Hello Jennifer! A query’s job is to sell the manuscript and entice an agent to read the pages, but what should the sample pages be doing and not be doing to maintain interest? Anything that should be obvious or less obvious? Any insights are much appreciated!
Let's say you are in a bookstore. You only have $20, you can get ONE book. So you're wandering around looking at stuff. Maybe first you look at the books on the New Releases table, then go to the sections that have stuff you usually like.
You pick out a few potential books. They all have cool covers, they all have interesting-sounding descriptions on the jacket, so you decide to turn to the first page and just start reading.
WHAT MAKES YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING? What makes you decide THIS one is the one you are going to spend your $20 on? And, what might make you set the book down?
The answer might be a little different for different people on different days. Some of it might be just vibes-based, you just really aren't in the mood for XYZ or for whatever reason XYZ gives you the ick, and this book seems to be brimming with it. OR, on the other side of the coin, you ARE really in the mood for XYZ, or you are always a sucker for this trope or this type of premise, and this particular book seems to be really ringing that bell in a fun way.
So... it's the same when I'm looking at the query inbox. There are a lot of things that are easy to say no to. But, there are probably several things that look potentially promising based on the query and the first page or so, and they have become Maybes. If I'm looking at the "maybe" pile and trying to decide what to request, I'll go in deeper on the sample pages, just like hypothetical you reading a bit of the book in the bookstore.
For ME, the books (or manuscripts) that make me say YES are generally the ones where the voice rings true and the writing is clear as glass. I feel instantly like I am in good hands with this author, and I'm excited to keep going because I'm already hooked and want to know more about what will happen next.
Ideally, I FORGET that I'm reading a query, it just feels like a REAL BOOK.
I don't really know how else to describe it, or how you ACHIEVE that. It's just a FEELING. (Sorry!)
If at ANY point I want to nope out, for any reason at all, I will do so. If I get to the end of the first page and want to keep going, that's good. If I get to the end of the sample and want to keep going, I'll request a full.
(Sorry I don't have more specific Things You Must Do... just, you know, make it so people want to keep going????)
stormborns
kaledo-art
snowghoul
tangentwithtanner
origamiaround
kianamaiart
turnnoffyourmind
annaxmalina
