Great blog for querying writers

I discovered a great resource called QueryShark. There’s nothing I’ve found that’s quite like it. The blogger is Janet Reid, an agent with New Leaf Media. Her blog is http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/, but the site I found most useful is http://queryshark.blogspot.com/.

There she practices the old-school, “this sucks,” style of critique. Writers who want to improve their query letters send in a draft, and she offers sometimes sharply-worded advice on how to make it better… or start over. She welcomes new queries, but you have to follow her rules, and be prepared for public humiliation. But, as writers, we know all about that, right?

I’ve read almost the entire archive and it is just plain fascinating to see how many writers improve their queries after a few back-and-forths. If Ms. Reid is truly enthused–which happens rarely– she’ll ask for pages, but be advised: her preferred clients are usually in the narrative non-fiction and fiction categories, not YA or Middle Grade genres. But she’ll read and comment on your query no matter what the genre.

Prepare yourselves with liberal doses of Tuff Skin.

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