I was recently given the opportunity to read Goof-Proof: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing the Perfect Query Letter. Thank you, Victoria, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review! If you happen to be a writer who’s getting ready to query, this book might be of interest to you.
I have very limited experience querying. It’s pretty much limited to querying one short story and my novel to Author-Mentor-Match (I figured it couldn’t hurt). Prior to sending out these two queries, I went to several web sites trying to make sure I didn’t screw up anything too badly. Goof-Proof provides you with the essential information you need to create a query, all in one place.
At 25 pages, Goof-Proof is a quick read. It’s not an 800-page tome covering every little detail in creating a query letter. You’re not going to read chapter upon chapter about how to find the perfect comp titles, or how to craft the perfect hook that will reel in an agent. If you’re a busy writer, do you really have time to read all that anyway? You’d probably be better off reading craft books or taking Neil Gaiman’s Masterclass. This book does give the most important details you need to keep in mind as you develop your query letter.
In addition to the important query letter details promised in the title of this book, Ms. Loder also includes important insight about what it’s like from the agent’s side of the desk. If you spend a lot of time on writing Twitter, you may have heard a lot of this information before, but if you’re just getting into the writing community, this is good information to know.
Overall, I would recommend Goof-Proof: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing the Perfect Query Letter to newer novel writers who know they need an agent and have no idea how to actually create a query letter. This book might also be helpful to someone who has been querying, but hasn’t had much luck yet. It might not have anything new to offer if you’ve spent the past week visiting various author advice sites studying querying, however. This book also doesn’t cover short story queries (although some of the advice here will also work for your short story).
Goof-Proof doesn’t come out until July 23rd, but you can pre-order it now.