So, you’re ready to pitch your novel to an agent or editor? This is huge. But, first, congratulations, you completed your novel. And now you need to sum up those 50,000 to 100,000+ words you’ve written into one page to catch an editor’s or agent’s eye.

One…simple…page.

Take a breath. Lioness Press has your back.

Read on for the four essentials every novel needs in its query letter to make that agent or editor ask to read that wonderful story you sweated blood and tears over.

1. The Intro: you introduce your novel title to them and ask for representation. Basically, what you think they may want (your manuscript) and what you want (representation for them to sell it to publishing houses on your behalf).
2. The Summary Paragraph: This is the bulk of your query and often the hardest: the description. This paragraph must include your main character(s), their desires, and the obstacles/conflicts they face in the novel. But be careful not to overwhelm the agent with too many details. Think: What are your pivotal plot points—what puts your MC on their path and what stands in their way. It must leave a question in the agent’s mind as to the consequences the MC faces. Like an if-then question: If the MC cannot do this, then this will happen—which tends to be the main conflict/obstacle of the story.
3. The What-It-Is Paragraph: This is where you provide the selling points of your novel: how long it is (word count), what genre (you think) it belongs to, and one or two published comparison novels that are close in tone/style of your novel.
4. Your Bio: This is where you list your qualifications of why you are the best person to write your story. Include any pertinent degrees and publications. Don’t have any publications? Remember that any experience that aided you in crafting your novel counts. Don’t have that? Then get some: join a writing group or online genre groups. Many abound on Facebook as well as most likely your community center.

Now some of these items are interchangeable. Perhaps you want the word count in the introduction line. Perhaps you want to include a logline as a hook in the intro instead of leaving a question in the summary paragraph. What is most important is that your query letter contain all four essentials. Leave one essential out and, if you’re lucky, you may receive a form rejection letter. But, most likely, your letter will become a part of that day’s trash.

Try out these four essentials on your next pitch to an agent/editor. They will save you time and get you past the slush pile with a quicker response. And if you’re still stuck, that’s okay, I understand. Let me help you craft your winning query letter.

And remember, the art of letter writing here is also essential. Be polite and keep proper form: date agent address, opening salutation, fours essentials, ending salutation.

Need more help to create or polish your working query with a couple places on where to send thrown in? Lioness Press now offers query letter reviews. Click here for more information.