Self-Guided Course
THINK LIKE A LITERARY AGENT
Inside Secrets to Writing the Perfect Query Letter
Ready to land a literary agent? This self-guided course gives you more than just a standout query letter—it gives you a publishing insider’s perspective on what really makes agents give you a resounding “yes!” Whether you’re querying fiction or nonfiction, you’ll walk away with a standout pitch and the knowledge to navigate the publishing world with confidence.
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Get ready to "Think Like a Literary Agent!"
Ready to land a literary agent? This course gives you the publishing insider knowledge you need to do it.
Ready to land a literary agent? This course gives you the publishing insider knowledge you need to do it.
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Querying 101
Let’s start with the querying basics! Learn the essentials of querying so you can approach literary agents with confidence.
Let’s start with the querying basics! Learn the essentials of querying so you can approach literary agents with confidence.
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The Structure of a Query Letter
Stand out from the slush pile with this tried-and-true query letter format!
Stand out from the slush pile with this tried-and-true query letter format!
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What are Literary Agents Looking For?
Get inside the mind of a literary agent to understand exactly what they’re looking for in both a book and query letter.
Get inside the mind of a literary agent to understand exactly what they’re looking for in both a book and query letter.
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Your Three Key Selling Points
Make your query letter stand out by identifying the three reasons a literary agent will want to say “yes” to working with you!
Make your query letter stand out by identifying the three reasons a literary agent will want to say “yes” to working with you!
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Introduction & Personalization
Learn how to personalize your query letter like a pro while highlighting your book’s strengths.
Learn how to personalize your query letter like a pro while highlighting your book’s strengths.
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The Hook
This is the lesson my students called a “game changer” — helping them go from radio silence to multiple full manuscript requests from literary agents!
This is the lesson my students called a “game changer” — helping them go from radio silence to multiple full manuscript requests from literary agents!
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Book Description
This paragraph will likely be the longest in your query letter. Let's make sure it showcases your book at its absolute best!
This paragraph will likely be the longest in your query letter. Let's make sure it showcases your book at its absolute best!
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Comp Titles
Choosing comp titles doesn’t have to be difficult—when you know what literary agents are really looking for, they become one of your best tools for proving your book will sell.
Choosing comp titles doesn’t have to be difficult—when you know what literary agents are really looking for, they become one of your best tools for proving your book will sell.
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Target Audience
This paragraph is small, but mighty! Here, you’ll prove to literary agents that your book has an audience and that you know exactly how to reach them.
This paragraph is small, but mighty! Here, you’ll prove to literary agents that your book has an audience and that you know exactly how to reach them.
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Author Platform
Your author platform paragraph shows agents what you uniquely bring to the table and why you are the right person to write this book.
Your author platform paragraph shows agents what you uniquely bring to the table and why you are the right person to write this book.
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The Sign-Off + Next Steps
You made it to the finish line! Now, let’s send that query letter out with confidence.
You made it to the finish line! Now, let’s send that query letter out with confidence.
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Meet your instructor.
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Meet your instructor. ✳
Lindsay
Publishing Consultant and former “Big Five'“ Editor of New York Times bestsellers
Lindsay Newton is an editor and publishing consultant. Since 2012, she has worked for three of the top publishing institutions in the US—Simon & Schuster, Inc., Sourcebooks, and Writers House Literary Agency. There, she had the privilege of working with bestselling and award-winning authors such as Isabel Allende, Kevin Hart, Alice Walker, Ntozake Shange, Colleen Hoover, and others. She started Newton Literary Services with the goal of helping aspiring authors to obtain literary representation and fulfill their dreams of getting published. Her clients have garnered representation by preeminent literary agencies including Aevitas Creative Management, Levine Greenburg Rostan, Dystel Goderich & Bourret, Stephanie Tade Agency, Jeff Herman Agency, and more.
Course FAQ
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Nope! While the course is designed to build step-by-step, you can jump around based on what you need most right now. Just make sure to come back to the pieces you skipped—they all work together to strengthen your final query.
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The Query Letter Builder Workbook is linked in the second lesson, called “Querying 101.” Scroll to the bottom of the page, and you’ll find a button that says “Download Workbook.”
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Yes! You have lifetime access to the course, including all video lessons and materials—so feel free to revisit any time you’re revising or querying a new project.
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You’ll find a link and discount code in the final lesson — both in the video and at the bottom of the page in the show notes. If you’re ready for personalized feedback, I’d love to help you fine-tune your letter!
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If you’re stuck or having technical difficulties, feel free to reach out through the contact form here. I’m always happy to help point you in the right direction.
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Yes! This is just the beginning. I’m working on future workshops on book proposals, agent research, and more. Make sure you’re on the email list so you hear about new offerings as soon as they launch. You can sign up for that here.
Have a question?
I’m here to help! Please use this form to get in touch and I will get back to you as soon as I can— typically within 1-3 business days.
Please note: I’m not able to provide personalized feedback on your query letter unless you’ve booked a query letter review service. A student discount for this service is available in the final lesson of the course.
Thanks for being here — and for your patience!
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
9am - 5pm PST