The query letter

Dear ________:

Haven't you noticed that, no matter what, it's always the creative ones who have something to hide?

Seventeen-year-old Razberry Sweet is a freak, an outcast with a criminal record to boot. With his only friends being the misfits of Limesville High, chasing his dream of becoming an actor (and impressing his crush) proves to be impossible with his bad reputation, and the secrets that come with it. In order to restore his good name, Raz begins taping a movie that will change his classmates perception of him and blow everyone in his small town away. But although his gift for film offers an escape, Raz can’t help but notice that no matter how hard he tries, his past mistakes aren’t going away—and sooner or later, they will catch up with him.

A general young-adult fiction complete at 42,048 words, Anything But: The Musings of an Outcast, Me, Razberry Sweet is a humorous take on one teen's perspective of the real world. The manuscript is ready to be read upon request.

I am a freelancer for the newspaper, [Blank]. I am currently working on the sequel for this novel while looking for representation. I thank you for the time you have taken to read this query.

Sincerely,

[Name withheld]