A Writer’s Query is their selling point, the hook they use to interest agents and publishers. It has to be perfect.

But getting good feedback can often be difficult or expensive.

That’s why my friend M.L. Keller—The Manuscript Shredder—is organizing the #QuerySwap Twitter party, an all-day event on June 1 for people seeking critique partners to participate in feedback exchanges on query letters or back cover blurbs.

The query swap Twitter party is designed to help writers connect with other writers. And since this is an exchange, both parties will benefit.

Query Swap isn’t a contest. It’s an opportunity for writers to help other writers. There won’t be mentors, or agents. This is for writers only.

Each participant will have the opportunity to find a new critique partner and exchange feedback on queries. Everyone gets feedback. Everyone’s query improves. Everyone wins.

Here’s how it works:

• Tweet a brief pitch about your MS with the tag #QuerySwap include genre and age category hashtags. (They might look familiar; they are the same as #Pitmad) No need to tweet multiple times since you can search the feed and look for a match too.
• Watch the feed and find someone with an MS in a similar genre, category, and tone.
• Ask him/her to swap.
• Exchange queries.
• Give constructive feedback to your new Critique Partner.

Can I just recycle my #pitmad pitch?

Maybe, but it might need tweaking. In this swap, genre, category, and overall MS tone will be more important than plot in finding a good match. Someone with a snarky sensibility might be less suited to selling your Anne of Green Gables retelling, so make sure you look for a person who writes in a similar style.
example pitches:

#LGBT historic retelling of Frog Prince set in Polynesia also dragons #YA #F #R #QuerySwap

or

Dark portal fantasy with family drama and talking cats #MG #F #DIS #QuerySwap.

Obviously, these won’t work for #pitmad, but they convey the necessary information for this event.

Hashtags … (These are the same as #pitmad)

Age Categories:
#PB = Picture Book
#C = Children’s
#CB = Chapter Book
#CL = Children’s Lit
#MG = Middle Grade
#YA = Young Adult
#NA = New Adult
#A = Adult

Genres/Sub-genres:
#AA = African American
#AD = Adventure
#CF = Christian Fiction
#CON = Contemporary
#CR = Contemporary Romance
#DIS = Disabilities
#DV = Diversity
#E = Erotica
#ER = Erotic Romance
#ES = Erotica Suspense
#F = Fantasy
#H = Horror
#HA = Humor
#HF = Historical Fiction
#HR = Historical Romance
#INSP = Inspirational
#IRMC = Interracial/Multicultural
#MR = Magical Realism
#M = Mystery
#Mem = Memoir
#LGBT
#LF = Literary Fiction
#NF = Non-fiction
#R = Romance
#P = Paranormal
#PR = Paranormal Romance
#RS = Romantic Suspense
#S = Suspense
#SF = SciFi
#SPF = Speculative Fiction
#T = Thriller
#UF = Urban Fantasy
#W = Westerns
#WF = Woman’s Fiction

Some tips:

1. Don’t flood the feed with pitches for the same book. Pitching multiple books is ok.
2. Pitch only books you are querying.
3. Don’t just wait for someone to ask you first. Be proactive.
4. Use the hashtags to simplify your search.
5. Be polite.
6. Remember this is a swap. Both parties must give feedback.

Want to help #QuerySwap succeed?
Please share via social media or reblog this post.

Have any questions? Please leave a comment.