The Craft of Specificity: Why Vague Kills Queries
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What is the significance of specificity in query letters?
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What's up, everyone? This is Cece. So I recently grabbed lunch with an acquiring editor from HarperCollins who told me that the number of submissions she's been getting has nearly doubled.
How do agents perceive the volume of submissions?
And I wasn't surprised at all because every agent and editor I know has been talking about how the volume of submission keeps increasing. So personally, that is a wonderful thing, because it's more reading for me, but it also means I have more chances of matching with authors. I consider it a privilege to review queries on Books with Hooks, and of course, in my submissions inbox. But at the same time, I talk to writers who tell me that they wish agents would read more than a few pages because... And I quote, my story gets better in chapter two. I have to be honest, this kills me. It's like me wanting chocolate chip cookies to have the nutritional value of kale. It's just not realistic. Like it or not, no agent, no acquiring editor is going to stick around to see if a submission gets better.
It's not because we're mean.
Why is making opening pages irresistible crucial for authors?
It's because we get dozens and dozens every day. I know it's harsh, but ambitious writers embrace harsh realities. So here it goes. It's your job to make your opening pages irresistible, to make agents crave it, to make agents want to read more. That's why I'm so excited about my upcoming course, Starting It Right. How to begin your story in the best place and in the best way. I created this course after studying hundreds of books. I've mapped out elements that are present in the beginning of all successful novels and memoirs. And I've designed checklists, actual checklists, that you can use to ensure that your story's beginning is seducing your reader. we'll cover how to write a great first line different types of beginnings and how you can choose the best one the best place to start and the best way to start yes these are totally different things when it makes sense to add a prologue and when it doesn't how to frame your inciting incident in an appealing way
how to balance exposition and mystery, how to include context but not weigh it down with too much backstory, and what to do if your story has more than one POV or timeline. Most of all, I'm going to show you how to make readers want to turn to chapter two. Join me for this multi-day course designed to help you break through the noise. You'll leave with a clear, actionable breakdown of exactly what goes into a terrific beginning. If you've already signed up, come prepared to take lots of notes. We're talking hundreds of slides with real-world examples and specific techniques, plus a super fun surprise that I can't wait to share. I hope to see you there.
Welcome to an episode of Books with Hooks.
As you guys can see, if you're watching us on YouTube, it is only Cece and I here today. Sad.
What are the common mistakes in query letters?
Yeah, it is sad. She's under the weather. And so those of you who have been around a while know that when it's just Cece and I doing books with hooks, we can't really stick to a script. We go too long. We're all over the place, which makes it very fun. And we like being a bit mischievous. Is that the right word? Mischievous? Mischievous.
Yeah.
We like being mischievous.
Well, because Bianca is like the parent in this dynamic, right? Like she keeps us on schedule. She doesn't allow anything to go off the rails. Whereas if you put Carly and I alone in a recording room, who knows what will happen?
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the significance of specificity in query letters?
0:00–0:56
2
How do agents perceive the volume of submissions?
0:56–1:49
3
Why is making opening pages irresistible crucial for authors?
1:49–4:12
4
What are the common mistakes in query letters?
4:12–5:01
5
How can authors effectively convey their story's stakes?
5:01–6:57
6
What makes a query letter stand out in a crowded market?
6:57–7:44
7
How do different narrative styles affect reader engagement?
7:44–8:17
8
What insights can be drawn from the sample pages discussed?
8:17–49:38