hang out with friends together, sleep together, shower togeth—do almost everything together in the coming weeks.
When Theo meets his exchange partner, he doesn’t know what to think. Fritz is a gangly, taciturn, awkward and apathetic. However, Theo’s growing disdain for the exchange dissipates when he meets Vanessa, Sharon’s partner. She is gorgeous, kind, and all Theo can think about. Unfortunately, she’s all Fritz can think about too. He’s in love with her.