Query Guru: Simple but Specific

How to query a twisty plot (YA Contemporary Mystery)

(For my latest free newsletter with tons of writing news and resources, go here.)

Welcome to another Query Guru post! Today we’ll look at both the query letter and the first page of a YA mystery novel.

Both were submitted by a subscriber to my newsletter (thank you, author, for submitting!). If you would like a chance to receive feedback on your query letter and first page, fill out the following Query Guru form. You do not have to be a paid subscriber to receive feedback, though you do have to be a paid subscriber to read the feedback I give to others.

And, if you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to how to write the query letter in the first place, check out my in-depth post: How to Write a Stand-Out Query Letter.

Overall, today’s submission is strong, but it does bring up a problem I often see in queries: how do you explain a complicated or twisty plot without confusing the reader? The short answer: don’t tell us everything — keep it simple, yet specific. For more on how to do this, read on…

Here’s the query: