S10 E24 How to Write a Great Query Letter: Interview with Hannah Brattesani, our New In-House Literary Agent at The Book Incubator

This is the season finale of The First Draft Club—and we have huge news.

The Book Incubator has a new in-house literary agent!

Her name is Hannah Brattesani. She's worked at the Friedrich Agency and Folio Literary Management and is now at Simon & Schuster. She's represented some of the best writers writing today. And now she's on our team to help you turn your manuscript into a sellable pitch.

In this episode, Hannah reveals:

• The #1 mistake she sees in query letters (and how to fix it)• Why your comp titles matter more than you think• A framework from Pixar that will change how you write your logline• How to figure out if your book is "commercial" or "literary"—and why it matters• What agents actually look for when they open your email• The truth about rejections• The one piece of querying advice she disagrees with

If you're thinking about querying agents, or you will be someday, this episode is essential listening.

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.

Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator

Happy writing! — Mary

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