My SUCCESSFUL Query Letter (example + tips)

[@capitandodonpa]

shaelin: i can't wait to tell people how i wrote my query letter God to his angels: she must be stopped at all costs

[@r33mickey]

I know luck always has some say in this, but wow dude, now I can see how you got an agent so fast - that was an amazing query letter! I like how you thought about the pitch as a mini-version of your book, that's really smart. This video will be very useful to me in the future!

[@billyalarie929]

This query letter, and ESPECIALLY you going into WHY it was written the way you wrote it, is so important and very, very useful. Thank you for this gift.

[@seahorse7fly]

Congratulations on getting a literary agent! Thank you so much for sharing your thought process and your query letter -- it's SO good.

[@ShaelinWrites]

thank you!!

[@vitotamito]

Why would anyone get upset about people getting a book picked up from someone who puts a ton of time and effort into making videos that help other people write? It’s not like a KZbin channel isn’t hard work and dedication, and storytelling in its own right. This is self-published non-fiction writing. Be proud of this channel as a work of literature in and of itself. Great query letter!

[@one_smol_duck]

Anyone who says you only got a deal because of your KZbin channel is jealous. Your writing is outstanding. I bet these are the same people who belittle other authors in their query letters then balk when they get rejected by agents who actually respect the genre they're working in.

[@AdamFishkin]

The jealous people who platform-shame you can go sit on a machete. My patience for their shit is non-existent. All in all you've got an impressive preparedness in how you put your query letter together. The advantages that you *DO* have make sense.

[@VideoGameRoom32]

First. I am bad at writing query letters. I find it easier writing a book. Thanks for sharing this

[@elly9311]

I paused the video to read the query letter. It's really good. My first thought was "why are they estranged?" And then "how did she save the life of her sister?" It immediately sparked interest.

[@iBluefoot]

Congratulations! I’ve been appreciating your insights for some years and often refer to your videos to new writers. It’s great to see you making ground in publishing.

[@kevinstricklen7579]

Can you follow up this video with an interview with your agent to get their perspective on what stood out about your letter. I love your perspective but would also like theirs.

[@maya-gur695]

I'm so incredibly happy for you and excited to see the rest of your publishing journey!

[@MerweenTheWitch]

That is such a precious peak into your process. Thank you for sharing!

[@BigPhilly15]

The herbalism angle is really original an interesting. I forget who said it, but readers of fiction love the bonus of learning something factual in a novel. Congratulations.

[@MrK.A]

Fantastic video. Thanks. I was wondering if i should start with an intro paragraph or going straight into the hook. This video cleared things up for me. I'll be going straight into my hook.

[@rizzypizzy]

Great Query! Congrats, again! I read History of Wolves, having heard of it from your videos, and I loved it, so I am trés looking forward to Honey Vinegar!

[@theauthorgirl-podcast]

I don't want to traditionally publish but dang, I still want to write a query letter now 😂 It seems like a good practice.

[@ulla7378]

I feel it can be useful. Perhaps even during drafting. I tried and it was eye opening (during draft phase) to have the "if I have couple hundred words, what I want to say about my story" vs "what is the reality of my story in its current form". Gave me several good pointers for future edits on what I want to bring to the front and what I can afford to lose.

[@theauthorgirl-podcast]

@@ulla7378 this is amazing. Definitely trying this out then

[@ShaelinWrites]

Agreed, it's a really useful exercise!! Writing pitches (i find) is really helpful for identifying elements of your story that are unclear or missing because you can't articulate them in a condensed form

[@margauxb3591]

Sending you the best thought for the rest of the publishing journey because god i really want to read Honey Vinegar

[@The_sassafrass]

I didn’t even know that comparisons to other books were recommended. Thanks so much for the tips!

[@wrigleyextra11]

Sitting on two manuscripts that are ripening 🥑🍑 - needed this. Thanks so much. Probably the most timely vlog of yours for me - a sign even. 2023 is the year of querying ⚡wish me luck!

[@ShaelinWrites]

Ohhh good luck querying!!!

[@clint_oreilly]

It proves you're a good writer :) So... Keep writing,. Happy for you, and thanks for sharing.

