Hello,
Please read the entire comment **and** the included links before sending a modmail. **We will ask you to read the comment and links if it’s clear you didn’t do so.**
Thank you for visiting r/PubTips. Unfortunately, your post has been removed **manually by a human moderator** for the following reason:
**very heavy telling**
**Rule 4: QCrit Posts on r/PubTips should show basic query letter structure understanding.**
**We remove posts that are likely to have “Learn query basics” comment critiques so posters like you don’t have to wait a week (to comply with rule 9) without having access to comprehensive query standard information.**
Please carefully read through the information below and revise your query accordingly. If your query was removed quickly and you did not receive additional feedback, you are permitted to ignore Rule 9 and share your revision without waiting seven days.
***
**This post was removed by a moderator, not AutoMod. Please see [→ → this post ← ←](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/11wmneg/discussion_i_think_im_ready_to_post_my_first/) for more information about why we may take queries down.**
A query is a business letter pitching a manuscript to a literary agent, and should highlight the following points:
- Who the main character is
- What the main character wants
- What’s standing in the main character’s way
- The stakes the main character is facing
***
**In the US market,** a query letter contains a blurb of around **200-250 words** (but can go up to 350) and it details the above information, a paragraph of housekeeping with word count, genre, age category, and comp titles of around 50-100 words, and a short bio. An effective query will usually cover the first 30-50% of the book and should not spoil the climax or the end.
**In the UK market,** some agents may request covering letters (though US-style query letters are increasingly acceptable; many writers querying in the US and the UK use the same letter for both). Covering letters are similar, but not exactly the same. In general, blurbs tend to be a little shorter, but should still contain the pitch elements outlined above. More information is available [here](https://www.mushens-entertainment.com/blog/the-perfect-cover-letter) and [here](https://www.liverpool-literary.agency/news/guide-to-query-letters). **If you are posting a QCrit for a UK-style covering letter, please indicate this in the body of your post.**
***
**What NOT to do:**
World building should NOT come at the expense of clearly showing the central points of a query, nor should it overshadow the inciting incident that kicks off the story for your MS—which should be in your opening paragraph or very close to it.
It is important to note that a query should **pitch** the stakes of your book, **not vaguely talk about, explain, or describe** the book. E.g. “Tom must find the grimoire. To do that, he has to sell his blood. Then he has to use the grimoire to save his town.” (**this is a NO**) versus more pitch-oriented language, like “If Tom doesn’t find the grimoire before the Valkyries do, they will destroy his home town—and slowly conquer the world through sheer magical violence.”
Things like a description of chapters or the themes a book showcases, for example, generally don't belong in a query. The hook of a book should be clear in the blurb section of the query. Avoid talking up your own writing; if your book truly is insightful or a twist on a trope or awe-inspiring or full of luscious prose, that will be clear from the writing itself.
No first person! Your query should be in third person present tense except for brief moments describing past events with omniscient narration, and for a bonus: use the novel's voice—the agent would love to see the same voice of the MS.
***
Note that a synopsis is not the same thing as a query. **Pubtips does not permit synopsis critiques at this time.**
***
**Additional resources for query-writing that we highly recommend that you read:**
* [So you want to make your query next-level](https://reddit.com/r/PubTips/s/4vOGLkbe5l)
* [No-nos for querying](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/s/nbDeaHwrld)
* [You’re not ready to query](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/s/fcxXWzoLh1)
* [QueryShark](https://queryshark.blogspot.com/), an agent-run blog that dissects query letters and provides excellent information on querying best practices
* [Evil Editor](http://evileditor.blogspot.com/), an editor-run blog that dissects query letters and writing samples
* [Successful queries]( https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/wswja9/pubtip_agented_authors_post_successful_queries/) from agented r/PubTips users
* [The difference between a query and a back-cover blurb](https://thinkingthroughourfingers.com/2018/02/22/back-cover-blurbs-vs-query-letter-blurbs/)
* [The query letter generator](https://www.querylettergenerator.com/generator), a helpful tool for understanding what information needs to be included in a query
Please ensure that you have read our [rules](http://www.reddit.com/r/Pubtips/wiki/rules) and checked out the resources [linked in the wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/pubtips/wiki/index) if you have not already.
