This post contains a step-by-step guide on how to write a query letter and pitches like the one included in this post. Our query letter lesson also contains the first draft of the query I wrote for GOOD PEOPLE, the final draft that got me my agent, and a revised draft of how I’d write the query letter now with 5+ years of hindsight and a book deal.
If this query letter post is helpful to your process, please let me know!
Thanks for reading! The first time I heard this distinction something really clicked for me with my approach to both genres. So glad to hear it’s helpful for you too.
This is great! I came from poetry not short stories, but I know back when I was struggling with expanding to novel-length fiction, the hang-up was committing to decisions...as a result my characters often vibed along in a stasis, and I wondered why arcs were so hard to create. Would have been very helpful back then to have that rephrasing of "dilemmas" over "problems!"
The concept of dilemmas is definitely something I wish I had earlier in my writing life. I totally relate to what you're saying about having characters vibing in stasis. Situations are pretty easy to create, but stories with full arcs are a whole other wonderfully complicated thing. It took me a long time to get a handle on this.
Yes, I did a revise and resubmit (R&R) request specifically for Simon & Schuster. Once I finished the revision, my agent and I only submitted my novel to the editor at S&S. It was an exclusive submission, which basically means they got to consider the revised manuscript before any other publisher. If they passed on the revision, then my agent and I would have submitted the revised manuscript to multiple other publishers simultaneously. Luckily, they acquired the revised manuscript, so we didn't have to do a wide submission again.
Thanks for sharing this! I’m on the second draft of my novel, and I feel like there’s a deeper something that my main character wants that I just haven’t worked out yet. I’ll be returning to this post to meditate on it.
I've been writing on and off for years with the goal of completing a novel. This year though I want to commit to actually doing what ive always wanted to do. I'm so happy to have found your newsletter!
Since some people mentioned how helpful it was to see a concise novel pitch in this post, I thought I’d share our post on pitch writing, “How to Write a Query Letter”: https://open.substack.com/pub/katjolewis/p/how-to-write-a-query-letter?r=1nxyt&utm_medium=ios
This post contains a step-by-step guide on how to write a query letter and pitches like the one included in this post. Our query letter lesson also contains the first draft of the query I wrote for GOOD PEOPLE, the final draft that got me my agent, and a revised draft of how I’d write the query letter now with 5+ years of hindsight and a book deal.
If this query letter post is helpful to your process, please let me know!
Thank you for your generosity and specificity in your post. What a gift!
Thanks for reading!
This is wonderful! "A short story explores the possibility of a change while a novel explores the consequences" has stayed with me.
Thanks for reading! The first time I heard this distinction something really clicked for me with my approach to both genres. So glad to hear it’s helpful for you too.
This is great! I came from poetry not short stories, but I know back when I was struggling with expanding to novel-length fiction, the hang-up was committing to decisions...as a result my characters often vibed along in a stasis, and I wondered why arcs were so hard to create. Would have been very helpful back then to have that rephrasing of "dilemmas" over "problems!"
The concept of dilemmas is definitely something I wish I had earlier in my writing life. I totally relate to what you're saying about having characters vibing in stasis. Situations are pretty easy to create, but stories with full arcs are a whole other wonderfully complicated thing. It took me a long time to get a handle on this.
Thanks for reading!
Thank you. Currently I am revising the first draft of my memoir and writing the first draft of a middle reader novel. This has been helpful.
Thanks for reading. Excited for you and your books!
Love all your posts Many blessings✨✨✨
Thanks so much for reading!
Thanks for this great post!
Thanks so much for reading!
Such a generous share. Thank you!
Thanks for reading!
Thanks. I'm working on my manuscript right now, but this helps to put things in perspective.
So glad to hear the post was helpful. Thanks for reading!
Awesome
Thanks for reading!
Curious if u had to resubmit your novel to publishers after the revising process?
Yes, I did a revise and resubmit (R&R) request specifically for Simon & Schuster. Once I finished the revision, my agent and I only submitted my novel to the editor at S&S. It was an exclusive submission, which basically means they got to consider the revised manuscript before any other publisher. If they passed on the revision, then my agent and I would have submitted the revised manuscript to multiple other publishers simultaneously. Luckily, they acquired the revised manuscript, so we didn't have to do a wide submission again.
If you want to learn more about the R&R process, I wrote about it for Sub Club here: https://open.substack.com/pub/subclub/p/12-agents-looking-for-book-club-fiction?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Good stuff thank you
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for sharing this! I’m on the second draft of my novel, and I feel like there’s a deeper something that my main character wants that I just haven’t worked out yet. I’ll be returning to this post to meditate on it.
Thanks so much for reading! So glad to hear that the post is helpful. Excited for you and your work!
This was so helpful!
Thanks for reading! 💫
I've been writing on and off for years with the goal of completing a novel. This year though I want to commit to actually doing what ive always wanted to do. I'm so happy to have found your newsletter!
Thanks so much for reading! Rooting for you and your work 💫
Great read very insightful
Thanks for reading!
My pleasure