A Lit Agent's Guide to Queries - Remote!

Class Description

Format: This class includes 3 hours of recorded lecture and guided workbook exercises, and a 3-hour Zoom class. You'll receive 6 hours of instruction in total.

Course materials sent to students: You are encouraged to register for this class at least two weeks in advance of the Zoom meeting, by October 2nd. A link to the class video and a brief questionnaire sent on October 2^nd. If you are registering after October 2nd, please contact the instructor at [email protected].

Materials due to instructor: One-page query and completed questionnaire by end of day Thursday, October 15th. Email as attachment to [email protected].

Class description: Whether you have been sending out your query to no avail or are simply intimidated by the thought of writing your first one, this class is for you. For the video half of the class, agent Sorche Fairbank of Fairbank Literary will take the class through the shelf-life of a query, dissect its four most important components, diagram the essential elements of a query’s synopsis, identify the most common mistakes authors make in their queries, give insight and tips on how to stand out in the slushpile, show multiple examples of compelling queries, and provide a review of a laundry list of query Dos and Don’ts.

Before class, students will submit a query, no longer than one page, along a completed brief questionnaire, and students will receive notes and feedback on the query.

During the Zoom portion of the class, we’ll go through Q&As about queries and querying before we focus on a group critique of the submitted queries. Time permitting, students may do some brief rewriting for additional feedback. By the close of the class, students can expect to have the framework for a strong query letter that gets an agent’s attention. All students will receive notes on their queries and class handouts. Open to all levels, all genres.

This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information.

For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below:

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.