Cole Lanahan

A query should be a hook, not a play-by-play. It should introduce the protagonist, the central conflict, and the stakes—just enough to make an agent think, I need to read this. The goal isn’t to explain the whole story. The goal is to create curiosity.

Friends, you are doing yourself a great disservice if your query reads like a mini synopsis. Example: "This happens, followed by this, followed by this, etc."

So if you’re querying and getting passes, don’t automatically assume your writing isn’t strong enough.

Sometimes the craft is there.

You just haven’t found the twist that makes the story unmistakably yours yet.

It doesn’t mean the entire story has to be wildly original.

But the lens has to be.

That’s usually the difference between:
“Nice writing, but I can’t place it” and
“I have to sign this.”

The books that break out almost always change something at the DNA level of the premise.

The twist.
The angle.
The core idea that makes someone say:
Wait… I’ve never seen that before.

The issue is when the story only changes the surface details.
New settings.
Different careers.
Different character names.

But underneath, it’s still the exact same story engine.

And when I say familiar, I don’t mean tropes.

Publishing runs on tropes. We love them.

Enemies to lovers. Chosen ones. Magical schools. Found families. All great.

Most of the writing I see is good.

Often very good.

The reason I pass is usually much simpler:
The story feels too familiar to books already on the shelf.

Hi friends. I know I’ve been quiet on here for a bit, but I wanted to pop in with a little agent insight.

I pass on about 99% of the projects in my inbox.

And surprisingly, it’s usually not because of the writing.

I recently discovered Tears on a Withered Flower and obsessed. Please send me anything with similar vibes! #MSWL #Stalkerish #hefallsfirst #sheisolder

a man in a black shirt is sitting in front of a wall that has butterflies on it ALT: a man in a black shirt is sitting in front of a wall that has butterflies on it

Someone just emailed me and asked for my number so they could call and yell at me. To be fair, the heads up is greatly appreciated!

Just a heads up to those that are waiting. I'm OOO the first two weeks of August and hope to get caught up with all of my requests during that time. Thank you all for your patience! <3

So… does your hook paint a picture?
Does it make someone have to read more?
If not, time to dig deeper. Sharpen it. Test it. #WritingCommunity #amquerying #blueskywriters #pitchtip

The difference?
These hooks don’t just summarize the plot.
They promise something wild, bold, and unforgettable. And they raise a giant “what happens next?” question.

The Matrix:

A computer hacker discovers his reality is a simulation—and he’s the only one who can free humanity.

Jurassic Park:

A billionaire builds a theme park of cloned dinosaurs—but when security fails, a group of visitors must survive the ultimate predator.

A great hook is specific, visual, and high-concept. It tells me what makes your story different.

Let’s look at some gold-standard examples from blockbuster storytelling:

Even slightly more detailed lines like:

“A deadly assassin falls in love with her target.”
…aren’t enough. That could describe a hundred books. There’s no spark of originality or urgency.

A common mistake? Something like:

“A gripping tale of magic and betrayal that will leave readers wanting more.”
Cool... but what is it about? Who’s the main character? What’s the hook?

Answer: I have no idea.

Let’s talk about the one-sentence hook. It's the line that makes someone say, “I need this book in my life.”

It’s your story’s first impression, and in a crowded market, it has to do more than just sound pretty. 🧵

I am open to queries the 1st - 7th of every month.

Thanks :)

I see so many queries built on familiar tropes like forced marriages and forbidden magic—which is great! Tropes work for a reason. But here’s the thing: if there’s nothing that makes your version stand out from the rest, I won't be able to sell it.

Lead with your hook: the unique twist, premise, or promise that makes your story different from every other book on the shelf. If you can’t explain what makes your book special in one or two sentences, it might be time to sharpen that pitch.
#WritingTips #AmQuerying #PitchPerfect #WritingCommunity

I'm going to add Understanding Show, Don’t Tell and Really Getting It by Janice Hardy to my list of recommendations for authors who are self-editing. After finishing it this weekend, I've found it to be a phenomenal resource.

If you are a writer following an agent on social media, what type of content are you hoping to see? Trends/Projections? Submission reading status updates? Writing/Craft tips? Cat pics? (Here's a picture of Wilford Brimley for tax.)

Literally just ended a meeting with someone who said, "I'm so sorry. I have no idea how to end calls." And, Sir, that is a whole vibe, and I'm absolutely here for it. Plus, I love ending calls, so I got you.

I'm only open to queries the 1st - 7th of each months. When I reopen in May I would like to receive all the nonfiction. What you might think I mean is "a lot of nonfiction." But what I really mean is, "all of it." #parksandrec #ronswanson #mswl

Oh the anxiety! All the love and light for you and Amby.

Who knew that the secret to losing this stubborn perimenopause weight was the looming collapse of society as we know it? I'm down another pant size. Yay?