I confess I have no idea how to write a great query letter, so I decided to let the so called "professionals" do it for me. I submitted my novel to Scribendi.com, which offers, among other things, the service of writing a query letter, a synopsis, and a chapter summary. It cost me about $100. Today I got the package back, and I think the query letter sucks! See for yourself. Let me just say if you are considering an editing service for your writing, definitely avoid Scribendi. I found many grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. There shouldn't be any!
Quote:
Dear Ms. Editor:
How does a boy learn to become a man? Young Prince Ari struggles to understand the nightmare of seeing Black Wolf kill his father, King Idan. So why does he pursue Black Wolf through the Ancient City and into Narsus, the land of his country’s enemies? Each lesson Ari learns, about life and death, fear and forgiveness, wisdom and treachery, brings him closer to the man he will become.
This tale of lords and princes, monstrous wolf-like creatures and mysterious technology offers surprises, thrills and warmth. Karen Penn, of TCM Reviews, says, “I thoroughly enjoyed The Orphan Prince, and would recommend it not only for children, but also for those adults among us who have enjoyed books such as the Artemis Fowl and Harry Potter series.”
The Orphan Prince is a stand-alone, full-length novel of approximately 62,000 words. A chapter outline and synopsis accompany this letter. You can obtain the full manuscript for review by calling me at xxx-xxx-xxxx or via email at xxx@yyy.com.
I look forward to the opportunity to work with you. |
Does this have any merit, or does everyone agree with me that it's really bad? I'm going to try another editing service for the query letter. Does anyone know a good one that they could recommend? In the end I may have to write the query letter myself.
