PITCH ME IF YOU CAN

Queries arrive by the moment at our agency. Not literally—most of the time—but it often seems that way. I thought I would take the time to point out a few querying pointers here.

First, please don’t send more than one query at a time. Sometimes a potential client fires off three or four or even five separate queries all at the same time, which actually hurts their chances since it tends to muddy the waters. Please just send a single query for a single project until you’ve heard back from us. If we decline, then sure, query again on a next book. But blanketing us with multiple queries at one time really isn’t in your best interests.

What goes in the query? Two strong paragraphs about the project, then a final paragraph about you as a writer. List any awards or nominations or publication achievements. But only after you’ve hooked me on the book itself. EDITED TO ADD: as Ellen Fisher mentioned in the comments, I think it's a great idea if prospective clients who are published note that fact in the opening sentence, also naming the publisher(s). Same goes if you've won a major award such as the Golden Heart.

Study up and be sure we handle what you’re pitching. I still contend that the number one reason we decline to review most material is because it falls outside our area of expertise. Why experience rejection if you don’t need to do so?

Other questions on queries? Post them on this blog thread.