ANNOUNCEMENT: Meg will be teaching a one-week query-writing class with SavvyAuthors, starting September 24, 2018. Query-Writing Boot Camp 2.0 Course Description: Just like writing a book is a skill acquired through hard work and practice, so is writing a query letter. A query is essentially a pitch for your novel in the form … Continue reading CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: Query-Writing Boot Camp 2.0 with SavvyAuthors on 09/24/2018 (Plus Limited-Time Discount!)
Dear Query Hack, SOUVENIR is an adult thriller complete at 101K words. A Jewish-American attorney in Atlanta, Hannah jumps at the chance to close a highly lucrative deal in Syria. It was supposed to be a seventy-two hour trip resulting in a promotion. But the allure of the Old City of Damascus, its ancient Souk … Continue reading Query Hack: Critique #17 – Adult Thriller
Dear Query Hack, Lulu is the girl with all the answers. She has to be. It’s the only way to keep from being crushed by her parents’ wàng nǔ chéng féng—hope their daughter become a phoenix. You know, provided she were allowed to fall into any ashes in the first place. If only there was … Continue reading Query Hack: Critique #16 – YA Contemporary
Dear Query Hack, Peter Poole finds himself in the afterlife as the newest contestant on The American Afterlife Network’s biggest show, Who’s Your Murderer?!. In order to find out who killed him, Peter must relive key memories of his life via the network’s Magical Memory Machine. The clock is ticking: by the end of the … Continue reading Query Hack: Critique #15 – Adult Thriller
Dear Query Hack, Obsessed with his father’s murder, Leonidas discovers he’s a descendant of the legendary monster hunter Abraham van Helsing. And therefore, a target of the monsters responsible for his dad’s death. Neato story premise! I like that we're quickly acquainted with Leonidas' abilities/family history, but I found myself wanting a hook about Leonidas … Continue reading Query Hack: Critique #14 – MG Urban Fantasy
Dear Query Hack, I'd like to present SOUNDS LIKE HOME, a 470 word picture book, about an immigrant child who feels lost and alone in her new surroundings, until she plays her flute. Awesome story concept! However, be careful of your punctuation. This first sentence should read: "I'd like to present SOUNDS LIKE HOME, a … Continue reading Query Hack: Critique #13 – Picture Book
Dear Query Hack, Lucy isn't a killer, but Jean Rose must die. Girl of Fire is the story of twenty-seven-year-old Lucy, who goes by the alias of Phoenix when she's taking on her role as an assassin in the dark world of killing come to be known as The Underworld. She's an exceptional assassin because … Continue reading Query Hack: Critique #11 – NA Thriller
Heya, book nerds! On Friday, February 23, I participated in Revise and Resub's #10queries event on Twitter along with a fabulous team of freelance editors. Writers had the chance to submit their queries and first five pages into a drawing. Ten submissions were randomly selected for each editor, which were critiqued through the #10queries event … Continue reading Twitter Event Recap: #RevPit #10queries
Heya, book nerds! In case you missed it, we have now added Twitter pitch critiques to Query Hack. If you aren’t already following me/iWriterly on Twitter (or our other social media channels), be sure to come join the fun! I’m always running surveys to learn what YOU guys want to hear about as well as tweeting out … Continue reading Query Hack: Twitter Pitch, Critique #10 – YA Horror
Dear Query Hack, An anonymous SOS is sent out to the secret hideaway of the last rebel group, Safe Haven, who are in a fight for their lives against the tyrannical New Government. Two important details on the SOS catch their attention: one of their leaders, Paul, has been captured, and a cure has been … Continue reading Query Hack: Critique #9 – YA Science Fiction
