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You can master the query letter!


What prevents writers from becoming authors?

The dreaded query letter is the culprit!


Crafting this 350-word letter has been an enormous-and-fear-filled challenge for all
writers . . . until now.


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Give yourself a BIG hug!
Acknowledge what you've already accomplished. You've expended effort and time (months/years) as you developed story-teller muscles when you:
  • enrolled in writing classes
  • purchased "how-to-write" books
  • attended writers’ conferences
  • joined a critique group
  • pitched your manuscript (face-to-face) to agents or editors
  • edited, revised, and polished your manuscript until it glowed in the dark.
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. . . from author Bria Burton

Thanks to Molli’s evaluation of my query letter, when I verbally "pitched" it to an agent and a publisher at a writers' conference, both requested manuscript submissions.                 


Not-ready-for-prime-time~
Back in the 80s, when I was a Time-Life editor, publisher, and acquisitions editor, I read and rejected hundreds of poorly written queries. Most contained one or all three of the major mistakes listed below.

So, WHAT'S in your query?


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Major Mistake #1:
Did you format your query to be delivered via snail-mail?
Do this instead!
  • Update your memory banks!
  • Give up all query beliefs that have been outdated since 2014.
  • Format your query to be agent-and-device friendly so it can be read quickly, on any size screen from desktop to laptop to notepad to smart phone.


Major Mistake #2:

Have you wasted your first paragraph by filling it with blather about what motivated you to write this particular story and how much your family, friends, and critique group members love it?
Do this instead!
  • Begin your query by describing what your protagonist (main character) wants.
  • Explain why they can't have it.
  • Reveal the terrible “or else” that could occur if they don’t get what they want.
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Major Mistake #3:
Did you neglect to respond to the agent’s need to know W.I.I.F.M?
Do this instead!
Respond to the silent question all agents ask:
"What’s In It For Me?"
  • Does this writer possess story-telling skills?
  • Will the manuscript generate a publishers’ bidding war?
  • Will the book attract thousands of readers and fly off the best-sellers' table at Barnes and Noble?

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 . . . from author C. Flood
Molli Nickell is a writers' alloy. She melds writers to agents.    



Here's exactly what you need . . .
For less than the cost of a cholesterol-laden-triple-cheese pizza and chemical-laden cola, this tutorial will:
  • Expand your mind instead of your waistline.

  • Teach you to write a query letter that can inspire a top-notch agent to jump up and down, kick their heels together, and declare, “Hooray! Here's the writer I’ve been looking for! Let's celebrate. Order pizza!

  • Help you move closer to the goals of your heart: agent/book contract/shelf space at Barnes and Noble.

    Click Here to take check it out!
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. . . from author Nancy Cavanaugh

Molli, "RATCHET" wouldn't be on the shelf at Barnes and Noble without you and your query letters.                                                    




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  • The Query Swamp
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  • Contact