Nailing the Query: Providence

Class Description

Congratulations! You’ve completed an exquisite short story or an amazing book-length manuscript. Now you want to see your work in print. If you're looking for an agent to represent your collection or novel, all you need to do is write a letter introducing your work – a letter that is concise yet thorough, attention-grabbing yet professional. If you're querying agents, your letter must also introduce your book’s major characters, themes and tensions while leaving the reader with a desperate desire to experience the real thing. Easy, right?

In this seminar, we’ll discuss submission strategies for short stories and talk about general housekeeping practices for submitting work. We'll also practice the delicate art of the effective manuscript query. Using real-life examples, we’ll talk about the specific requirements and conventions of the query letter genre, reviewing what should and shouldn’t be included in the autobiographical portion of a successful letter. We’ll explore techniques for the summary, including how to gain and hold interest, how to condense a complex plot or talk about multiple stories in a collection, and how to ensure that the finished letter accurately represents your book.

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.