QUERYING LITERARY AGENTS

Starting at the top

I’m in the process of connecting with a literary agent. It’s a journey so far, and I think I’m doing okay. I have formulated a clean, precise query letter establishing my book outline and how the story aligns with their interests. I included a brief synopsis of my story and shared a tad about myself.

I decided to start with the top agents in the field. Why not? Ballsy? one might say, but is my manuscript just as good as Ron Howard’s, Al Pacino’s, or Goldie Hawn’s? I don’t know. I’m not privy to their submissions. Not really sure if they even wrote their own material or had ghostwriters. But why not? I can take a no from a leading agent as well as a rookie starting out. Who knows, maybe they will like my work equally.

I have also written a brief synopsis of the book to cover beginning to end. Bibles to Brothels is my subtitle, and it pretty much sums it up. I included bits of storyline that show conflict, encouragement, bravery, and above all else, the human crisis one young woman went through — just to be independent.

In many cases, agents ask for ten pages; some want fifty. Some want a word count, and some don’t want anything but the query letter.

I also wrote an author bio — my least favorite task. But it’s important if I’m going to market myself as a product and a real person. Hell, I’m just a guy next door doing what he loves: storytelling.