Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Query letter/synopsis -- How to

This is topic Query letter/synopsis -- How to in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by SiliGurl (Member # 922) on :

Does anyone have any good online resources for crafting the all important query letter and novel synopsis?

Thanks,

Sili

Posted by Minister (Member # 2213) on :

It's not the be-all, end-all on the subject, but there's some great information and suggestions at www.zackcompany.com/submissions/submissions_main.htm

Check out the information on the links on that page. This is the site of an established agent who has done a fair amount of work in keeping authors informed about agents and their procedures.

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

The novel query letter is one of most important documents you'll ever write.

I discussed this very question with OSC at bootcamp, outside of class, with my novel at the heart of the question. I showed him what I wrote as back cover copy, which is a very good summary of my book. He told me to use that in the (pre-query) query letter.

My suggestion for any novelist is to try to generate what you want to see on the back cover, and use that as the heart of your query letter.

Posted by Varishta (Member # 2789) on :

To whom it may concern:

Thank you for taking the time in your frantic schedule to read this letter. I found your name in the 2000 edition of Writer's Market, and hope you are still taking submissions. Enclosed you will find the exciting psycho-thriller, "The Secret Uranium Mines Of Kazakhstan."

I know that you usually publish Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Spectacular fiction, but I thought that since Kazakh is a language full of unusual words like "kyzyl" and "uchkaduk" that this work might find a niche in this market.

I have already completed the first two chapters ("Vodka Capitalism" and "Radioactive Camels") but will happily send you the rest as soon as they are completed.

As this is a first draft, I was hoping that you or another editor could check to make sure that the spelling and grammar is in order? I'm sure most of its fine, but sometimes MSWord misses things.

Even though I have written numerous fanfics for my Northern Exposure website, this is my first book and I want it to be the best it can be. If you have any questions, please give me a call straightaway at (555)555-5234.

If I don't hear from you in two weeks, I will
regrettably have to send my book to another publishing company -- but would really like to go with yours.

Sincerely,

Varishta Brookes

P.S. If you cannot accept this manuscript at the moment, could you please kindly return the enclosed chapters? They're copywrited. Thanks.

Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :

Aieeee!

Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :

genius! especially this: "I thought that since Kazakh is a language full of unusual words like "kyzyl" and "uchkaduk" that this work might find a niche in this market."

But I think you forgot the part about how much better your book is than the crap they usually publish, so you know they'll be delighted to read yours.

Posted by Minister (Member # 2213) on :

Oooh. I actually cringed reading that! I'm still shuddering whenever I think about particular parts. Brilliant!

Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :

I'm ROLLING!

Varishta, that was genius!

Put that in Writer's Class. Title: The Query Letter You MUST NEVER Send. Or, How NOT to Find a Publisher in One Easy Step.