Query Letter Critique

One agent has very helpfully set up a blog (click on my title above to see it) on which she publishes submitted query letters and then critiques them for all to see. It is most helpful to see what doesn't work in a query and she even allows critiqued queries to be resubmitted once after editing. Now if only an agent would start posting the queries which worked! (The only place I've seen any such examples are in books about how to write a query letter to pitch your book.)

In any case, here are her guidelines:

HOW QUERY SHARK WORKS

Send a query letter to the Shark.
It might get posted and critiqued.
It might not.
You'll know when it gets posted.

You can send a revised query letter after the critique. You MUST include the post number for it to be posted and critiqued as well (it's in the subject line.)

FICTION ONLY.
Queries for non-fiction or memoir will get tossed back into the boat.

To send work to the shark: email your query letter to janet@fineprintlit.com

NO attachments of course. Agents don't accept attachments in query letters generally.

You MUST put Query Shark in the subject line to have it be considered for the blog.

Not all queries will be critiqued.

Your chance to be critiqued improves if you aren't making the same mistakes the Shark has ranted about commented on previously. To make new and fresh mistakes, carefully read the query letters and comments already posted.