Thoughts from a literary agent: Query Letter Don'ts

There are a few things Janet Reid doesn't want to see in your query letter:

1. Theme

I don't care what the theme of your work is. I care what the story is.

2. I love to write

I don't care. I only care about whether you can write well enough to tell a good compelling story.

3. I think my book will make a great movie.

I don't care. I only care whether it will make a good book.

4. It took me x+1 years to write.

I don't care. I only care if it's a good story.

Pretty basic stuff, I think.

Reid's blog is worth bookmarking. Also worth checking out: posts about things that annoy Reid, and her collection of query letter pitfalls.