How Query Shark works

Query Shark critiques fiction queries. You have to send a query to the shark for it to be considered. There is a checklist for how to do that on the post labeled "If You Want Your Query Posted, Read and FOLLOW These Directions"

Queries are acknowledged IF THEY FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. This can take several days if the QueryShark is swimming about in the Sea of Writing Conferences.

If you have not followed the directions, or if it's immediately clear you have not read the archives your query is discarded.

Not all queries will be critiqued.

Your chance to be critiqued improves if you aren't making the same mistakes the Shark has ranted about commented on previously.

To make new and fresh mistakes, carefully read the query letters and comments already on the blog.

You will have the opportunity to revise your query after the Shark bites, and have it critiqued again. Many of the people who do that get substantially better.

The right side of the blog roll shows recently revised queries, and queries that got to YES ie requests to read the manuscript.

QueryShark is entirely volunteer. No queries are posted unless the writer specifically asks the QueryShark to do so.

There are no rejections. If your query is not posted within about 120 days, it probably won't be.
This can happen for several reasons: you didn't make any really good mistakes; you made the same mistakes everyone else made; it was so bad I didn't know where to start. Pick the reason that makes you feel best, because that's the real reason.

Thanks

Dear Query Shark,

I'm risking a bite on the ass here, I'm sure, but I had to write a quick note of thanks.

After several months of hard work – and more than one moment when my laptop was in serious danger of being given a nice hot bubble bath – I have written a query that works. I've gotten requests for the full, one of which is in the hands of my dream agent (not that your own sharky self would not also be a dream agent. It's just that my work is not your cup o'chum.)

The odds are still very long against me, of course. But thank God for this one small victory.

Thank Shark, I mean.

QUERY SHARK FAQ

The FAQ covers how QueryShark works, not general query questions

(if you ask a question other than about QS it won't get posted. Things like "double spaced?" or "should I mention I live in Antarctica?" are not about how QS works. You can get those asked and answered at AbsoluteWrite Check them out.)

If you have questions, post in the comment column here. I'll augment the FAQ as needed.


1. How do you choose which queries get posted on the site?
I look for queries with interesting errors, or errors on a subject I haven't ranted about previously.

2. Are they posted in the order received?
No.

3. If a query doesn't get posted, does that mean the author didn't follow the instructions?
No.

4. How do queries for children's books differ from others you typically critique (if there are any differences?)
Read the archives. There are queries for picture books, middle grade and YA books on the blog.


5. Do you accept queries for children's books here on Query Shark?
Yes

6. When Query Shark goes back to being Clark Kent, according to her web site, my stuff does not fall into the things that she is usually looking for. So is it still okay to send a Query for critique? And - just in case the roof caves in or God arrives in Pittsburgh - if she likes it, do I send a query for the kind of material she doesn't handle?

Yes. I critique work in categories I don't sell.

You can query me for anything you want. What's the worst that could happen? You'll hear "no." Despite intense lobbying, there are still no Query Police to run you in for Query Violations.

7. Are there winners which you don't post, given that 99% are not posted?

No


8. do you post every winner?
 Yes

9. How far back do you go in the e-mail archives to consider using a query as a post? When can I figure I'll never see that particular query used as an example?

120 days or so.

10. For the queries that end with "I'd request pages" from the Shark, do you request pages off the QS submission, or do you wait for the person to query you officially?

I don't request pages from QS postings. I'm glad when those authors do query since they have projects that sound interesting. I've read ten or so full manuscripts that I originally met here at QS.

11. If someone sends you a query but get an agent before the query is posted here, would you rather that person (a) do nothing, (b) send you an email saying "please pull my query from the pile" (and if so, how should one attempt to identify it to make it easier for you to find), or (c) something else entirely?

Withdraw the query. You don't need a critique because your query worked (hurray!) Send an email requesting it not be used. As long as the email addresses are the same, I can find you pretty easily.

12. Is there a similar site that deals with non-fiction queries?
No
The only option I know of for non-fiction and memoir is the paid private service at TheQueryShark.

13. Is it okay to ask if you've signed up any Shark winners?
yes. One.

14. Really dumb question here.... what does FTW stand for?
For the Win. It means the query has been revised to the point that I think it's ready to go out.

15. I need help. Every time I try to send a query to the Shark I get a failure to send message. What am I doing wrong.

I have no idea.

I could not have done it without you.

I recently sent three queries for my MG novel. I have heard from two agents: one rejection and one request for a full based on the query and first 10 pages. The crap queries I drafted before my friend turned me onto QS would have gone zero-for-a-thousand, but with help from the QS I'm one-for-two. I could not have done it without you. I really mean that! THANK YOU!!

"I made all the mistakes"

 Once upon a time, I wrote what I thought was a decent query letter.  Then I found Query Shark and realized I had made approximately all the mistakes.  I read your whole archive, spent weeks rewriting, and queried according to your suggestions.  After fifteen rejections, I finally got the Call and signed with my agent.  My agent liked my query so much, she actually used it with few alterations as her pitch to editors.  And in just the last few weeks, I signed a two-book deal [with one of the Big Five.]

