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Query Letter Swipe File: Exact Words, Phrases and Templates to Write Query Letters, Get Literary Agents and Publish Books for Life
You are about to step into a vault of bestseller templates with copy-and-paste prompts that leave nothing to chance. How do I know? After studying query letters for 20+ years, I got an agent with my very first letter.
Now so can you.
In this step-by-step blueprint to writing query letters, you’ll
Since you’ve read this far, I think I know two
Let me see if I can help.
Why worry about that nagging voice that says, “Why don’t you order right this instant?” and “What are you waiting for?”, and “I wonder if my query letter could have been even better?”
That voice has a point. This is your dream. This is your life. Don’t settle for less than you and your novel deserve. Don’t miss the chance to write the letter that gets the agent that changes everything. Your future self will thank you.
Categories
Now so can you.
In this step-by-step blueprint to writing query letters, you’ll
Since you’ve read this far, I think I know two
Let me see if I can help.
Why worry about that nagging voice that says, “Why don’t you order right this instant?” and “What are you waiting for?”, and “I wonder if my query letter could have been even better?”
That voice has a point. This is your dream. This is your life. Don’t settle for less than you and your novel deserve. Don’t miss the chance to write the letter that gets the agent that changes everything. Your future self will thank you.
Categories
129 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2017
21 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 9, 2017
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a novice writer, as in, I have one self-published short story and have started a historical fiction that might be a book someday. Writing is by no means my primary profession. I had no idea what a query letter or a swipe file was, but I read this book anyway. To my surprise, Kokoski defines both terms right away in his introduction, for which I am extremely grateful. After the definition of terms, the introduction read a little like one of those commercials to sell you the secrets to success for "five small payments," so I was a bit concerned. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the book. Kokoski delivers on what he promises.
Kokoski provides a plethora of templates and helpful hints in a style similar to that of They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, with Readings by Gerald Graff, but in a much more user-friendly tone and without the added filler. His alphabetical listing of compelling phrases and other swipe file categories makes it easy to reference them again later. He even answered a question I had from the opening chapter in one of his subsequent chapters. I also really appreciate the suggestions on where to find information on agents.
This is a fantastic tool for anyone looking for an agent, or even just for someone looking to hone their synopsis-writing skills. I highly recommend taking Kokoski’s advice and reading through the whole thing first, before attempting a query letter, just to be sure you understand everything. At just over 100 pages, it’s a quick read and well worth the time.
I'm a novice writer, as in, I have one self-published short story and have started a historical fiction that might be a book someday. Writing is by no means my primary profession. I had no idea what a query letter or a swipe file was, but I read this book anyway. To my surprise, Kokoski defines both terms right away in his introduction, for which I am extremely grateful. After the definition of terms, the introduction read a little like one of those commercials to sell you the secrets to success for "five small payments," so I was a bit concerned. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the book. Kokoski delivers on what he promises.
Kokoski provides a plethora of templates and helpful hints in a style similar to that of They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, with Readings by Gerald Graff, but in a much more user-friendly tone and without the added filler. His alphabetical listing of compelling phrases and other swipe file categories makes it easy to reference them again later. He even answered a question I had from the opening chapter in one of his subsequent chapters. I also really appreciate the suggestions on where to find information on agents.
This is a fantastic tool for anyone looking for an agent, or even just for someone looking to hone their synopsis-writing skills. I highly recommend taking Kokoski’s advice and reading through the whole thing first, before attempting a query letter, just to be sure you understand everything. At just over 100 pages, it’s a quick read and well worth the time.
November 3, 2017
This is a kick-ass tool for your traditional publishing arsenal. This is "query letter how-to" meets "plug-and-play". Christopher Kokoski once again delivers clear, no-nonsense guidance on an integral part of traditional publishing: the query letter.
Query Letter Swipe File breaks down the components of a solid query letter and then compartmentalizes them so that you can fill in the blanks based on your particular story. By presenting the information in a way that is flexible and easy to customize, Kokoski shows his deep understanding of how varied the literary world can be. Many authors still attempt to teach people with a one-size-fits-all approach.
The format is easy and quick to read / swipe through (hence the title). This is a fantastic book to have in your physical and digital library as a go-to reference for every query letter you'll ever write. The paragraphs are short. The language is easy to understand and doesn't get bogged down in a bunch of technical jargon that slows down or confuses readers of some non-fiction. I truly believe that just about anyone could pick up this book and write a decent query letter--even if they've never done it before (like me!).
It looks like there were a few typos present that may make catch you off guard upon first reading, but it's easy to get past them because of how the templates are set up. For example, in template #4 (the one I used for the query letter I've included), the copy read:
"In [BESTSELLING AUTHOR IN YOUR GENRE] meets
[BESTSELLING BOOK OR MOVIE IN YOUR GENRE], this
story blends [GENRE COMPONENT], [GENRE
COMPONENT] and [GENRE COMPONENT] with [GENRE
COMPONENT]."
So, as written, if completed, this section of my query letter might read:
"In Stephen King meets It, this story blends childhood trauma, horror, and mystery with fantasy."
which doesn't make a lot of sense. But I believe he meant that you might say something like:
"In Stephen King's novel It, childhood trauma, horror, and mystery are blended with fantasy."
The standout feature of Query Letter Swipe File is definitely the list of words and phrases that you can insert into the templates as you please. This means that Kokoski has done all the heavy lifting for you concerning how to word the openings, endings, and transitions that you'll need to strengthen your query letter. I love it when instructions and tasks are made as simple as possible, and Kokoski has definitely done that in this book!
