can't anyone write a decent query letter these days? it's like they think a synopsis and a three-sentence summary are enough to sell a book.

what are you, a publication from 2005? query letters have changed a lot since then

idk maybe i can just use emojis and call it a 'bookless query'? 🤷‍♀️

oh that's just a plot summary of their writing career so far

lmao sounds like someone's still bitter about the hundred rejection letters they got for their own debut novel

have you actually tried querying with a traditionally published novel in the past 5 years or are you just armchairing this?

guess that means my manuscript is doomed

i know, right? it's like they think we're all just haggling for a used car or something. "how about this, i'll throw in the first three chapters for free!" 🤦‍♂️

Are you seriously implying that anyone who uses an online template is incapable of writing, or is this just a pet peeve about people who don't follow traditional publishing routes?

dude, i've seen tweets get published

lol sorry my query letter wasn't up to yr standards, not all of us can be professional book sellers like you.

have you seen any recent query letters that actually achieve this magical feat of being both compelling and concise?

i feel you, but most authors i know r just barely scraping together enough time to write hte book, let alone a polished query letter.

lmao same with dating profiles am i right? "i like hiking and dogs" asking for a whole relationship with that

yeah, have you tried dealing with publishers lately? they don't even want to know the pitch, just send them a few paragraphs and a logline

what's wrong with most writing programs that they're not teaching people how to write a proper

it's like they think getting a book deal is as easy as getting a date with three decent tinder pics

i know right? and what's with the lack of any actual plot details or character descriptions?

have you actually tried to distill an entire novel into a single page?

you do it then. show us how it's done, genius.

oh come on, have you even read a good query letter before? what exactly are you expecting, a 10-page dissertation? get real.

hey, at least it's not a 5-page executive summary with 3 font styles and 5 densely packed paragraphs of unnecessary detail. that's just being hopeful.

have you ever tried writing a query letter? it's not as easy as it looks and doing what's "enough" is subjective - do you have a perfect

um sorry but that's a pretty harsh statement. lots of aspiring authors are gonna struggle to even

that's a really outdated view. Query letters are evolving and so is the industry. A strong online presence and social media following can make a book sell itself.

ugh i feel you, but it's not just query letters - a lot of writers don't seem to understand what editors are looking for in a proposal, and it's like they think packaging and flash are more important than actual content

really? because your publisher's marketing team is gonna care about your finely crafted query letter once the book is already out and flopping

yeah because nothing screams "i'm a worthy author" like a three-sentence summary that just lists the plot points in order

just got done reading a query letter that clearly got a ton of authors agented, so calm the hell down

are u kidding me? a lot of people are actually doing a solid job with query letters, it's not that hard to write one

i feel the same way, it's so basic. at the same time. Maybe they're just writing to express themselves and not to win some literary award, who knows.

people have been successfully publishing books with concise query letters for decades, don't know why that's suddenly a problem.

seriously though, what's the worst query letter you've seen and what makes you think it's so bad? or is this just another writer complaining about other writers being incompetent

idk, have you seen some of those prefaculty written queries and still managed to get published or

fr, what do they think this is, a haiku? a query letter is supposed to sell the whole damn book, not just the cliff

I disagree, many query letters are still well-written and effective.

i know, right? the bare minimum just isn't enough. you gotta hook the agent with something compelling, ya know?

haha yeah what even is a query letter anymore? are you suggesting people should just send in the whole manuscript and a note that says "pls buy my book?

i know, right? it's so frustrating. like, do they even bother reading agent guidelines anymore?

man, that's such a boomer take. a good query doesn't need to be a 10 page dissertation. get with the times, attention spans are short these days.

at this point i'm pretty sure a decent query letter is just two sentences: "here's my book, good luck

exactly what do they think a query letter is for, then? does it not serve as an introduction and a sales pitch to get an agent to read your

did you try actually reading the query letters instead of just skimming them? maybe if

omg yeah i've seen some terrible query letters lately... and don't even get me started on when they ask for a full manuscript without even saying why they're interested in the

great, another chance for someone to gatekeep the publishing industry with their apparently perfect query letters lol

girl, that's the whole problem yall are getting queries from/english majors now.

for real. and it's like they think we're mind readers or something - gotta actually give some details about the story and characters.

what's a "query letter" and why do i care about it? isn't the book itself the important part?

fwiw the only people who really care about query letters are literary agents and that one uncle at the family reunion who's 'almost published'

totally feel you on this. half the people i know who say they're 'writers' can't even be bothered to proofread their

ikr?! and they act like a few emojis and some hashtags will do the trick too. like, put some effort into that query, people and ugh.

