Ask the Experts: Time to Query

August 9, 2018August 9, 2018 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 1 Comment

It’s time to write and perfect your query letter, but where to start? How long should a query be and what do I need to include?

What is a Query?

The purpose of the query letter is to entice an agent or editor to read and/or request your manuscript. 100-200 words are sufficient for most novels. Plain and simple – it’s a sales pitch.

Some Do’s and Don’ts:

Do’s:

Your research. Make sure you are sending your query to the right agent, and the reason is for sending it to her/him is clear. “According to your agency’s website, you are actively seeking…”
Set up your story by conveying what your main character wants above all else and what’s preventing her/him from getting it. Show who your character is. What are they up against and what they’re made of.
Show strong actions, consequences, and emotions.
Include a concise summary of your novel’s statistics and appropriate comparative works.
Close with a short and bio paragraph.

Don’ts:

Be careful with accolades or listing accomplishments. If you include any, include only the most relevant.
Make sure your comp title only if it gives the agent a clear sense of your story and style.
Be vague.
Forget to thank the agent
Stories are subjective. One agent may love it, another hate it, but don’t give up. Be patient and query on.

Five Essential Elements of a Query:

What you’re selling: genre/category, word count, title/subtitle
Hook – Protagonist, the stakes, and the thing that sets your story apart.
Bio: an option for unpublished fiction writers
Personalization – customize the letter to the agent or editor
Closing – ‘thank you.’

Remember, this will be, perhaps, your one and only chance with this agent to draw them into your story and ask for more. So, do your homework.

Where to find the Right Agent

Writer’s Market

Resources:

What are your tips on writing queries?

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. I’m all ears and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMcIntyreGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, Contently, and Instagram. You can follow my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

The Art of the Book Trailer

December 20, 2017December 20, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

Have you ever thought about creating a book trailer? Well, check out Ryan’s post and get a look at how effective this tool is. Also, check out Udemy’s course by instructor, Karen Prince, Using Screenflow for MAC to create beautiful book trailers.

Where Writers Get Stuck: Marketing

October 11, 2017November 4, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

And, you thought the work was done when you typed “The End.” Nope, it’s just beginning. Check out this post by Allison Maruska to help you get started in marketing your book.

Allison Maruska

Before I get started on today’s topic, I want to express a huge thank you to everyone who supported my fundraiser for Houston disaster relief or gave directly to an organization that will help people in need. We are seeing the best of America coming through every day, and if there’s a silver lining to everything that’s happened there, I think that’s it.

Now, it’s time for the super secret post you’ve all been waiting for. Remember this Twitter poll?

It launched this whole mini-series on where writers get stuck. Be sure to check out planning, drafting, editing and revising, and querying or publishing if those are your personal struggles. While the poll was live, this comment happened:

So, to wrap up this series, let’s talk marketing! Is everyone excited??

I know. I can’t fake it very well. But stick with me. It’ll be worth it.

Marketing…

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Spread the Word

September 18, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 8 Comments

I know, I know. Tooting one’s own horn is not fun, at least for this gal. However, word of mouth has proven to be the best marketing tool out there. Don’t believe me? Here are few surprising stats from the Ambassador Marketing Website.

According to research by Nielsen:

92 % of people trust recommendations from friends and family more than all other forms of marketing.
43 % of consumers are more likely to buy a product if they learn about it from family or friend.
83% purchase decisions made by consumers are influenced by their friend’s social media posts.
77% are more likely to buy a product when recommended by a family or friend.
79% of the people who ‘Liked’ a brand on social media, did it to receive a discount.
49% say their family and friends are their top sources for the best brands.