THE HOUSEKEEPING
Before we approach the challenge of selling your story, let’s establish the basics.
In publishing, these details are often referred to as housekeeping. They provide a literary agent the essential information needed to identify and categorize your manuscript.
TITLE. GENRE. APPROXIMATE WORD COUNT. COMPS*
Comps, or comparable titles, are recently published books that you suggest appeal to the same readership. They may share themes, style, or genre with your manuscript and will help agents understand where your book might fit within today’s market. Be sure to review each agent’s submission guidelines, as some prefer to approach your work without comparisons that might narrow their expectations.
Let’s start with what you already know about your manuscript.
Complete the fields below to begin building the foundation of your query letter.
BUILD YOUR QUERY • EXERCISE 01
Introduce Your Manuscript
Every query begins with a few essential details. Let's start with yours.
About the Author
We don't need your life story. We want to know what connects you to the manuscript you've written.
What about your life and experiences lends itself to the content of this manuscript?
Consider your personal, professional, or educational experiences. What perspective do you bring to your subject?
In two or three sentences, describe the experiences or qualifications most relevant to your manuscript.
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It all started when…
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