The impact of your advice on my success can't be overstated.  Thank you for your time, generosity, and snark. 

"Six years, two novels, 19 query drafts"

 I just wanted to say thank you for Query Shark.  It took me six years, two novels, and nineteen query letter drafts, but not only was I finally offered representation ... she also sold my novel in December.  When I was thinking today of the people who helped me get to this point, I realized just how helpful your site was.  I pretty much memorized your entries over the past ten years in order to craft what became my successful query letter.  Without that help, I'd probably still be spinning my wheels.  I'm not sure how many success stories you hear, and I'm sure some days you wonder if keeping the blog going is worth it, but it was certainly invaluable to me.  So thank you.

"It's amazing how much better everything looks just from this one small edit."

Reading your blog has not only made queries considerably less intimidating for me (although not completely), it has provided me with some much needed  perspective in this delicate stage of my book's development.

I am aware that I am a talented writer (my mom constantly tells me so),  but I am also aware that I have acquired some nasty habits over the years that I still have great difficulty identifying while in creative mode.  Identifying these bad habits while I'm writing is an important step in ridding myself of them and developing healthier ones.

In the past two days I've read over 200 queries posted on QS (yeeah, I  don't sleep much) and in one, or possibly several, of them you advise the  writer to search for certain words in their text and remove them where  they are not absolutely needed. Following that advice I removed about 20  unnecessary instances of the word 'simply' from my first chapter; only one  was deemed actually useful and survived the purge. I repeated the process  with every word I know I overuse but often miss. The experience made me  want to punch myself so badly I am likely to never overuse these words  again. It's amazing how much better everything looks just from this one  small edit.

It took four years of writing and rewriting but...

 Your Royal Sharkness,
           
            I never got up the guts to send one of my queries into your shark-infested waters, but I did read the archives and follow your blog religiously. I learned that I was being an idiot about a lot of things and over thinking things that really didn’t need to be over thought. You were a fabulous teacher in a field that is daunting and confusing a lot of the time.  Thank you. 

Because of you, I landed a fabulous agent and a two-book deal last month. It took me three novels and four years of writing, rewriting, editing and praying, but it happened. I owe a lot of that to you. Thank you for keeping this little corner of the Internet going. You are fabulous.
 

"I’m one of your success stories now!"

 I’ve received an offer of publication from a small publisher--and an offer of representation from one of my short-listed NY agents.

I owe it all to you, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the time you spent working on my query. Your comments were invaluable.

I doubted your methods. I owe you an apology.

 I doubted your methods, and I now owe you an apology. I only gave your archives five days to gestate revision ideas, and now, on the seventh day, I have a new draft that I would like you to review.

I'm in your debt!

Just a quick note to say thank you for all your Query Shark posts. Reading through/dissecting every entry helped me write a query letter good enough to open some doors, and I landed an agent a few months ago. I'm in your debt!

"I've never gotten this far with a publisher until now."

I don't even know where to begin to thank you for all your hard work that you've put into the Query Shark website. I've read your posts for the past few years now and used them to learn how to master my query letter. Well, all that hard work paid off. My novel now sits in the hands of a publisher who is mulling it over. I've never gotten this far with a publisher until now. Even if the publisher rejects my novel, the fact that I've walked through the gate makes me very happy. The publisher said, 'This is right up my alley,' Thank you again for everything you do.

"I signed with a dream agent. "

I can hardly believe I'm writing this, but yesterday, I signed with a dream agent.

I have no doubt that my querying success is, in a huge part, thanks to your blog.

I read the archives and rewrote my query about a dozen times. When I sent it out, I ended up with requests for five partials, eight fulls, and ultimately, three offers of representation. One agent loved the manuscript so much, they offered to fly over several states to meet me and discuss the work.

This is not the first time I've written a query with the Shark's help, but it is the first time I actually put the work into reading the archives and revising. It makes all the difference.

If we ever cross paths one day, I definitely owe you a drink.

Thank you again.

Reading the archives and revising made all the difference.

I can hardly believe I'm writing this, but yesterday, I signed with a dream agent.

I have no doubt that my querying success is, in a huge part, thanks to your blog.

I read the archives and rewrote my query about a dozen times. When I sent it out, I ended up with requests for five partials, eight fulls, and ultimately, three offers of representation. One agent loved the manuscript so much, they offered to fly over several states to meet me and discuss the work.

This is not the first time I've written a query with the Shark's help, but it is the first time I actually put the work into reading the archives and revising. It makes all the difference.

If we ever cross paths one day, I definitely owe you a drink.

Thank you again.

All the best,

OMG! Where once I was blind, now I see.

OMG! Where once I was blind, now I see. I have read dozens of your shark bites and thought I had it down. I am shaking my head at the crap I sent you. It’s dribble, trite and pedestrian. I have never been so happy to be literarily emasculated. Thank you so much.