Queried 3 agents last week and 6 agents today - all by email. Most just request a query letter (SHORT synopsis - like back of book jacket, info about length, genre, etc), but a few ask for some pages from the manuscript.

I’ve identified agents to query using two different websites - querytracker.com and agentquery.com. An author can search the site by genre or other criteria to choose which agents she’d like to query.

Already have two three rejections. Go me! Heh.

Actually I’d rather have the rejection than just send the query off into the blankness of cyberspace with nary a response. So, thanks to the agents who are quick with the responses.

Revised the query letter a bit. What do you think?

I hoped to query 3 agents today, but so far I’ve only found one that looks promising. Will find 2 more before bedtime!

BEGIN LETTER

If the lost love of your life was just a mouse-click away, would you log off or would you make the click that could change your life?

FORGET-ME-NOT is a contemporary romance offering a nostalgic glimpse into the 80’s contrasted with the social networking technology of the new millennium. The manuscript is complete at 102,000 words and will appeal to women of all ages.

Unwise life choices haunt Jody, a divorced mom of two. The chance discovery of her high school diary thrusts her into a bittersweet journey through her teenage years. Reminiscing sets in motion a chain of events that puts her in contact with an old flame. Will Jody and TJ have a second chance at love?

I graduated from XXXX XXXXX University in 19XX with a degree in English. Earlier this year, I launched a freelance business writing firm called XXXXX.

I am writing to you because you represented XXX XXXX by XXX XXXXX, which I count as one of the most powerful books I’ve read.  (Add sentence describing more about the specific book and/or agent’s work.)

I appreciate the time you’ve taken reading my query. My completed manuscript is ready to send at your request.

END LETTER

I’ve spent a lot of time trying to write my query letter for Forget-me-not. It’s short and hopefully sweet. Input is welcome! Does it need to be expanded? I do plan to adapt the short paragraph targeted at each specific literary agent, explaining why I’ve chosen to query him or her in particular.

BEGIN LETTER

FORGET-ME-NOT is a contemporary romance offering a nostalgic glimpse back into the 80’s, contrasted against the social technology of the new millennium. The manuscript is complete at 102,000 words.

Unwise life choices haunt Jody, a divorced mom of two. The chance discovery of her high school diary sets in motion a chain of events that puts her in contact with an old flame. Will their second chance at love succeed?

I graduated from XXXX XXXXX University in 19XX with a degree in English. Earlier this year, I launched a freelance business writing firm called XXXXX.

I am writing to you because you represented XXX XXXX by XXX XXXXX, which I count as one of the most powerful books I’ve read.  (Add sentence describing more about the specific book and/or agent’s work.)

I appreciate the time you’ve taken reading my query. My completed manuscript is ready to send at your request.

END LETTER

OK, bring on the critiques!

A good thesaurus is indispensable. My word processor had a great integrated thesaurus. That is, up until I updated my software and the thesaurus underwent a transformation to a less useful and more unwieldy version. Sigh.

I can use thesaurus.com and I do so, on occasion. I’ve also used the Visual Thesaurus (see link in sidebar). For a while, I subscribed to it, and I may do so again. But there are times that nothing will do except a BOOK, a real page-turning thesaurus.

I have two hard copy thesauri - one is a perfectly adequate alphabetical one. It could have a few more words in it, but it fits my needs well.

At times, however, I need a categorical thesaurus. It lists the words by concept or theme, instead of alphabetically. Mine is falling apart. (See photo) I need a new one. Any recommendations for a good categorical thesaurus?

While I’m on the topic, I’ll also mention the Romance Writers Phrase Book which I have found quite useful.