Cannot emphasize enough: what I’m looking for in queries are *stakes*. Why is this happening? What if it goes off the rails? Why care? What’s at risk? Everyone’s queries have themes. Themes alone don’t sell agents, editors, publishers, or the reading public. 1/2

“Imagine a cookie like this one my grandma made with nuts and chocolate chips and caramel, plus an elephant’s ear from the fair and that’s the cookie I came up with,” versus “Imagine a Chips Ahoy! crossed with a Nutter Butter.” Comps help everyone understand what you created.