[@wordfullyyours]

This is really helpful. I've been querying for a while and have not seen any success.

[@ComedorDelrico]

That query letter had me chomping at the bit to get my hands on this book, no wonder you got an agent right away! Clearly, you're very talented. Anyone who says your success is only because of your YT channel is a fool, and probably just jealous. Okay . . . I'm headed to peek at your channel to get the latest updates on your story. I really want to read this!

[@tumeloramontsho4955]

Truly Grateful for this video

[@lakeshagadson357]

I wish I could write more letters and do more words and spelling and English but I am doing editing which is not easy

[@kevinmathews4050]

Thanks for the insight. Recently decided to try and query my 3rd book and will be writing a query letter soon. This was a great example I hadn't thought of before. Good luck!

[@76kilosofshade81]

I just love your stuff. That's all. 😃

[@donkyoofficial]

Thank you for sharing!!!!

[@janicemacintosh5804]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@wordcharm2649]

YAASSS! Haven't even watched and already excited.

[@iisazelx9340]

I think you might’ve mentioned it before, but are you submitting to US or Canada-based publishers?

[@ShaelinWrites]

I'm not really talking/sharing much about my submission experience while on sub, but I am submitting to both!!

[@iisazelx9340]

@@ShaelinWrites fwiw it Honey Vinegar sounds like it could be a Catapult book (publisher of Godshot) and it sounds kinda similar vibe wise to Brutes by Dizz Tate. Best of luck!!

[@jacquecortez5014]

The things they never teach you in school. The Query Letter.

[@pinkcardigan3329]

Love how this video is organized!! Super helpful and it cleared up how I want to reorganize my query letter. Immediate subscriber right here

[@SteveJubs]

Thank you for this! Question-Do agents have bots that scroll through their inboxes for hashtags?

[@ShaelinWrites]

Honestly I have no idea!

[@GELzenDragon]

I've had this video book marked for months now. You helped push me to finish my own novel and with a little play pause action, I started to re-craft my query letter. This was such an awesome video and truly a great help! Thank you for all your insight and tips.

[@jackhaggerty1066]

The best news to have beside a wintry fire when the rain and wind are thrashing outdoors. *For last year's words belong to last year's language* *And next year's words await another voice.* *And to make an end is to make a beginning.* T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding

[@cloudyyy_0.0]

I'm extremely interesting in this books when will it be ready for publication?

[@ShaelinWrites]

Hahah no idea, the book is currently on submission so I can't really predict the timeline!

[@cloudyyy_0.0]

@@ShaelinWriteseverything will go well for you 111

[@resellerworldnj]

Hi Shaelin. Good video. Was wondering if a book that takes place in the 1950s would be considered “historical?” Mine also takes place in the 1950s. 1959 to be exact. It’s a coming of age novel that I worked very hard on with writing and editing. At first I had what was basically a mini prologue in contemporary time that flashed back to 1959. Finally I cut it because it just slowed everything down. I like to tailor my queries to the specific agents so they know I’ve researched them. I put my pitch up front in the query, but I’m not sure if any personal info on the agent should be left to the last paragraph. If you happen to read this and have any thoughts or advice, I would be extremely appreciative. All the best to you

[@ShaelinWrites]

books set in the 1950s are often considered historical! it depends on how much of a focus there is on the historical setting (whether it's a big focus or merely a backdrop) that could determine if the 'historical' label is the primary genre, or merely a subgenre. In my book, it's more a subgenre.

[@resellerworldnj]

@@ShaelinWrites Thanks so much for the reply. I think in my case too it is more of a backdrop. I just liked the setting of the 1950s and thought the characters behavior fit better into that time period. Plus I felt the 50s were a simpler time. So I guess mine is sub genre too.

