How to Write a Great Query Letter/Synopsis

A query letter entices an agent to read more of your book. Because this such an important step, the query letter should include the most vital information about your novel or nonfiction work: the title, word count, and target audience.

Fiction writers: it's a good idea to include the basic plot of the novel in your query letter. This need not be as detailed as the one you include in your synopsis, but it should still be a good overview of the work.

Think of a synopsis like the summary on a book flap. When you open a book at the library or bookstore, the few paragraphs you see on the inside cover are meant to encourage the reader to read on. It describes the book in enough detail that the reader gets an overview of the plot, but not so much detail that the reader is spoiled.

Click here to view a sample query letter.

Click here to view to a sample synopsis.

Artwork by Deborah DeWit-Marchant 

The 2012 Writers Conference Announces its Keynote Speaker: Sandra Brown!

The Unicorn Writers' Conference is pleased to announce that we have found a keynote speaker for the 2012 Conference. 

Sandra Brown is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who has written more than seventy novels. Her books have covered many genres, including romance and thriller. She has also won numerous awards for her work.

Click here for more information (www.sandrabrown.net)

Let us know what you think about Sandra Brown's writing style on our Mystery/Thriller page. 

We would love to hear what you have to say!

Welcome to the Advance Networking Community

Welcome to Advance Networking Blog for writers. Thanks to all those who attended the 2011 Conference in Portland, CT. 

Unicorn Writers' Conference will return again this year on April 28, 2012 at Saint Clements Castle with a price of $275.  

Advance Networking gives you the opportunity to multiply your feedback by tapping into an entire community of fellow writers and readers. If you haven't attended the conference but plan to in the future, you may still join this blog as long as you agree to help a fellow writer. The main purpose of advance networking is to give you the chance to share approximately 40 pages of your manuscript with other guests in your genre to obtain helpful feedback and comments for improving your book(s) before the conference. These contacts will enable you to assist one another in building an all-important mailing list and cross-marketing on each others websites and blogs. 


We hope that lasting friendships will be made and that writers will come together to help one another. To sign up for Advance Networking, select join the blog publicly, find the genre that you are interested in, and start networking. If you wish to privately share your material with other writers, you can email us at advancenetworkingunicorn@gmail.com and we will connect you with other interested parties. We advise setting up a new free e-mail account at Gmail and recommend that you read and review ten pages to start and exchange comments on each person's books. 


Brutal honesty is vital here since you want your final manuscript to be well written and fully edited before you meet an Editor or Literary Agent in April 2012. On the day of the conference, you will meet your group during breakfast at an assigned table. Unicorn Writers’ Conference strongly recommends that you copyright your manuscript before submitting it for Advance Networking. For more information on how to copyright your manuscript, go to www.jankardys.com and follow the instructions on copyrights. Do not worry if you do not have your final version. The cost is $35 if you register electronically with the U.S. Copyright Office, or $60 if you print out the form and mail in your manuscript. http://www.copyright.gov/eco/   and look at this form: w.copyright.gov/forms/formtx.pdf

Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!