Email SUBJECT line~

In the really old days, like 2010, writers focused on the opening paragraph of their query letter. It had to tell the core elements of their story in order to capture the interest of the reader.

If the first paragraph of their snail-mailed query letter roused the interest of the agent/editor/publisher/or intern reading it, they’d receive a request for sample pages and a synopsis. All of this back and forthing by snail mail took weeks or months.
 
Fast forward to March, 2015.  

Now the query letter is part of a query submission packet: subject line, query letter, synopsis, and sample pages. All neatly tucked inside one email. 

Sounds pretty straight forward? Yes indeed.  

Except, (as you might have guessed), there’s a wrinkle. The SUBJECT line of your email has the potential to motivate the reader (agent/editor/publisher/or intern) to open it, push it to the back of the line, or send it to deleteville. Yikes!  

Therefore your subject line absolutely must interest the reader sufficiently to motivate them to open your email and scan your query. If your query has been effectively written, the synopsis may be read next. Again, if it meets the basic criteria (reveals the story plot from beginning to end), your sample pages will be read. 

And then, if the agent loves your story, you’re offered a contract. Your work is introduced to a publisher who excitedly jumps up and down with excitement, “Yes, Yes, Yes, here’s next year’s best-seller.” At last! Your career is launched. And to think it all began with the subject line. Which, of course, it did.

The SUBJECT line of your emailed query submission packet needs to entice, amuse, and motivate the reader to open your email. (Don't use the title of your book unless it's absolutely enticing. Otherwise, save it for your query letter.) 

Here's the winning subject line from a former Query Slam contest.
                       Perfect Murders. Rapture approved. 

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     Although these four words don't reveal much information about the content of the manuscript, the combination of murder and religion create an enticing "hook."  Accolades to Beth who won a FREE 45-minute consultation with me.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

• Stonehenge, pink rocks, and T.S. Eliot save the universe
• Virgin sacrifice, a rock god, and naughty biscuits--SCORE!
• 3 women, 2 accidents, 6 degrees of separation,
  1 bestseller
• Death, destruction, and love, what more could a genetically altered killer wish for?

• Forced betrothal, forced enclosure, forced freedom: two sisters, one journey.

• The Devil made him do it.
• A shrink haunted by more demons than her clients
• Puts Hamlet's revenge to shame
• Butterfly battles bulldozer over weed

The following need a touch of revision. 

• Ginny and Me, survival is what God can do 
      Revision suggestion:
      God Does Survival for Ginny and Me.
• Ivy must choose between betraying her people or true love.
      Revision suggestion:
      Ivy’s choice: betrayal or love
• Two teens vanished, lost on an unforgiving mountain
      Revision suggestion:
      Mountain claims victory as teens vanish
• Boy wants his father's love. Would he kill for it?
      Revision suggestion:
      Is dad’s love worth murder?

Had the internet existed long ago, the following subject lines might have been written for beloved fairy tales. Can you identify them?

• Teen crime spree includes murder, shoe theft, and witch melting. 
  
• Desperate boy vs hungry giant: outcome uncertain. 
• Carnivore snoozes through a granny-ectomy.