Many writers are afraid of writing query letters. They believe that they will be rejected by editors even before they submit the manuscript. This can be frustrating and it can take time to get out of this negative mind set once it sets in. Ideally, it is best not to develop these negative attitudes towards query letter writing in the first place. But this is easier said than done, and I struggled with this when I started out in my writing career too. This is why I have developed this workshop.You can write a winning query letter. All you need is to remember a few skills, devise a checklist and a willingness to learn to write the best query letter you’re capable of. Nothing else is really needed. You don’t have to freeze at the thought of sending out a query letter. In fact, you MUST send out query letters in order to be a successful writer. You will probably not get your article or book purchased unless you send out queries.
There are many reasons why writers are worried about sending out query letters. Sometimes no matter what writers do, they can become stuck in a rut. A dread and fear can develop and set it, paralyzing the writer from even sitting down and querying any editor. This can be detrimental to your writing career.
This week, I will show you some of the basics of writing query letters. Then you will have a chance of writing your very first query letter! Yes, that’s right, you heard right! So, buckle up your seat belts and muster your strength and courage, because you’re about to have a real eye-opening experience.
Some writers are even overwhelmed at the thought of sitting down and writing down a query letter. They have a lot of wonderful ideas. But to actually research magazines or publishers and find out their needs is not something that they do well. Yet that is the key to a writer’s success as a writer. The good news is that there are many things that writers can do to overcome these negative feelings, and I believe that most of it hinges on really knowing the mechanics of writing query letters. That is what I will focus on this week.
This is a hand’s on workshop in many ways. Once you learn the basics, you will be writing your query letter. Practice makes perfect, and until you actually write a few query letters, you won’t know how to write them. So, it is my purpose this week to make sure that you do. The trick is to try and do something about your fears before it paralyzes your writing career.
Why write query letters?
Many writers wonder why editors would rather see a query letter than a finished article or book. How can a one-page letter demonstrate the quality and content of a 1,000-2,000 word article or 50,000 word book? Wouldn’t an editor be able to make a more informed decision if (s)he could read the entire article or book?
Queries also seemingly add an extra delay. You have to wait for a response to your query before you can receive a response to the article or book. Wouldn’t eliminating the query letter cut the waiting time in half? In addition, writers prefer to write about a topic when it is fresh in our minds. By the time writers receive a response to a query, they’ve gone onto other things. Isn’t it more logical to write the article or book at once?
These are all valid concerns. However, the primary issue is not whether a query is better than an article or book. The issue is that writers don’t have a choice but to write query letters if they want their article or books purchased. Sending article or books on spec is not recommended for beginning, intermediate or even mature writers. We all have to test the waters of a magazine before submitting our work there.
Editors are usually inundated by badly written, inappropriate manuscripts. This wastes their time and energy. In response, many have simply closed their doors to unsolicited submissions. The better-paying or more prestigious the market, the more likely it is to insist on queries. Some publications also pay less for unsolicited material than assigned material. This means that querying can substantially increase your income in some cases by hundreds of dollars. In short, queries aren’t optional; they may be your only chance of making a sale.
Writers need to realize that they are selling their ideas to potential publishers. That means they have to have a vehicle through which to sell them, and the query letter is one such vehicle. All writers have to do is to learn how to write a GREAT AND ENGAGING query letter.
Writing Query Letters Can Benefit Many People
Query letters can benefit writers and editors. Perhaps the most obvious benefit to an editor is length: it’s easier to review a one-page letter than a ten-page manuscript. Queries enable an editor to determine, almost at a glance, whether a writer:
• Can write effectively
• Has a coherent, well thought-out idea
• Has a basic grasp of grammar and spelling
• Has read the publication
• Has an idea that fits into the publication’s content
• Has the expertise or credentials to write the article or book
• Approaches markets in a professional manner
Queries also save time for the writer. Writing a single-page query is a much smaller investment in time and effort than writing an entire article or book, particularly if the article or book will require extensive research or interviews. By querying first, you avoid wasting time on an article or book that may be rejected. This can occur for the simple reason that the editor already received a similar article or book or has run something like that in the past.
