Query Letter: Look ahead?

avekevin

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 8, 2017
Messages
105
Reaction score
14
Location
California, USA
I have written the first of what will be a series of books. In my query letter, should I mention that it will form a series? Should I preview where I see the series going, or stick to the content of the book being queried?

Thanks!
Kevin
 

lizmonster

Possibly A Mermaid Queen
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 5, 2012
Messages
14,534
Reaction score
24,104
Location
Massachusetts
Website
elizabethbonesteel.com
I have written the first of what will be a series of books. In my query letter, should I mention that it will form a series? Should I preview where I see the series going, or stick to the content of the book being queried?

Thanks!
Kevin

The general rule of thumb is to query one book at a time, and make sure the book works as a stand-alone. Adding the words "with series potential" to the housekeeping may be an enticement for an agent, but strictly speaking you should only query finished work.
 

Dennis E. Taylor

Get it off! It burns!
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Messages
2,602
Reaction score
365
Location
Beautiful downtown Mordor
"Outgrabing the Mome Raths" is adult fantasy and is a complete novel at 86,000 words, with series potential for up to 99 books.

... or something to that effect.
 

nahath

Registered
Joined
Sep 12, 2017
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
I've heard opposite opinions on this from agents. One thing they seem to consitently like, though (which may or may not apply here) is:

"Standalone with series potential"

In other words, low commitment initially with the option to cash in if it does well.

If it can't stand on its own, I'd probably customize the mention of series (or lack thereof) per agent. If an agent mostly does series, I'd tell them that it starts a series. If they mostly do standalones and only occasionally series, I probably wouldn't mention that it's a series and hope that they got hooked on the story itself.
 

lizmonster

Possibly A Mermaid Queen
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 5, 2012
Messages
14,534
Reaction score
24,104
Location
Massachusetts
Website
elizabethbonesteel.com
If an agent mostly does series, I'd tell them that it starts a series.

I'm not entirely sure this is good advice. It's not really the agent that "does" a series; it's the publisher. (I subbed one book; it was the publisher who asked for three.) An agent that has authors who've published series isn't necessarily more likely to look at a book that isn't self-contained.

If you write something that has series potential, it can be a plus. (If you've started more than the book you're querying, that can also help you.) If you write something that can't stand alone (series notwithstanding), you're severely constraining your chances pretty much all along the line.
 

JJ Litke

People are not wearing enough hats
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
7,997
Reaction score
4,475
Location
Austin
Website
www.jjlitke.com
I'm not entirely sure this is good advice. It's not really the agent that "does" a series; it's the publisher. (I subbed one book; it was the publisher who asked for three.) An agent that has authors who've published series isn't necessarily more likely to look at a book that isn't self-contained.

If you write something that has series potential, it can be a plus. (If you've started more than the book you're querying, that can also help you.) If you write something that can't stand alone (series notwithstanding), you're severely constraining your chances pretty much all along the line.

+1

avekevin, take a look at Query Letter Hell in the Share Your Work area. There are several sticky threads there loaded with resources and advice. You need 50 posts to post a query for critique, but you can learn tons by participating in the critique threads already there.
 

avekevin

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 8, 2017
Messages
105
Reaction score
14
Location
California, USA
Thanks, everyone. The book has a self-contained plot but is left open ended to allow for much more with a bit of a cliffhanger/look-ahead at the end. "Standalone with series potential" sounds like an appropriate description.

Kevin
 

Laer Carroll

Aerospace engineer turned writer
Super Member
Registered
Temp Ban
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
2,478
Reaction score
268
Location
Los Angeles
Website
LaerCarroll.com
The book has a self-contained plot but is left open ended to allow for much more with a bit of a cliffhanger/look-ahead at the end.
Absolutely HATE cliffhangers. Would throw book in recycler and remember your name so as to avoid it forever. You must handle the look-ahead very delicately to avoid hanger-averse readers.
 
Last edited:

avekevin

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 8, 2017
Messages
105
Reaction score
14
Location
California, USA
Absolutely HATE cliffhangers. Would throw book in recycler and remember your name so as to avoid it forever. You must handle the look-ahead very delicately to avoid hanger-averse readers.

Point taken. I'll consider how to handle it for all audiences.
 

frimble3

Heckuva good sport
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
11,574
Reaction score
6,396
Location
west coast, canada
Thank you. Please keep in mind that some of us have been burned by books that hinted that 'all would be answered' in the next book, and that next book never came. Or, came long after we'd stopped caring.
 

EmSalah29

Registered
Joined
Sep 4, 2017
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
Location
London
I find that most first books in a series works as a stand-alone, but once the publisher has confirmed that there will be a second/third to come, the next book almost always ends on some kind of cliff-hanger. I think you should definitely mention that it has series potential, especially with fantasy or sci-fi.
 

Laer Carroll

Aerospace engineer turned writer
Super Member
Registered
Temp Ban
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
2,478
Reaction score
268
Location
Los Angeles
Website
LaerCarroll.com
I find that most first books in a series works as a stand-alone, but once the publisher has confirmed that there will be a second/third to come, the next book almost always ends on some kind of cliff-hanger.

If it does I will still pitch the book in the recycler, and the first of the series as well. I will still forever ban your books in my personal library.

I think you should definitely mention that it has series potential, especially with fantasy or sci-fi.

I disagree. If this potential is true, it will be immediately obvious to any savvy agent and your publisher, and you will have wasted a few precious words in a query which must be as compact and effective as a haiku. It also sets up expectations you may not be able to fulfill, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of the agent and publisher.

One possible way to handle the series-potential idea is in the part of the query we typically put near the end.

"I am seeking representation for My Perfect Book and possible sequels, prequels, and tie-ins. I am also interested in expanding into young adult and techno-thrillers."

This sets up no possibly hard-to-pull-off expectations, but does show that you have thought deeply about your profession and its future. Agents and publishers typically want to work with writers who will produce lots of books in the years to come.