[@inazumabf]

the way you explained the different parts of the query made it make more sense for me. i've watched alot of videos on how to write the letter but came out still confused, but yours made it so clear for me. thank you

[@amy-suewisniewski6451]

This might be a controversial take, but even if someone got a publishing deal because of their subscriber count... that doesn't make it unearned? Now I KNOW your channel is NOT what got you an agent and it won't be the reason you get a book deal one day. Publishers have already tried publishing big Authortubers with little success. But let's say someone does. They put in the work in a writing channel, it takes off, they get a publishing deal... I mean they worked for it. It's not like editing videos and maintaining a channel isn't LOTS of work. People acting like it's unfair, well, nothing is stopping them from making a successful KZbin channel and getting the so-called free publishing deal that apparently comes with it. They also still had to write a book. (Now I know there is still lots of racism and abelism on KZbin, I don't mean to speak down to people who are facing huge hurdles trying to establish themselves. I just mean that the same attitude that makes certain creators blow up over others also exists in why certain books get published over others. It's not the world we want, but berating a content creator for their book deal I don't think addresses the real problems with the industry people are actually mad at.)

[@cloudyyy_0.0]

Why would you even say that ? Shaelins writing got her this deal this comment was so unnecessary

[@amy-suewisniewski6451]

@@cloudyyy_0.0 Yes, I 100% agree! As stated, I know publishers don't look at KZbin channels like this when they consider publishing. I do not think Shaelin got an agent because of this channel at all, and I fully believe she will get a book deal one day and that it still won't be because of this channel but because of her writing. I'm sorry I didn't make that more clear. I'll try and explain my points better but I'm going to end up rambling so I understand if people don't want to read. I know my take is controversial. My point was only that if it WAS the reason someone somewhere got a book deal that I still don't think that warrants negative back lash at that person or for people to hate on them. I just don't understand why people get so upset and accusatory specifically at writing themed content creators when they get an agent or sell a book. It genuinely baffles me that someone who makes good content on writing, who worked hard enough to finish a book and edit it, then query it, then land and agent, then go on submission, then get a book deal are somehow less worthy or undeserving just because they have a successful channel??? A channel where they demonstrate that they actively work on their writing, are super passionate about books and writing, and grow ad a writer, even if they aren't perfect? Why is it such a scandal when someone who is seriously pursuing something like publication while documenting their journey and process on KZbin actually succeeds? I DO NOT THINK any publishers are going "Wow, this book is absolute rotten garbage, but they have a KZbin channel with 80,000+ subscribers so we're going to publish it." First of all, books are a subjective experience and you will always find a bad review but even a book someone thought was garbage is going to have fans somewhere, because everyone is different! It's just literally not possible that a KZbin creator wrote the worst book ever but still got it published because of subscriber count. But even in the impossible scenario that an Authortuber wrote the single most terrible book to ever be written that was completely unpublishable to every human on the planet, but a publisher bought it anyway and published it in the year 2023 simply because of their subscriber count, my response would still be "Good job to that author! You put in a lot of work to get that deal." Because the writing, scripting and editing that went into a successful Yotube channel is proof enough for me that that work hard and have writing talent.

[@wrigleyextra11]

writing a good book is way harder than doing youtube. People forget that.

[@amy-suewisniewski6451]

@@wrigleyextra11 How so???? I personally don't see any evidence to suggest that's true. I'm NOT saying that writing a book is easier than a successful KZbin channel. I think they're both difficult with different strengths and weaknesses. They do have an overlap of some skills, mainly writing and creating albeit different types.

[@wrigleyextra11]

@@amy-suewisniewski6451 No, writing a good book is a singular task that requires years of refinement of craft and skill while virality and success on youtube is largely on part of the algorithm and gaming how it works - the success of a lot of garbage on youtube is testament to this and people who achieve it readily say so. People confuse being able to go for the lowest form of entertainment and clickbait as 'hard work' while it's just mindlessly grinding what youtube wants. Not acknowledging this is to disregard the racism, ableism, sexism and other biases baked into it. KZbin isn't inspired or art. Also I agree with the comment above, we all know Shaelin has been 💯 as a writer regardless of youtube/tumblr so this was really a weird comment to leave about authortube which isn't even in her orbit. Authortube gets people paid and I am happy for them but what they write isn't art. Different strokes for different folks but sometimes some things are just better than others and that is what Shaelin is doing (even if she won't say so herself).

[@joedent3323]

I like the kiss-curl 😊