Query Explanation (what to include in a Sci-Fi novel query... pointer to SYW)

Tru, in the Share Your Work forum, there's a section for queries. You can read a few of them to get a feel for the process or even post the one you're ready to send out if you'd like some help with it. Just be aware that the adivce and opinions given there are at least as blunt as you would get from most agents/editors.

Normally you need to include your title, genre, and approx. word count. Do a short paragraph or two to highlight your main plot, then mention any writing credits you may have. Pick one genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, etc.

Have you just finished writing the story? If so, there's a lot to be done before the querying stage. Read the forums on the strange requirements of pubishers these dayys - cut out your dialogue-tag adverbs, restrict said-bookisms to nearly none and be very careful not to head-hop. Read the story out loud. Leave it a couple of weeks and read it again. Then you might be ready for others to see it.

If you haven't already, please read the sticky info threads at the top of Query Letters & Synopses forum in Share Your Work (SYW password = vista). Lots of questions about queries have already been asked and answered there.

-Derek

Agent Donald Maass says queries need four things:

Protagonist
Conflict
Setting
Something unique to your book

A friend just blogged about this very thing, so check here if interested.

Good queries often read like the back cover copy of a book, but the details are more specific since an agent needs to know them. (while you wouldn't want to give away the secrets to a reader buying the book). Agent Kristin Nelson did a query pitch workshop on her blog. Look here for the first one.

It's also good to have your voice shine through, and the tone of the book. So if you're writing humor, the query should be funny. Suspense, the query should feel suspenseful. Both Miss Snark and Bookends have done lots of query crits. Worth reading through them to get a feel for it.