The Little Query Letter That Could
(plus, a query review giveaway)
I started querying the manuscript that would become Tell Them You Lied in late 2020, almost 5 (f’ing) years ago. I know a lot has changed in the world since then (and I don’t want to talk about any of it or I will cry). What else has changed is me. I am a better writer than I was in 2020. I understand the mechanics of plot and am actually convinced that plot is necessary. I have an honest to god book out in the world, and I am more committed to this life and my craft than I ever was in my day-dreaming days. I’ve also listened to about 10,000 hours of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing (literary every episode except the one I was on). I’ve worked one-on-one with CeCe Lyra, and beta read many (many!) of my friends’ and acquaintances’ query letters, and not to toot my own horn, but I’ve learned a thing or two.
On that TSNOTYAW episode, CeCe asked me to read my original query letter, as a kind of “success story” in a world full of nos. Of course, while I was stammering through the thing, I noticed a whole lot I’d change if I were to send it out in the world today. This made me feel like a real writer (I remember in college, driving to Indianapolis to see Lawrence Ferlinghetti read, and up there at the podium, reading a poem from his recently published book, he slipped a pen out of his shirt pocket and marked up the page. He shook his head, smiling, but said nothing—but the audience loved it.)
Anyway, if anyone who has bought a copy of TTYL wants me to review their query, comment on this post! I will throw all the names in a hat and pick one to read (and no, I won’t put it on my Substack—unless you want me to!) Open to new purchases too. Remember! For lifetime paid access to this Substack, buy a copy of Tell Them You Lied and email the receipt to thisdebutlife@gmail.com. Access is generally updated within 24 hours (and probably a lot sooner).
And—after the paywall— my query, annotated, with its revision.