Query Competition

Spend just a little time as a writer and you will soon discover the much-maligned, fear-inducing, is-it-rocket-science-or-is-it-simple concept of a query. A query is simply a writer’s first avenue of  contact for a potential publisher or agent. It’s designed to introduce your book and introduce yourself (in that order, I believe) in the hopes that the publisher/agent will find both attractive enough to request a full manuscript.

I’ve written a few queries now but there’s always a nagging fear of, “Am I doing this right?” I’ve researched on the internet, read stories of success and failure and tried to take on board the advice given by the people at the frontline: agents and publishers. And now I’m taking it a step further.

Over at Kidlit.com, Ms Mary Kole, Associate Agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, is running a query competition. And I’ve decided to enter. I’ve chosen my Middle Grade novel, Operation Raspberry to query as on Ms Kole’s site she states that she’s interested in a Middle Grade mystery. Why, Ms Kole, do I have a rip-roaring tale of mystery and adventure for you!

Ms Kole will pick a winner from the hundreds of hopefuls and give feedback as to why it stood above the rest. Regardless of the outcome it’s going to be a great exercise for me, but of course I’m in it to win it. The prize is a manuscript assessment of the first 30 pages of my manuscript. How good is that?

Wish me luck!