Write Wild: May 2020

Monday, May 25, 2020

How to Write a Query Letter for Your Novel or Picture Book Manuscript

Since you're a writer, you want to get published, right? This step-by-step guide will help you know what to include in a query letter and where to put it.

This query letter template will help you craft the perfect letter to send to editors and agents. It’s purpose is to get them interested in your book and hopefully request either the first 10 pages, first 3 chapters, or the full manuscript. The query letter is 3-5 paragraphs, all on one page. Word count doesn’t matter, but the shorter the better. Don’t try to be cutesy and clever. Stick to the template and be professional, but be yourself too. Let your voice come through in your words. Modify the query to fit the person.

Paragraph 1

Tell the person why you are writing to them specifically, such as where or when you met the person or if you share a common interest. If it doesn’t apply or you can’t find a way to personalize your query letter, then you can omit this paragraph.

Paragraphs 2 and 3

In these 1-2 paragraphs, you talk about the book. This is where you will insert your pitch. You can add a little more about the characters, the theme, and a couple of comp titles. Make sure your voice shines through.

Paragraph 4

This is a very short paragraph about the genre, completed length of your manuscript (by word count, not pages), the setting and time period of the book. Remember, your manuscript must be finished. One to two sentences is all you need.

Paragraph 5

The last paragraph is where you can tell a little bit about yourself, if you have a platform, your history, why you are the person to write this book, etc., but remember to keep it short and relevant. Don’t say that your friends, family, neighbors, and students loved your story. You likely won’t hear back because that is considered unprofessional.

What have you heard about query letters to NOT do? Share in the comments and let me know! Share your comment here.

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Monday, May 18, 2020

5 Tips for Choosing Your Book Title

Your book’s title is the most important thing you can do to help it succeed. If you’ve written a novel and you need help with your title, ask yourself these questions, along with a few tips to consider when thinking about a title for your book.

The idea here is to come up with something that you will love, so make sure when you do your brainstorming and elimination, that you choose something you won’t get burned out on when creating a great title for your book.

Keep it short.
Think about spelling and pronunciation.
Consider your book’s genre or category.
Use one-word titles carefully.
Look for duplicates.

Keep It Short

Short titles are easier to say, type, and remember. They fit nicely in tweets, URLs, and short bio descriptions. Try to stick to 7 words or less. When people remember your title, it’s easier for them to share it and word of mouth can grow faster than books with really long hard-to-remember titles.

Spelling and Pronunciation

If your title is too hard for most people to say, they may buy a different title, instead. People don’t typically like to say words they have a hard time pronouncing, which could affect sales and word-of-mouth book recommendations. Do you really want to spend time correcting people on how to pronounce your title? This goes for characters too! Spelling counts!

Consider Your Book’s Genre

Your book title should give readers a clue to its genre. You don’t want your sci-fi to sound like a romance or horror title.

One-Word Titles

One-word titles can sometimes be catchy (Divergent, Cinder, Speak, Island, 1984, Seraphina, Neverwhere, Twilight, etc.), but you could also run the risk of getting lost in search results. You might not want to have a novel about horses with the title Cupcakes if your book has nothing to do with cupcakes. Just sayin’. Make it relevant and unique.

Look for Duplicates

Titles aren’t copyrightable, so it’s not the end of the world if there’s another book out there with the same title. If it’s a bestseller though, I’d recommend changing yours to something different.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Thinking About a Title for Your Book

After answering these questions, and thinking about the tips above, brainstorm a list of potential titles for your book. Let yourself go wild and crazy. Don’t hold back.

What is your current “working” title, even if you think it’s horrible?
What is the genre of your book?
What is the readership age of your book?
What are your characters’ names?
What is your book about?
What are some themes you’re exploring?
Use Amazon Bestseller Lists to search for comparative titles in your genre.

Once you have a list of titles for your novel, start the elimination process and cross off the ones you really don’t like. Come up with your top 5-10 titles and ask your family, friends, and fellow writers which ones they like the best.

When you're ready to start querying, be sure to format your query letter properly.

What are some of your favorite book titles, whether you’ve read the book or not? Share in the comments below and let me know!

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Monday, May 11, 2020

10 Ways to Know You're a WRITER

If any of these top 10 writer statements make you laugh, then you know you're a writer.

1. You know you're a writer when you have a drawer full of manuscripts and rejection letters.

2. You know you're a writer when you see a sign on the highway and you notice spelling and grammar errors.

3. You know you're a writer when you're a chapter away from finishing your first novel and you scream, "I'm never doing this again!" But a week later, you're planning your next book.

4. You know you're a writer when you get mad if someone calls you an "aspiring writer."

5. You know you're a writer when you're starving after five hours of writing, but you're too into the story to stop for a break.

6. You know you're a writer when you plan your vacations around a writing conference or a retreat.

7. You know you're a writer (who runs) when you hit a wall in your plot and the only way you know how to solve it is to go for a run.

8. You know you're a writer when your books, notebooks, and laptop take up half of your suitcase on trips.

9. You know you're a writer when you have more patience re-writing the same paragraph for an hour than you do waiting in line at the bank for 5 minutes.

10. You know you're a writer when you dread your days off.

Monday, May 4, 2020

10 Ways to Know You're a RUNNER

If any of these top 10 statements about runners make you laugh, then you know you're a runner!

1. You know you're a runner when you have a drawer full of medals and race souvenirs that you're not sure what to do with.

2. You know you're a runner when you see a sign on the highway telling how many miles an exit is and you think, "I could run that!"

3. You know you're a runner when you're a mile from the finish line of your first marathon and you scream, "I'm never doing this again!" But twenty minutes later, you're already planning your next race.