Though I've only ever self-published my work, I used one of my books as an example to create a mock query letter and test the strength of QLSF. You can read the body of my mock query letter and judge for yourself how well the book guided me!
"Based on your interest in dystopian and romantic literature, Show Her would be a perfect piece for you to represent.
Erika Wogo knows how to live a life that is the envy of everyone around her. She meticulously maintains her outward appearance, adheres to her husband’s every demand without question, and even passes her knowledge of being a proper wife on to others who are willing and eager to learn how to become (and stay) married.
But when a co-worker confesses to having an affair with Erika’s husband, Erika's world view is shaken and the countdown to Erika’s divorce--and permanent social ruin--begins. Erika knows that it is only a matter of time before her husband will formally end their “purchase agreement” and leave her divorced and tainted for the rest of her life.
Armed with cunning, determination, and sophisticated bio-weaponry, Erika does all she can to defend her marriage and her reputation against her husband’s infidelity. But, as adept as she is at managing her rivals in love, her loyal followers, her public persona, and the ex-boyfriend who still loves her without question, she will inevitably have to face the consequences of her nefarious actions.
Show Her is a dystopian psychological thriller blended with science fiction and romance. Show Her is a complete novella at 23,320 words. Please note that this is a simultaneous submission."
Query Letter Swipe File breaks down the components of a solid query letter and then compartmentalizes them so that you can fill in the blanks based on your particular story. By presenting the information in a way that is flexible and easy to customize, Kokoski shows his deep understanding of how varied the literary world can be. Many authors still attempt to teach people with a one-size-fits-all approach.
The format is easy and quick to read / swipe through (hence the title). This is a fantastic book to have in your physical and digital library as a go-to reference for every query letter you'll ever write. The paragraphs are short. The language is easy to understand and doesn't get bogged down in a bunch of technical jargon that slows down or confuses readers of some non-fiction. I truly believe that just about anyone could pick up this book and write a decent query letter--even if they've never done it before (like me!).
It looks like there were a few typos present that may make catch you off guard upon first reading, but it's easy to get past them because of how the templates are set up. For example, in template #4 (the one I used for the query letter I've included), the copy read:
"In [BESTSELLING AUTHOR IN YOUR GENRE] meets
[BESTSELLING BOOK OR MOVIE IN YOUR GENRE], this
story blends [GENRE COMPONENT], [GENRE
COMPONENT] and [GENRE COMPONENT] with [GENRE
COMPONENT]."
So, as written, if completed, this section of my query letter might read:
"In Stephen King meets It, this story blends childhood trauma, horror, and mystery with fantasy."
which doesn't make a lot of sense. But I believe he meant that you might say something like:
"In Stephen King's novel It, childhood trauma, horror, and mystery are blended with fantasy."
The standout feature of Query Letter Swipe File is definitely the list of words and phrases that you can insert into the templates as you please. This means that Kokoski has done all the heavy lifting for you concerning how to word the openings, endings, and transitions that you'll need to strengthen your query letter. I love it when instructions and tasks are made as simple as possible, and Kokoski has definitely done that in this book!
Though I've only ever self-published my work, I used one of my books as an example to create a mock query letter and test the strength of QLSF. You can read the body of my mock query letter and judge for yourself how well the book guided me!
"Based on your interest in dystopian and romantic literature, Show Her would be a perfect piece for you to represent.
Erika Wogo knows how to live a life that is the envy of everyone around her. She meticulously maintains her outward appearance, adheres to her husband’s every demand without question, and even passes her knowledge of being a proper wife on to others who are willing and eager to learn how to become (and stay) married.
But when a co-worker confesses to having an affair with Erika’s husband, Erika's world view is shaken and the countdown to Erika’s divorce--and permanent social ruin--begins. Erika knows that it is only a matter of time before her husband will formally end their “purchase agreement” and leave her divorced and tainted for the rest of her life.
Armed with cunning, determination, and sophisticated bio-weaponry, Erika does all she can to defend her marriage and her reputation against her husband’s infidelity. But, as adept as she is at managing her rivals in love, her loyal followers, her public persona, and the ex-boyfriend who still loves her without question, she will inevitably have to face the consequences of her nefarious actions.
Show Her is a dystopian psychological thriller blended with science fiction and romance. Show Her is a complete novella at 23,320 words. Please note that this is a simultaneous submission."
March 25, 2018
This is a very interesting and informative book.
Since I wasn't considering looking for an agent at this time I didn't think it would be useful to me. Boy was I wrong. There are so many different swipe files, keywords and templates that I can use this for a query to a publisher, even people to host me on their blogs and look more professional as I ask. It will help create a summary and a bio as well.
The book was short enough and interesting enough and has lots of simple templates to use. I haven't used one yet (that's why the 4 star--- since I can't say it actually got me a position or created the perfect letter)
I will be using these files in the future though!
Since I wasn't considering looking for an agent at this time I didn't think it would be useful to me. Boy was I wrong. There are so many different swipe files, keywords and templates that I can use this for a query to a publisher, even people to host me on their blogs and look more professional as I ask. It will help create a summary and a bio as well.
The book was short enough and interesting enough and has lots of simple templates to use. I haven't used one yet (that's why the 4 star--- since I can't say it actually got me a position or created the perfect letter)
I will be using these files in the future though!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews