I’ve personally edited several queries now for writers reaching out to agents, and I can tell you for a fact that the biggest problem most people have in a query letter is generalities.
The easiest way to put this is simply please tell what your story is about.
The agent will get absolutely nothing from you stating “stuff happens” or “the MC learns a lesson”. I promise you they will not respond or ask for more information from you if that’s all you put in your query.
Think about all an agent does and sees and reads on a weekly basis. Each and every day, they get between 10 and 50 submissions and queries.
A lot of these queries start to blend into one another. They’ve heard all the plots and conflicts before. That’s why it’s so important to take the extra time to specifically address the different and unique parts of your story.
Generalities sink query letters; specifics bring them to life. Be specific!
Have questions about your query letter? Let’s discuss them in the comment section – or drop me an email.
I love to polish query letters to a bright shine, so don’t hesitate to contact me!