I feel you, but it's also about understanding that query letters are a form of branding for authors - it's not just about selling the book, but showcasing their unique voice and perspective. If a query letter sounds too formulaic or generic, it's a bad sign for the whole project.

idk, that's low-key achievable. some of the most popular books have had pretty basic query letters. it's not all about the query, you know?

how about sharing some actual examples of "decent" query letters, then?

have you actually tried writing a query letter that gets a response from an agent in the past five years?

i'm so tired of seeing query letters that are just a copy of the book blurb. doesn't anyone know how to pitch a book?

imo, it's about time we move away from traditional query letters that favor the articulate over the actual writing talent. not every great author is a great salesperson.

maybe they're just trying to save trees 🤷‍♀️

TOTALLY AGREE - a well-written query letter is key to standing out in a crowded market. It's not just about selling the book, it's about selling yourself and your writing to the agent.

right? i swear, people just vomit whatever onto the page and expect it to work. a decent query takes real effort - you gotta hook the agent. Tease the story, and show you know what you're doing. anything less is just lazy.

lol, yeah tbh most query letters read like someone tried to condense the entire book into one paragraph. like, i get that ur trying to hook me, but at least give me enough info to know what the book is actually about.

omg yes!! and don't even get me started on people who clearly don't do their research on the agent

skill issue. where's your query masterclass?

same. and don't even get me started on the reuse of generic opening hooks. "debut author presents...

omg preach, and don't even get me started on the ones who think a bad first chapter is excusable if the "rest of the book is better" like,

fr tho, what more do they want? a 10 page pitch deck? this ain't a VC presentation, just give em the damn book.

for real, these query letters are so lazy lately. like, put some effort in! a synopsis and 3 sentences ain't gonna cut it. You gotta sell me on your whole damn book.

idk guys, maybe its because most query letters are written at 2am while crying on the couch and the author hasnt taken

what makes you such an expert on query letters? writing a good one is harder than it looks, you know.

a lot of people think a 50,000 word novel is enough to sell a chair too

dude, most agents don't read past teh first paragraph anyway, who are you kidding?

ugh, seriously. don't they know you need to hook the agent

sounds like someone's having a rough day. maybe focus on writing a better book instead of complaining about queries. just a thought.

Disagree. Writing a good query letter is hard work and takes skill. A synopsis and short summary are the core of a query - you can't just throw them together. If you think it's easy. You clearly haven't tried it.

i know, right? people just don't put in the effort anymore. a good query is like an art form - you gotta hook the agent, tease the story, and show you know your stuff. lazy shit won't cut it.

clearly all my books sold because of those concise three-sentences of mumbo jumbo

do you think it's possible that the people complaining about query letters have never actually written a decent one themselves?

do you think a query letter has ever sold a book on its own?

uh, maybe they're just playing the market, you know?

uh, have you seen the slush pile lately?

seriously, what do people expect? a whole novel in the query letter? some of us are just trying our best out here. if the book is good, the details will speak for themselves.

give it a break, most debut authors aren't being offered multi-book deals and/or optioned into tv

then why do you still get paid to do pitch consultations?

tbh yeah it's not just query letters, the entire publishing industry is outdated and needs a serious shakeup. same old gatekeepers blocking new voices

idk what you're getting paid for but query letters are overrated and a ton of agents like synopsis is enough theyre not trying to take the manuscript itself

idk, those are pretty standard and that's all you need.

yeah and meanwhile the agent just wants a catchy tweet to sell the whole manuscript apparently

what's wrong with a three-sentence summary? a query letter's purpose is to entice a publisher to read your ms, not to write a full-length critique of your book

totally agree, it's like they think the query is just a rough outline and not a chance to make a connection with the editor.

for real. and they always think a bio of their last 10 jobs is gonna hook an agent.

sounds like someone's having a rough day. maybe try putting yourself in the author's shoes before judging so harshly. writing a good query is hard work, and not everyone has the same skills. a little empathy goes a long way.

were you really that surprised or are you just trolling for validation from fellow published authors?

are you kidding me? most authors can barely get an agent to look at their query in the first place, let alone sell a book off a fancy letter.

same lowkey want to scream when i see another query letter with 5 small sentences that don't even summarize the plot.

really? what's your secret to writing the perfect query letter then?

have you ever gotten a query that spent more time telling you about their diet and exercise routine than their actual writing career?

who cares if it's 3 sentences or 3 paragraphs, if the story sucks it's gonna get rejected anyway

idk what you're talking about, most literary agents i've researched barely read queries let alone require all that extras wrath all you can do is stand out somehow

lol right? we're in the age of tiktok and instagram, no one wants to read a full page these days. just throw some emojis and hashtags on that synopsis and call it a day.

what's wrong with a good old fashioned outline?

tf is your problem? a good query letter takes work. Yeah, but you act like that's easy.