For a writer, writing a book is only part of the puzzle. The real struggle begins when you have to look for a publisher. Dealing with the complexities of publishing your book can be tricky, and you will need the help of an expert to do that.
A literary agent is one such person who can help you overcome the challenges surrounding the publishing of your book. However, to get the attention of the right literary agent, you will need a strong and compelling query letter. The following discussion will lay out the things that can help you craft a compelling query letter to gain the interest of any literary agent you want.
Include an Introduction
Your query letter has to start with an introduction. Your approach towards an introduction should be metered. You should avoid a long, drawn-up introduction for your query letter, which can lose the interest of the reader. For the introduction part of your query letter, you should talk a little bit about yourself and then move on to your book.
You should clearly state the genre of your book and talk about what your book relates to. Your intention should be to clearly mark the target audience for your book. Your attention to detail in the introduction has to be on point. You have to make sure that you do not make any off-putting mistakes in your introduction that can ruin your chances for success.
Start with a Strong Hook
Once you start talking about your book in your query letter, you should carefully structure your words to grab the attention of the reader. With the right mix of excitement and anticipation, you can make sure that the reader stays engaged. You can write a couple of samples to see which would fit in nicely with the rest of your query letter. You should also try to incorporate a dramatic question, or you can include a tense scene in your book to show the reader what is at stake.
Provide Details Strategically
Once you get in a flow, you should start strategically giving out details of your book. You can summarize your book in such a way that you introduce the main characters and the plot to the reader. Your approach should be direct so that you can make the most impact on the reader.
You can also try to portray the tensity of your book to grab the attention of the reader. By making use of vivid language, you can make sure that you keep the reader interested. By painting a picture for the reader, you will be able to get them curious enough that they will request your manuscript.
Research and Prepare
To write a compelling query letter, you will have to prepare for it. You cannot write a perfect query letter on the first try; rather, it takes time, and you have to refine it with time. Before you write a query letter, you can do some research to see what you need to cover.
You can look at a sample query letter online prepared by a professional to see what you need to incorporate in your attempt. By looking at a professional’s approach, you will be able to make sure that you keep your query letter within the confines of industry standards. By keeping your approach calculated, you can make sure that your query letter is engaging for the reader. This will improve the chances of an agent requesting your manuscript.
Keep a Targeted Approach
Another thing that you can do is prepare a bespoke query letter for each agent. In order to make your query letter stand out, you have to give it a personalized touch. If you are approaching an agent to represent your book, you have to research them.
Your goal should be to have a rough idea of the likes and dislikes of that particular agent. If they like a precise approach, you should keep your query letter concise. However, if an agent has a liking for a bit of flair and flamboyance, you should not hesitate to give them what they want.
Make Use of Comparisons
The use of comparisons can also make your query letter stand out. You have to make sure that you identify the works that either resemble the writing style or the genre of your book. You also have to mark out if any of these books were represented by the agents that you are approaching. If such is the case, you should include a comparison of your book with one such book that was represented by the agent you are writing to. This way, you will be able to instantly put your book in a category for that agent, which will help your chances.
Try to Engage the Agent
By creating a query letter that is specific to an agent, you can maximize your chances of success. Your approach should be to make an outline for your query letter. You can study other query letters and come up with a list of things that you have to incorporate in your query letter.
Once this is done, you can tweak each query letter to make it perfect for the agent that you are approaching. You can make the approach personalized for the agent and keep your writing in a style that the agent of your choice prefers. This way, you will be able to engage the agent’s interest.
Edit and Proofread Thoroughly
Before you send your query letter to an agent, you have to keep in mind that it might be your only chance to gain the interest of that agent. This is why you have to make sure that your query letter has no mistakes.
To achieve that, you can get your query letter edited and proofread by a professional. You can contact a query letter specialist to look at your query letter and make any changes. These changes can relate to the tone of your query letter, or they can be in accordance with the latest trends.
