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Query “Do”s and “No You Didn’t!”s

Ever wonder what goes into writing a great query letter? Today, agent Barbara Poelle is here to tell you some “Do”s and “Don’t”s of submitting your manuscript. Looking for more advice? Join us on Twitter for our #NaNoAgentChat tweet chat series where you’ll be able to ask Barbara and other agents your questions!

You’ve typed “THE END”. You’ve run your manuscript through the gauntlet of critique partner lashing. The moment has come: it’s time to query! Let’s get your book’s calling card out there with confidence and professionalism. Start your query with a great opening line, like some of these pulled from my own query inbox:

“Hi Barb, Looking for your next million dollar book? Well this is it!”

“Ms. Poelle, What if it was your job to kill babies?”

“I recently read [name of current client’s novel] and while I can see what drew you to it, I think you’ll agree I do it better.” 

Oh. Hang on. Yeah, no, these are the opposite of great opening lines. You’ve worked so hard for your novel, let’s make sure you stick the landing on this, your first foray into the publishing industry: the query letter!

Keep reading

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Me: Oh no it’s 2am! Maybe I should put my book down and go to sleep.

My brain: 

Me: *continues reading*

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“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

— Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

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my first love is dead & nothing about my life has changed. but of course, everything is different.

Life of the Party was unsettlingly relatable. The book is brave in the face of fear, strong in the spaces where we tremble, hates in places where love is demanded. Olivia Gatwood refuses to apologize for her brutally bold statements, and it’s beautiful.

the pain I don't say out loud, builds a home inside me.

This is a book that speaks to my body as much as my brain. I found myself pausing to just sit and let each poem resonate, to roll it around my mouth before moving on to the next. Many of the poems were deeply moving, deeply wounding, and all too real.

Poetry is subjective, so I had some that I loved more than others, and some that I didn't like at all. But my overall opinion on this collection is that it is a thing of beauty, and the forever teenager in me wants to tape the pages to my walls.

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“Amelia Earhart, SOS!”

I grabbed this short story on Audible, and  Alone with the Stars made my commute fly by (wink wink)! It tells the story of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, along with weaving the story of a girl, Lizzie, who may have heard her distress signal. I learned more about Amelia’s relationships that I found very interesting. Some parts had me cringing, not going to lie. There was a pro-feminist dynamic in a time where feminism seemed to be looked down on. Lizzie’s teacher graded her poorly for a perfectly good paper, saying she’d have to work twice as hard as the boys to get the same grade. It seemed to imply Lizzie would thank her later. But it seemed to me like she was just reinforcing misogyny. 

The whole thing was so short though! Immediately after it was over I found myself googling tidbits from the book to see how accurate they were to history. I wanted to know more, and I wish the story had been expanded on, even more speculatively. Amelia Earhart’s story is one that fascinates me, and I always love learning more about her.

Read with me on my Goodreads!

#bookish #booklr #book blog #bookworm #bookblr #laurenslibrary #book review #alone with the stars #audible

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Is this not how it is?

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“Of all the animals that travelled the long road through the ages with us, dogs have always walked closest.”

Animals are something I am deeply passionate about, especially dogs. So if someone stole my dog, you better believe I would do everything in my power, chase them to the ends of the earth, to get her back. In this, at least, I relate to Griz, the main character in A Boy And His Dog At The End Of The World. We follow our main character in their journey to retrieve their stolen dog, but we find so much more than that along the way. The loyalty of a pet, the bond of friendship and joint survival, family, and a world that is so close, yet beyond understanding. 

This book is a deep and striking character portrait that says so much more than just the words on the page. It’s a book that I think will haunt me for a long time.

Find more from me on GoodReads! 

#a boy and his dog #a boy and his dog at the end of the world #c.a. fletcher #libraryoflauren #bookreview #book review

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Read at night to feed your dreams, read in the morning to give you courage.

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"Night doesn't last forever. But Ada can no longer remember the sun."

Under Glass And Stone is a fast paced, creepy book that will give you chills.

Evelyn has always been fascinated by the Byrne House across the street. Growing up, she has heard whispered stories of the horrors that happened there. She feels intrinsically tied to the house without understanding why. When her best friend goes missing inside the house and the police refuse to listen to her, she decides to take matters into her own hands to find him, and to uncover the mysteries that have always haunted her about Byrne House. The story is fast paced and action packed - sometimes, in my opinion, too fast paced. Our heroine is quickly in love with a boy she hardly knows, she never hesitates to dive into dark tunnels, and always speaks her mind - even when it's frustratingly not to her benefit. The story was, however, genuinely creepy. I had to stop reading late last night because I was starting to feel paranoid about reading in the dark, pausing to listen to the creaking of my house and wondering if someone else was there. Under Glass And Stone is a quick read, but a satisfying one, with enough scares to keep me up at night. I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for an honest review.

#libraryoflauren #underglassandstone #a.n. willis #under glass and stone #book review