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THE QUERY

Nail your query letter and get the literary agent of your dreams

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (see reviews)

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This course is an excellent, thorough run-down of everything you might want to think about when writing and sending your query letter. Written with Writers' HQ's trademark snarky charm, and filled with links to even more information about what agents are looking for and what to do/not do, it's a really enjoyable, detailed look at this topic. Thank you!
- Elizabeth Ottosson

TAKE THIS COURSE

£20/month. Access all WHQ membership courses
First month half price!

Part of the WHQ membership

Seven part course, rolling access

Join our kickass community

COURSE HOME

You think you’ve done the hard part by writing a book, but landing an agent is the next big hurdle to leap over. Writers’ HQ’s online query writing course will help you prepare to send your manuscript out into the big wide world of publishing.

First impressions count, and your query letter is the first part of a book submission an agent will look at.

How do you summarise a 70,000+ novel in the space of just a few paragraphs? How do you grab the attention of the literary agent of your dreams? How do you make sure your submission doesn’t end up at the bottom of the slush pile?

Well, that’s what we’re gonna teach you. Learn how to write a killer query letter and give yourself the best chance of an agent saying “Yes, yes, yes! Send me your book!”

CURRICULUM
  • What is a query letter, what does it do, and what should it contain?
  • How to sum up your novel in a paragraph and leave an agent wanting more
  • What to avoid when writing to an agent
  • The Spot Check Checklist for when your objectivity has gone out the window
  • How to sell yourself (ooer)
  • What do agents really want?
  • Resources and research
HOW IT WORKS

1. Enrol
Once you’ve joined you’ll get an email confirming your place and explaining how you access the course. Spoiler: you click a link. Super simple.

2. Read, watch, do
The lessons are a mix of text, images, videos and exercises. To get the most out of the course, try to give yourself at least an hour a day to read or watch the material and do the exercises. We’ve made them as bite-size as possible but also if you wanna do the thing you gotta do the work.

3. No rush
This course is written to be done over a week but if you miss a day or something comes up, don’t panic! Go at your own pace. We’ll be waiting for you in the community forums when you’re ready to catch up.

4. No money? No problem
Periodically we run this course as a freebie so please make sure you’re on our newsletter list to get notifications of that. Alternatively, if you can’t wait and have no cash, have a look at our bursary scheme.

5. Milk no sugar
Drink plenty of tea, stock up on biscuits, gin for later. Enjoy it. It’s supposed to be fun. Love you. Mwa.

WHAT YOU GET
  • Help and advice from award-winning authors and literary agents
  • Daily inspiration, whip-cracking, writing exercises and prompts
  • Access to our private forum full of super cool people to help and support you along the way, including Team WHQ, our specially-picked and hand-baked gang of badass writers.
  • Seven days of exercises, advice and resources to help you build the best possible query package

Discover the dos and don’ts of query writing, fine-tune your cover letter to perfection, and summarise the living heck out of your story.

Finish the course with an intriguing, snappy, polished query letter that you can tailor to suit each agent you send it to.

Join our lovely little online community to support you through starting, middling, finishing and beyond.

LOVE FOR WRITERS’ HQ

I LOVED THIS COURSE & IT BEATS THE PANTS OFF OTHER, SUPPOSEDLY ‘HIGH END’ EDITING COURSES ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I got more out of this course than all of the other ones I’ve done put together, and I’ve done lots and have been to some prestigious places that live off their puffery and fame but what they offer in terms of proper skills and help, simply doesn’t touch this. Plotstormers II, has been enormously enlightening and empowering and deeply generous, thanks so much Jo and & Sarah, you ROCK. I have already sung its praises among writer friends; two of whom are signing up pronto and I have only hesitated from trumpeting about it on SM, for fear that all WRITERSHQ courses would, subsequently, be swamped and then there would be no room for liddle ‘ole me! I will get over myself – promise.

Stephanie Gerra

Plotstormers II: The Editing Strikes Back

Plotstormers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Took me from vague idea to specific novel plan in six weeks. I don’t have any writing time, but guess what – it’s still possible. Supportive and clear – highly recommend.

Stephanie Hutton

Plotstormers

I had done some writing courses before, heard numerous writers say that the real work begins with rewriting and editing but I had no idea how to approach my novel in order to deconstruct and rebuild it (and I know some writers who have done an MA in writing fiction and haven’t got more of a clue!). This course was invaluable, full of practical ways to look at your story differently and very get-down-to-it exercises. Besides I also met some lovely friends along the way (other course students) and the input we gave each other was another fantastic aspect of the course. Highly recommended!

Anne

Plotstormers II: The Editing Strikes Back

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Top notch course and the exercises are really challenging. It is hard work but it helps build a habit of writing too. I am really enjoying it a lot and surprised by how much I managed to do within those few weeks. Sarah has been an absolute brick really supportive and verifying or checking things in such a gentle and encouraging way. Go for it, you’ll love it.

Jeannine

Plotstormers

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TUTORS

Sarah Lewis
Half of Writers’ HQ
Procrastinator Level: Set up WHQ and had a baby to avoid writing her novel

Jo Gatford
Half of Writers’ HQ
Procrastinator Level: Set up WHQ and did an MA to avoid writing her novel

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