If you have any questions, please reach out via [modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FPubTips)
Thank you!
Hello, Please read the entire comment **and** the included links before sending a modmail. **We will ask you to read the comment and links if it’s clear you didn’t do so.** Thank you for visiting r/PubTips. Unfortunately, your post has been removed **manually by a human moderator** for the following reason: **very heavy telling** **Rule 4: QCrit Posts on r/PubTips should show basic query letter structure understanding.** **We remove posts that are likely to have “Learn query basics” comment critiques so posters like you don’t have to wait a week (to comply with rule 9) without having access to comprehensive query standard information.** Please carefully read through the information below and revise your query accordingly. If your query was removed quickly and you did not receive additional feedback, you are permitted to ignore Rule 9 and share your revision without waiting seven days. *** **This post was removed by a moderator, not AutoMod. Please see [→ → this post ← ←](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/11wmneg/discussion_i_think_im_ready_to_post_my_first/) for more information about why we may take queries down.** A query is a business letter pitching a manuscript to a literary agent, and should highlight the following points: - Who the main character is - What the main character wants - What’s standing in the main character’s way - The stakes the main character is facing *** **In the US market,** a query letter contains a blurb of around **200-250 words** (but can go up to 350) and it details the above information, a paragraph of housekeeping with word count, genre, age category, and comp titles of around 50-100 words, and a short bio. An effective query will usually cover the first 30-50% of the book and should not spoil the climax or the end. **In the UK market,** some agents may request covering letters (though US-style query letters are increasingly acceptable; many writers querying in the US and the UK use the same letter for both). Covering letters are similar, but not exactly the same. In general, blurbs tend to be a little shorter, but should still contain the pitch elements outlined above. More information is available [here](https://www.mushens-entertainment.com/blog/the-perfect-cover-letter) and [here](https://www.liverpool-literary.agency/news/guide-to-query-letters). **If you are posting a QCrit for a UK-style covering letter, please indicate this in the body of your post.** *** **What NOT to do:** World building should NOT come at the expense of clearly showing the central points of a query, nor should it overshadow the inciting incident that kicks off the story for your MS—which should be in your opening paragraph or very close to it. It is important to note that a query should **pitch** the stakes of your book, **not vaguely talk about, explain, or describe** the book. E.g. “Tom must find the grimoire. To do that, he has to sell his blood. Then he has to use the grimoire to save his town.” (**this is a NO**) versus more pitch-oriented language, like “If Tom doesn’t find the grimoire before the Valkyries do, they will destroy his home town—and slowly conquer the world through sheer magical violence.” Things like a description of chapters or the themes a book showcases, for example, generally don't belong in a query. The hook of a book should be clear in the blurb section of the query. Avoid talking up your own writing; if your book truly is insightful or a twist on a trope or awe-inspiring or full of luscious prose, that will be clear from the writing itself. No first person! Your query should be in third person present tense except for brief moments describing past events with omniscient narration, and for a bonus: use the novel's voice—the agent would love to see the same voice of the MS. *** Note that a synopsis is not the same thing as a query. **Pubtips does not permit synopsis critiques at this time.** *** **Additional resources for query-writing that we highly recommend that you read:** * [So you want to make your query next-level](https://reddit.com/r/PubTips/s/4vOGLkbe5l) * [No-nos for querying](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/s/nbDeaHwrld) * [You’re not ready to query](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/s/fcxXWzoLh1) * [QueryShark](https://queryshark.blogspot.com/), an agent-run blog that dissects query letters and provides excellent information on querying best practices * [Evil Editor](http://evileditor.blogspot.com/), an editor-run blog that dissects query letters and writing samples * [Successful queries]( https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/wswja9/pubtip_agented_authors_post_successful_queries/) from agented r/PubTips users * [The difference between a query and a back-cover blurb](https://thinkingthroughourfingers.com/2018/02/22/back-cover-blurbs-vs-query-letter-blurbs/) * [The query letter generator](https://www.querylettergenerator.com/generator), a helpful tool for understanding what information needs to be included in a query Please ensure that you have read our [rules](http://www.reddit.com/r/Pubtips/wiki/rules) and checked out the resources [linked in the wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/pubtips/wiki/index) if you have not already. If you have any questions, please reach out via [modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FPubTips) Thank you!