Reclaim Your Most Powerful Tool - The Query Letter

At a recent Pitching with The Pros workshop I was invited to participate in I met one attendee whose entire experience with the querying process so far could be summed up as confusing, exhausting and frustrating. As we sat listening to her dead-end, maddening attempts to query certain agents in the way they like to be queried or as per the instruction given in one magazine as opposed to a particular book...you get the idea - it underscored the reality that there is SO much advice on writing and pitching and how to get published, etc. - how does a writer know when to follow their gut or follow all the advice that's piled high on the shelves, online or via agents and other industry pros at conferences, and workshops? Like us.

As the writer broke down in tears, frustrated by all the conflicting advice on how to communicate what her novel was about, I wanted to cry right along with her. Here she was, an articulate, smart woman who completed a novel (how many people do that?!); had great reviews of the novel from her peers (success!); yet she couldn't get her foot in the door of an agency because her query wasn't to code and she didn't know what else to do.

After she practiced her pitch with us (and by the way, delivering your pitch verbally in front of industry people can be a little intimidating, so big bravo to her for putting herself out there!), we helped her hone her pitch. Not with don't begin your pitch this way or always include this in your pitch or else an agent will reject it advice, but by simply helping her gain clarity on the heart of her story by listening and asking questions, and then by providing her with a general frame of a query letter most agents would be happy with (which she already knew about from all her research).

The attendee later wrote to me expressing that through this process of gaining clarity, she reclaimed that important piece in a writer's arsenal - the query letter -  by not feeling bound by all the conflicting advice out there.  

So here's a boiled down version of what we shared with her:

1. You can't control how an agent is going to read your query letter. You could write the best query letter ever and it still might be rejected because the agent was in a bad mood that day, didn't have enough time to read it thoroughly or more likely, they can't take on another author like you (they already represent several authors in your genre and they don't want you to compete with them), or they just don't think they're the right agent for you. There are myriad reasons. Don't over analyze them.

2. You ARE in control of how your story is presented. If you're having a hard time narrowing your novel or nonfiction project down to a paragraph, boil it down to the most salient action points, then boil it down again and present that beating heart in a professional-looking query letter. I like query letters that begin with the conflict and then draw me into the resolution and a lot of other agents do, too (I'm no longer an agent).

3. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE GOLDEN QUERY LETTER. There is no perfect query letter, no perfect pitch formula, just variations of a theme. So...

4. After you've researched the basics, follow your gut on crafting the letter. Don't be afraid to grab someone's attention! Never apologize for taking up a busy agent's time with your work. Be confident and most of all, clear about what you've created. Claim your craft!

5. Send out your query knowing you're going to get rejected. A lot. Get more query letters ready to send out in their place. Always, always keep those queries cycling.
   
I feel for you, writers. And I'm calling you to action. So, here's your action this week and for as long as you want:

Action: Confident queries come from confident writers, and confidence comes from clarity. So be clear about your story or nonfiction project and pitch that baby with the passion you used to write your book! What an amazing accomplishment! And most importantly, remember it's people like you who keep us reading. You keep the publishing industry afloat. Reclaim your confidence. You know what you're doing. 


Have a fruitful week, my dears! I'm rooting for you.

TLC

image: "A Broken Soul" by crazer9.deviantart.com

Priming The Passion for Your Pitch: A blogshop with bestselling author Jennifer Wilkov

Have you ever been sold on a product or an item on a menu because the person doing the talking captured your attention with such authentic enthusiasm? You could tell they really loved and believed in what they were selling - they gave you all the pertinent info, answered all your questions, maybe gave some compelling statistics. If they were really good, they not only made you like the product, they made you like them, too. Now think about a time when you were met by a salesperson who had a great product to sell but failed to close the deal because she lost your attention and interest by offering lackluster service, not enough or the wrong information - her energy, flat lining. And what about the salesperson who wouldn't shut up? You politely and maybe even a little awkwardly walked away, right?

It doesn't matter if you're selling sweaters, tires, kitchen gadgets...or your book, sales is all about a successful pitch and building a good rapport with your "customer". Maybe you've never worked retail...I bet you have suggested a book to a friend, though. You told them they absolutely had to read the book you just finished because XYZ happened and you loved how it made you think/laugh/cry/stay up all night to finish it. The common denominator here is Passion translated into enthusiasm.

Selling your book comes from the same source of Passion as creating it did.

Bestselling and award-winning author and radio host, Jennifer Wilkov shares more:
It’s a fact: enthusiasm is contagious!

When it comes to books and book professionals, the writer’s passion for the project is an essential ingredient that goes into the decision about whether or not they want to work with you.

Books and publishing are not a solo endeavor. As a writer, you’re going to have to learn the pivotal skillset needed to pitch your work.


In order to prepare for this sometimes overwhelming endeavor, plug into your passion for the project. It’s your highest and best starting point.

Think about it: if you’re not passionate about your own work, why should anyone else be? Furthermore, why would anyone else want to champion it?

Book industry professionals have an inner sense for writers who are genuinely excited and engaged in their projects.

It is this pure joy that makes you and your working engaging to…

literary agents

editors

publishers

publicists

bloggers

booksellers

speaker bureaus

and, most of all, readers!

When you present your work with an authentic smile and take pride in it, it shows – and this can often tip off the person whom you are pitching that you are a good candidate to collaborate with and represent.

Be aware of your passion level. Your excitement, while contagious, can sometimes be a bit “over the top” for others so find the delicate balance to present your passion in a way that is palatable.

When in doubt, err on the side of being “over the top.” Practice with others and listen to feedback. Consider the source. Ask, “Is it too much for you?” and “Is my passion for the project present and noticeable?”

The best way to prime your pitch is to remember to use your book as your hook. Your passion for it will inevitably catch the eye of all those you want to attract to join you on your team.

And that passion will do wonders to open a lot of doors for you and your book!

You can do it!


TLC: Your Action: Don't think about your book for a day or two. Go shopping. Head to your local bookseller (or library) and ask them for their recommendations. How do they sum up the book? Take note of the language they use, their energy and enthusiasm. Were you comfortable talking with them? Did they make you feel at ease but also excited about the book? Did they capture your attention? How and why?

Then when you're back a your desk, practice pitching your book as if someone else wrote it (someone you admire and think is a good writer, ideally!). Write it down. If you were that bookseller, how would you sell your book to a customer?

Have a fruitful week, writers!

For more helpful pitch-related topics, check out Pitch U, an online everything pitch crafting resource (I also happen to write monthly columns for them).

TLC

About the Contributor:

Jennifer S. Wilkov: Media personality, host and producer of the #1 radio talk show “Your Book Is Your Hook!” on WomensRadio. Jennifer is a best-selling award-winning author who has been published five times, an award-winning freelance writer and a respected book business consultant in her business by the same name, “Your Book Is Your Hook!” She has both self-published and been published by a traditional publisher. Jennifer has been called the quintessential writer and teacher for the 21st century. She supports first-time and seasoned authors in their book writing, publishing and marketing endeavors through coaching and training in her “Your Book Is Your Hook!” consulting practice. http://www.yourbookisyourhook.com/ http://www.jenniferswilkov.com/