Query Workshop Sign up … hurry limited spots!

The workshop signup is now closed!

We’re holding a query workshop here on the blog. Some talented friends agreed to help me critique your queries. We’re taking the first 38 writers to sign up on the Mr. Linky below. What do you have to do? Sign up on the Linky (if you’re number 39, you didn’t make it), and then email your query as a Word .doc to brendadrakecontests@gmail.com. Make sure to format the query as you would if sending to an agent. You have 24 hours from signing up to email your query to the contest. If we don’t receive it within 24 hours, you lose your spot, so please don’t delay.

Erica Chapman was so kind as to let me use her query as a sample query for you all. Check it out, it’s wonderful.

““““““““““““““`

Dear Fabulous Agent,

Your client and my critique partner xxxxxx xxxxx felt that my manuscript might be a good fit for your list. I was previously represented by an agent at xxxxxxxxxx, and unfortunately she has decided to pursue a different career path. I recently saw on your #MSWL tweet that you were seeking darker YA Contemporary. Due to this request, I’m querying you with TEACH ME TO FORGET a 57,000-word Dark YA Contemporary novel that blends elements of GOING TOO FAR by Jennifer Echols with the voice of Parker Fadley from Courtney Summer’s CRACKED UP TO BE.

Ellery’s bought the gun, made arrangements for her funeral, and even picked the day. A Wednesday. Everything has fallen in to place. Now all she has to do is die.

When her plans go awry and the gun she was going to kill herself with breaks, she does the one thing she has control over–return it and get a new one. Unfortunately, the security guard who catches her with the gun is also the annoyingly perfect Colter Sawyer from her English class.
 
Colter quickly uncovers her secret and is determined to change her mind. After confessing his guilt over his brother’s suicide, he promises not to tell her secret. Ellery tries to fight her attraction to him, but when the reason for her nightmares shows up in town, she must choose whether her love for one boy is more important than a lifetime of pain.

My background includes an internship with literary agent Louise Fury of L. Perkins Agency, and a year as an associate editor at Entangled Publishing where I worked with Bestselling Author, Jus Accardo. I’m a blog contributor for the YA Misfits and All the Write Notes. I also have a little sister I trade book recommendations with. She’s twelve years younger, but we seem to have a lot in common. I love that you mention yours in your bio.

I’ve pasted the first 10K of my manuscript below per your submission guidelines.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Erica M. Chapman

“““““““““““““““““““

Here are the talented writers critiquing your work, along with the day their critiques will be posted …

11/1 – Rebecca Weston

11/2 – Rae Chang

11/3 – Karma Brown

11/4 – Cara Elizabeth

11/5 – Thomas Torre

11/6 – Trisha Leaver

11/7 – Emmie Mears

11/8 – Erica Chapman

11/9 – Nicole Wolverton

11/10 – L.L. McKinney

11/11 – Suzanne Van Rooyen

11/12 – Jenny Kaczorowski

11/13 – Erin Entrada Kelly

11/14 –  Laura Tims

11/15 – Jolene Haley

11/16 – Maggie Hall

11/17 – Brenda Drake

11/18 – Leigh Caroline

11/19 – K.T. Hanna

Click on Mister Linky below to sign up now! We’re only taking 38 writers, so if you are 39 and on, you didn’t make it in.