The Query Show

Romance means double the emotional arcs, double the stakes, and plenty of opportunities for hijinks. So: how information-dense should your query be? Can our beloved  cause-and-effect language ever le…

Introducing worldbuilding while establishing character goal, motivation, and conflict—all that and magical Enchanteds, dreamwalkers, and the ever-present format for comp titles. Plus: are rhetorical …

How long should a query be? When can you go deep on detail, and when is it just not relevant? Two excellent queries today that dig into this and more, as well as our old favorites: cause and effect, …

The deceptively simple picture book query! How do you query a book whose text probably isn’t much longer than the manuscript itself? How can you make sure you convey the plot and the feeling of readi…

Timelines and query pacing and when it’s appropriate to say “I am seeking representation” and more! Stakes come up both for international intrigue and a romp through a woodsy divorcee retreat.

Do…

It’s a fantastic (literally) week on TQS, which means we’re getting deep into stuff like worldbuilding, showing vs. telling key plot elements, and infusing narrative style into the query itself. Plus…

Two middle-grade novels with high-flying high stakes today! We’re talking the crucial intersection of internal and external arcs, the difference between “is” and “becomes,” and a comp title extravaga…

We have an agent success! Find out which fabulous featured author has secured representation. And two excellent YA queries to review today, and some deep dives into striking the balance between detai…

Ancient Egypt and Reformation Amsterdam are the settings of today’s queries. We’re digging into settings, stakes, and how to keep it emotionally relevant even when Big Stuff is happening in the world…

Two queries about the hazards of love, finding yourself, and—as always—the electric currents of emotional stakes. Find out what you can cut from your query and why sometimes it’s okay to get unconven…

Two fantasies with high stakes, life-or-death situations, and romance today on The Query Show. How do you keep your characters active in a query while still encompassing all the critical worldbuildin…

It’s a middle grade extravaganza! Today we look at two queries for middle grade stories that address themes of bullying, fantasy worlds, and very sticky marshmallows. Plus, we talk balancing the quer…

On today’s episode, we’re looking at a women’s fiction query that shows off some great methods to stay concise while still communicating everything an agent needs to know. Plus, the order of operatio…

On today’s episode, we’ve got two fun sci-fi query letters to read, enjoy, and ponder over. Some thoughts on big pile-up sentences, appropriate comps, getting strange bedfellows into the bed, kicking…

Today on The Query Show, we’re looking at query letters for two YA contemporary fantasy novels, and talkin’ genre expectations, breaking through a crowded market, and lots of “phraseological” musings…

Welcome, writers! On this inaugural episode of The Query Show, we get situated, learn about your charming host (ahem), and dive right in to a podcast for a hilarious picture book featuring rodents, b…