I'm probably obsessing about this, but the letters I'm seeing are all so different. I'm just not getting a feel for the right thing.
One very successful letter dives right into the plot and fills a 300 word page with character and storyline.
Another tosses out a mere three sentences of grabby lines about the plot and general subject matter, introduces the author in a sentence, hints at why it's a good "sell," and offers to send chapters and synopsis, all in about 220 words.
These are two entirely different approaches. In fact, the first query letter could be a synopsis if another 300 words were added.
I'm just frustrated, I guess. I know I've got a good novel on my desk. I'm not sure how to present it, or still what to call it, mystery, young adult, whatever. I wrote it for teens, but who knows what others might think.
Time will tell.
One very successful letter dives right into the plot and fills a 300 word page with character and storyline.
Another tosses out a mere three sentences of grabby lines about the plot and general subject matter, introduces the author in a sentence, hints at why it's a good "sell," and offers to send chapters and synopsis, all in about 220 words.
These are two entirely different approaches. In fact, the first query letter could be a synopsis if another 300 words were added.
I'm just frustrated, I guess. I know I've got a good novel on my desk. I'm not sure how to present it, or still what to call it, mystery, young adult, whatever. I wrote it for teens, but who knows what others might think.
Time will tell.