Been thinking about sending out some query letters to publishers. Any advice on how to write an attention grabbing "hook?" Thanks.
How do you write a good hook for a query letter?
(5 posts) (4 voices)
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Hi OTRA
There are many good articles on the web about writing query letters, but start with a couple at our site:
5 Secrets to Submitting a Query Letter
Also, you'll find great advice on writing query letters at WritersDigest.com
Whatever "hook" you'll use really depends on many factors - what the story is about, what they style of the articles the publication generally prints is all about, and the Editor in question - for example, some people respond well to humor, others don't. The more research you can do beforehand, the better of a hook you'll be able to come up with.
Above all, you want to keep your query letter BRIEF - Editors are very busy people and simply don't have time for rambling queries, but write a sentence or two, ideally drawn from your story that you're pitching, that can put the Editor into the story itself in an intriguing way.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I agree with Trisha to keep your query letter brief and to the point. Review headlines and promos for books that grab your attention and use them as a reference to create your hook. Good luck!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi there-- I always think a good hook for a query letter is to start the pitch off as you would the article. That is, with an attention-grabbing lead (a quote, a scene, an anecdote) followed by a nut "graf". After that, of course, you'd go into the schpiel about why now (new movie, anniversary, festival coming up, etc) and why you... Good luck!
Posted 1 year ago #
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