Sometimes you hear writers saying it’s harder to write a 300 word query than it is to write an 80,000 word novel. This is hyperbole, but it is harder—much harder—to write those 300 words than it is to write any given 300-word passage from your novel.
You can send query letters to agents cold, that is, without having had any contact with the agent first, or you may be querying an agent you’ve met at a writing conference or through an online pitch event like #PitMad. I’ve done it both ways, but even when agents liked one of my pitches and invited me to send chapters, they still asked for a query letter along with those chapters. Sometimes they ask for a synopsis as well, sometimes not.
The number of chapters (or pages) agents request along with an initial query varies—one chapter, three chapters, five pages, ten pages, fifty pages. Whether they ask for five or fifty pages, if the first few are anything but fabulous, they’re not going to read further. That’s why it’s vital that your opening pages are every bit as compelling as your query letter.
Services Offered
Query and Opening Pages: $175 for query + $0.03/word for pages
- Review of your query letter and opening pages (as many pages as you’d like)
- Written evaluation of query letter’s effectiveness and suggestions for improvement
- Written evaluation of opening pages in terms of voice, characterization, stakes, conflict. In short, will they make an agent keep reading?
- Track Changes in-line comments on query letter and manuscript pages
- 30 minute phone or Zoom call to discuss feedback (or longer depending on number of pages)
Query and Opening Pages: Polish Till They Shine $250 for query + $0.04/word for pages
- Reviews of three drafts of your query letter and opening pages
- Written evaluation of query letter’s effectiveness and suggestions for improvement on each of three successive drafts
- Written evaluation of three successive drafts of opening pages
- Track Changes in-line comments on all three drafts of query letter and manuscript pages
- 30 minute call to discuss feedback on the first draft, 15 minute calls after second and third drafts (or longer depending on number of pages)
Add Synopsis to package: $40 for one draft, $60 for three
Add 50-word or 280-character pitch to package: $20 for one draft, $30 for three
- Extra time on calls added as needed to discuss synopsis and/or pitch.
No matter where you are in your writing journey, I offer a free sample edit of 1,000 words
and a 15 minute follow up Zoom call to see if we’re a good fit.