Query Woes

Querying. I'm so close to sending off my letters. I just have to convince myself that I'm ready. These query letters are the first, and perhaps only impression I'll be making on these agents. And I know they want to accept books, but they have a lot to go through. It's not going to take much to make them toss my letter aside and move on to the next.

So when am I ready? I'd like to think it's a confidence issue, that I'll be ready when I think I'm ready, but if that's the case I may never be. There's always something I can do to improve the letter, to tighten up the synopsis, to make myself look just a little better. I'm confident in my work. The manuscript is good, the novel is certainly ready (and don't think that didn't take a lot of self-affirmation) but convincing someone else of that? 

It doesn't help that this is my first real work. I've written short stories, I've been a journalist with my work sent around the globe (literally, I have a story about poop that got picked up in the UK), and I've gotten my game reviews published. But none of that really translates into something impressive for agents. I have no literary awards, no contests I can brag about. I'm not part of any writers' association or guild, mainly because I lack any of the aforementioned credentials that would afford me membership, so how do I make myself look good on this silly query letter?

I've been reading article after article, revising and re-revising my letter. I'm just not certain where to go from here. I think maybe my best bet is to enter some short story contests, get a little recognition. Just something to pad my letter. It's like applying for a job. I need to find everything I can to make myself stand out to these agents. 

I mean, it'd be great if it were all on the merit of the writing alone, but no one has time to read every manuscript put in front of them. Especially whoppers like mine. So... I guess I just gotta keep plugging away and hope for the best.

​DFTBA