Posts Tagged ‘query’
7 Tips for Better Book Comps
Finding comps — comparable titles — is an essential part of the book querying process, as they are a shorthand that let agents and publishers know what your manuscript is like. This video highlights key ways you can find attention-getting comps that are a perfect fit. Watch/Subscribe I’ve written before about why comps aren’t the…
Read More6 Common Query Letter Mistakes to Avoid
Self-publishing is becoming a behemoth in its own right next to traditional publishing, but it’s not right for every writer. If you go the traditional route, the journey to get your book into readers’ hands starts with a great query letter. To make your letter shine, avoid these common query letter mistakes. Leaving too much…
Read MoreWhy the Use of Comps in Querying Books Needs to End
In a few short weeks, I’m going to begin the querying process on my first Christian self-help nonfiction work. As part of this process, I have to find titles that are comparable to my own. Professionals in the writing industry refer to these titles as “comps.” And my, do I hate them. Why publishers and…
Read MoreQuerying? Here’s How to Stop Life from Getting in the Way
For the past few years, I’ve buried myself in writing projects, the result of which was two complete book manuscripts. Now that those texts are done, I’ve moved on to querying. The plan is that, if I don’t get any agent bites, I’ll self-publish. So this past week, I found myself preparing for a weekend…
Read MoreQuerying Agents: How Many Times Should You Try?
If you’re thinking about querying agents about your book, or if you’re in the middle of that process, then you’ll quickly find that the most efficient way to go about it is to send off emails in batches. As responses come in, you can take the feedback, tweak your query/book, and try again, rather than having everybody reject your…
Read MoreWhy “Be Patient” Is Crappy Advice for Writers
One of the quirks of being a writer is that you often have to wait weeks or even months to get a response back from editors or their assistants. This isn’t all their fault. Many of them are swamped with hundreds or even thousands of submissions a month, and they have other responsibilities other than…
Read MoreHow to Query a Book Like a Pro
Literary agents offer an incredible service to serious writers. Their whole job is to do all the footwork to find a publisher that’s willing to get your book out into the world. They get a percentage of what the book makes in return, but the arrangement is wonderful for writers because you get more time…
Read MoreQuery Letter Perfection: How to Hook Agents Every Time
If you want to break into the writing business, your job isn’t over when you finish your final draft. You have to keep going and write a killer query letter. This document introduces your work to an agent, editor, or publisher. The better your query letter is, the more likely it is that the editor…
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