Four drafts of negative feedback later – I’m arriving at the overwhelming conclusion that I have the Query Letter Blues. What are the QLBs? Why does it matter? Let’s take a moment on this Tuesday to discuss an underknown aspect of the writing profession and also why it isn’t that big of a deal if you suck.
But Why Query Letters?
Query letters – the messages you send out to lit agents requesting they review and consider your work for representation/publication – are an art form unto themselves. Just as Tinder users spend hours crafting their profile, or actors spend thousands on headshots, authors grind on Reddit to fine-tune their query into the perfect message. Why do we do it? Simple – we’re trying to get noticed. We’re trying to stand out. We’re trying for their attention. Your query letter – like your love life – is only as good as the response it gets.
Writers agonize over these little morsels of creativity. Your work is brilliant, they said. All you need is the right pitch, they said. Hopeful hearts and keen keyboards get to work – you know your work, you believe in your story – the perfect query letter is only seconds away!
*Bwaaahhhh* – just like on Family Feud. Not only is your first query letter draft *NOT* perfect, it’s so imperfect that other writers will wonder if your entire project sucks. Try again. Again. AGAIN! Multiple drafts and multiple rounds of ‘this is worse than the last one’ feedback. You’ll experience that existential angst that only comes when a creative person gets a virtual kick in the teeth. You’re wounded, you’re chastened – now get back out there, sport, and try again! Need some help managing those emotions? Try the Creative Persons’ Survival Guide.
Not complaining – just explaining. Writing query letters is hard. You’re going to suck at it. In fact, that’s perfectly normal and healthy – being terrible at writing a query letter. Let’s now discuss …
Why It’s Okay to Suck At Query Letters
Having asked for help with my query letter by reaching out to pro authors with multiple decades / successful titles and projects to their name – I have come to one unmistakable conclusion. EVERYONE SUCKS AT WRITING THEIR OWN QUERY LETTER. Seriously. The names have been withheld, but the feedback is real: ‘I’m not going to be of any use with a query letter … The only useful method is honesty — new writer, here’s what I’ve written, here’s what writers I might resemble, here’s where I want to go.’
Another author says: ‘When I tried a decade earlier, I sucked at it.’ Another: ‘Wish I could help. I’ve never written a query letter to agents in my life. Still don’t have an agent. Ah well!’ and a fourth: ‘[F]rankly I suck at query letters.’
I won’t discuss these authors’ pedigree – you know them – simply be assured that query letters are hard to write, even for professional authors. No one seems to have it easy, and if it’s easy for you – I’m kinda curious what your own success path looks like.
Lean Into Those Query Letter Blues
You can’t have war stories without war. Seneca said ‘Difficulties strengthen the mind.’ You’ll get through this moment, as you got through all the other ones: by putting one foot in front of the other. Lean into those Query Letter Blues, learn to enjoy the song and hum along with the music. If it’s hard, then you’re probably doing something right. It’s hard for all the successful authors.
