The Query Show

The Query Show

By Blair ThornburghArts
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The Query Show episodes

  • Episode Six: YA Fantasy

    Two fantasies with high stakes, life-or-death situations, and romance today on The Query Show. How do you keep your characters active in a query while still encompassing all the critical worldbuilding that a fantasy needs? What’s the key to nailing the bring-it-home paragraph in a query? And what’s the difference between a door and a trap door?

    Download a copy of this episode’s queries and critiques

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    Music by Lee Rosevere via Free Music Archive

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  • Episode Five: Middle Grade (Times Two!)

    It’s a middle grade extravaganza! Today we look at two queries for middle grade stories that address themes of bullying, fantasy worlds, and very sticky marshmallows. Plus, we talk balancing the query: how much should be story vs. intro vs. bio?

    Download a copy of today’s queries and critiques

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    Music by Lee Rosevere via Free Music Archive

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  • Episode Four: Women’s Fiction

    On today’s episode, we’re looking at a women’s fiction query that shows off some great methods to stay concise while still communicating everything an agent needs to know. Plus, the order of operations of query paragraphs!

    Download a copy of today’s query and critique

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    Music by Lee Rosevere via Free Music Archive

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  • Episode Three: Sci-Fi (Times Two!)

    On today’s episode, we’ve got two fun sci-fi query letters to read, enjoy, and ponder over. Some thoughts on big pile-up sentences, appropriate comps, getting strange bedfellows into the bed, kicking alien ass, and giving (or not giving) a chronometer to a teenager.

    Download a copy of today’s queries and critiques

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    Music by Lee Rosevere via Free Music Archive

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  • Episode Two: YA Fantasy (Times Two!)

    Today on The Query Show, we’re looking at query letters for two YA contemporary fantasy novels, and talkin’ genre expectations, breaking through a crowded market, and lots of “phraseological” musings on how best to convey a plot in not a whole lot of words. Tune in, or whatever we say now that nobody uses radios anymore!

    Download today’s queries and critiques

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    Music by Lee Rosevere via Free Music Archive

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  • Episode One: Picture Book

    Welcome, writers! On this inaugural episode of The Query Show, we get situated, learn about your charming host (ahem), and dive right in to a podcast for a hilarious picture book featuring rodents, baked goods, and the high seas. Learn how to use comp titles effectively, be personable with an agent, and describe your plot most effectively. Plus, Blair mispronounces “SCBWI”!

    Download a copy of the query and critique

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    Intro music by Lee Rosevere via Free Music Archive

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About The Query Show

From the publisher's feed

A podcast to help writers get published, hosted by editor and author Blair Thornburgh. Each episode takes a deep dive on a query letter (or two) and diagnoses its strengths and weaknesses so that…