You have a query. A synopsis. Sample pages. A bio. Your nerves are shot. Audit before send.
The misdiagnosisThe misdiagnosis is that the package is ready because each piece is.
The real diagnosisIt might not be. The pieces have to talk. The voice in the query must show up in the sample. The tone in the synopsis must match the stakes in the pages. The bio must not undercut the writer the pages promise.
Audit Each Piece
| Piece | Check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Query | Tone, hook, comp | Sets expectation |
| Synopsis | Full plot, present tense | Confirms structure |
| Sample pages | Voice match to query | Voice continuity |
| Bio | Brief, real, no humble-brag | Quiet credibility |
Three Cross-Piece Failures
- Query promises voice the sample doesn't deliver.
- Synopsis describes a different book than the sample reads as.
- Bio is longer than the pitch.
The package is a tasting. Each plate must taste like the same kitchen.
Read all four side by side. Listen for the same writer in all four.
The dare (not assignment)Print all four. Read them in order. Where the voice changes, you have your fix.
Image promptA folder with four labeled inserts laid out neatly on a desk. Painterly. Cream and sea-green. No people.
— The Book Maven
