THE QUERY LETTER . . .  
your key to getting published

GOOD NEWS
What a great time to be a writer! Opportunities to become published have never been so plentiful.

NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS—COMPETITION
Thousands of people who own computers believe that since they have the tools of the writer—keyboards and printers—they are writers. Wrong! However, their poorly written queries and manuscripts create a log jam of submissions. This creates competition for attention, not quality.

YOU CAN STAND OUT AND BE NOTICED!
How? By writing a professional query letter. I can help you learn how to do this.

THE QUERY—YOUR TOP PRIORITY
The step-by-step process of becoming published requires that you write an effective  query letter, quick-read synopsis and compelling first page (s). By far, the query is the most important. Write it well, you’ll get in the door. Write it poorly, you won’t. 

WHY QUERIES ARE REJECTED
Most writers haven’t learned to shift from "telling" to "selling." Their query letters are poorly organized and difficult to read—in other words, unprofessional.

REALLY GOOD NEWS
You can learn to write an effective three-paragraph query that gets you what you want—an invitation to submit your manuscript. It’s not rocket science. It’s just another learning curve you can navigate with my help.

AGENTS—YOUR PUBLISHING PARTNERS 
When a publisher receives a manuscript from an agent, they realize it has been screened and deemed worthy of publication. For this reason, the information on this site focuses on acquiring an agent to help you become published. (If you would rather try to reach an editor or publisher directly, you still need to write a compelling query letter.)

BECOME A SAVVY QUERY WRITER—STARTING NOW! 
Educate yourself. Read the query basics page. Study the evaluated queries. Read my "teaching" articles. Enjoy the Top Ten Dumb Query Tricks. You’ll discover information and tips about query writing you will not find anywhere else. These will help you expand your understanding about what you need to do and how to do it. 

NEED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE?
Look for options WRITERS' SERVICES

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY SITE  
I look forward to helping you get published!

BACK TO TOP
QUERY BASICS
TOP TEN DUMB QUERY TRICKS
EVALUATED QUERIES--ADULTS
EVALUATED QUERIES--CHIILDREN
PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
WRITERS SERVICES
CONTACT
RESOURCES 
MOLLI'S ARTICLES



































With 25 years experience in the publishing business, as a Time-Life editor, publisher, published author and instructor (teaching marketing to writers) at UCLA, I'm uniquely qualified to tell you exactly what you need to learn in order to get published now!

 

COMMENTS FROM MY CLIENTS 
Writer’s Digest Books have accepted my proposal for a book about writing picture books. I never could have done it without your help and encouragement. Many, many, many thanks. Ann Paul, UCLA instructor and children’s book author, Los Angeles, CA 

 
Thanks for your help. Without it,
“How to Teach Your Dog to Talk" 
would have been a lesser book.
Captain Haggerty, author/dog trainer, 
Los Angeles, CA


Molli Nickell rocks. She won't just turn your lemons into lemonade, she'll make margaritas. Sue LaNeve, author, Lutz, FL