Query Letters Made Simple

By Brandon J Greer

Have you ever struggled when writing a query letter for your fiction novel? If so, this book is for you. It will help you learn how to break the query letter into small, manageable sections as I build a recipe that will help you write an effective, attention-grabbing query letter. But don't take my word for it: Brandon J Greer is amazing with query letters. His query work has been beyond instrumental in any level of success I've ever had as a writer. As a member of our writing group and League of Utah Writers chapter, he understood before all of us just how important the query letter is. It doesn't matter how good your story is if you don't have a query that will encourage anyone to read it. He has dedicated so much of his time learning how to write intriguing query letters and everyone around him has benefited from his knowledge. Before Brandon's help, I'd never gotten any full manuscript requests. Since his help, I've had 33 personalized emails and requests. (And now 3 book contracts.) It's been an amazing turnaround. I joke that any success I get in my writing career will be due to his help, but it's true. A query shouldn't be something you slap together. It's a careful formula that Brandon has broken the code on. He's done amazing work, and the results are irrefutable. Thank you, Brandon, for writing this book, and good luck readers on your publishing journey! Elizabeth Allen Drysdale – League of Utah Writers Chapter President

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brandon J Greer
• Release date: Apr 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223227564

Brandon J Greer

Brandon J Greer is second and third oldest in a family of ten. (He was second oldest until a new marriage brought a new child that bumped him to third.) To set himself apart from so many siblings, he discovered the arts. Drawing, acting, and writing pulled him in at a young age. His first book, Around the World in About a Year, was completed in the sixth grade and was complete garbage but it won him a place in an arts competition at the local university. Now living in northern Utah with his wife and daughter, he travels as much as he can.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Brandon J Greer

All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations.

Dedicated to my writers’ group who helped me realize my passion.

Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 ½ Cups Shortening

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup White Sugar

3 Eggs

1 ½ tsp. Vanilla

3 Cups Flour

1 tsp. Salt

1 ½ tsp. Baking Soda

1 pkg. Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

To begin, cream together the shortening with the sugar. Once creamed, add the eggs one at a time. Slowly add in the flour, vanilla, and the rest of the dry ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown.

FORWARD

Brandon J Greer is amazing with query letters. His query work has been beyond instrumental in any level of success I’ve ever had as a writer. As a member of our writing group and League of Utah Writers chapter, he understood before all of us just how important the query letter is. It doesn’t matter how good your story is if you don’t have a query that will encourage anyone to read it. He has dedicated so much of his time learning how to write intriguing query letters and everyone around him has benefited from his knowledge. Before Brandon’s help, I’d never gotten any full manuscript requests. Since his help, I’ve had 33 personalized emails and requests. It’s been an amazing turnaround.

I joke that any success I get in my writing career will be due to his help, but it’s true. A query shouldn’t be something you slap together. It’s a careful formula that Brandon has broken the code on. He’s done amazing work, and the results are irrefutable.

Thank you, Brandon, for writing this book, and good luck readers on your publishing journey!

Elizabeth Allen Drysdale – League of Utah Writers Chapter President

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TO QUERY LETTERS

WHAT IS A QUERY LETTER?

OUR INGREDIENTS

MAIN CHARACTER

INCITING INCIDENT

REVELATIONS AND RISKS

PRACTICE TIME

THE RECIPE

QUERY WRITING TIPS

PITCHES

THE FULL QUERY

INTRODUCTION TO QUERY LETTERS

Smell isn’t the first thing you think about when writing a query letter. If you want to understand how powerful a query letter can be, you need to understand the power of smell. So, like any good book about writing query letters, I’m going to talk about cookies.

I want to build a scene for you. Imagine walking into your mom’s house. It doesn’t matter why you’re going there, just that you are. As you walk in, the first thing you notice is the smell. It permeates the air and draws you towards the kitchen. You instinctively know what it is and you know you want it. Mom is baking cookies. And not just any cookies, chocolate chip cookies. Your favorite. (If chocolate chip isn’t your favorite, pretend I said your favorite kind.) When you step into the kitchen you see a dozen or so sitting on a cooling rack. Standing next to them is a tall glass of thick, creamy milk.

Stepping forward, you reach out to grab one. Before you can, your hand is slapped away. You cry out in anguish.

Hey? Why did you do that? I need one of those.

Do you really need one? Of course not but you’re hooked now. And the fact that the cookies are now forbidden makes them even more desirable. Sadly, all you have is the smell and it is driving you mad. With every glance your mouth waters. You can practically taste them.

That, my friends, is the power of smell. It drives our