A query also gives the editor a chance to give you feedback on your idea before you write the article or book. This will allow you to tailor the article or book precisely to the needs of that market and audience. An editor may want a shorter or a longer article or book. The editor may also want you to include interview clips with experts. Querying can keep you from making time-consuming revisions to your material after you’ve written it.
Sometimes, a query can result in a completely different assignment. If an editor is impressed by your credentials and writing style, but can’t use the idea you’ve proposed, (s)he may approach you with an alternative suggestion. This can open the door to a productive relationship with an editor. This is a win-win for a writer.
So, as you can see, there are many benefits to writing query letters. So, let’s get to the basics of writing one, shall we?
Essentials of an Effective Query Letter
One of the goals of a query letter is to make a positive impression on an editor. This is one way to be successful as a writer and to have your query accepted. If you miss making a positive impression, you risk rejection.
There are five basic components of a query letter. These are as follows:
- The hook
- The pitch (or offer)
- The body
- The credentials
- The close
Each of these components is vital to the success of your query letter. So, let’s look at these components in more detail below. (Note: This week, I will present the basics of each of these components. But in the weeks to come, I will give you more tips on how to write a query letter that covers all of these components in more detail.)
1. The Hook
Like an article or book, a query should grab an editor’s attention from the very first line. Many writers use the first line of their proposed article or book to open their query. That first line is the hook. It should demonstrate your ability to write effectively and interestingly about the topic that you propose.
A hook can be a single sentence or a brief paragraph. Hooks come in many different forms. These are as follows:
• Problem/Solution hooks
• Informative hooks
• Question hooks
• Attention-grabber hook
Over the next few weeks, I will examine these hooks in more detail and also examine which hooks to avoid.
2. The Pitch
Once you have hooked the editor, it’s time to move on to the pitch. This usually appears in the next paragraph, though it may sometimes appear in the same paragraph as the hook. Again, this is a matter of personal preference. So, as you write query letters, you will discover what you really want and like.
Your pitches should describe what you are offering in your article or book. For instance, is your article or book an informative piece? Or, is it a humorous piece? Or, does it solve a problem? You must make this decision before you start writing your article or book and query.
Often, you should start by explaining how your article or book will solve the problem or answer the question posed in your hook. It’s also the place to offer a working title for your article or book and a suggested word-count. Including the word count is a good way to let the editor know that you’ve reviewed the publication’s guidelines and also that you understand how many words are necessary to cover a particular topic.
However, a word of caution is in order here. A good way to get your query letter rejected is to suggest an article or book on a wide-ranging topic and expect to cover the topic effectively in a short article or book. That is one major faux pas of writing query letters.
3. The Body
An editor wants to know exactly what your article or book will cover. That means you must know the answers to the questions you plan to address. And you must have a working outline of your article or book in mind as well. Otherwise, it will show. This constitutes the body of your query. This is the section that will have the greatest power to make or break the sale of your article or book.
The length of your query letter can vary. However, it is usually one to four paragraphs in length. In these paragraphs, you must present the details of your article or book. There are many different ways of organizing your body paragraphs. And as you write query letter, you will determine which way is best for you.
One good way of preparing to write the body of your query letter is to summarize your proposed article or book and divide it into logical subtopics. The longer the article or book, the more subtopics you are likely to include. List your topics, with a brief description of each, in the body of your query letter. You could use bullet points or just simply put the points in one paragraph. Again, this is a personal preference.
4. The credentials
Besides wanting to know what your article or book is about, editors also want to know why you are the best person to write this article or book. For new writers, this section can be the most terrifying. They wonder how they can convince an editor to buy an article or book if they don’t have any writing credits. This can be tricky. But we all have to start somewhere.
Fortunately, credentials don’t necessarily have to include writing credits. Often other credentials (such as professional experience, work, familial activities and so on) are more important to write a credible piece, one that is related to the audience that you will be writing for potentially.
You should also check the publication’s guidelines and bylines to determine what credentials are most valued by that publication. Relevant credentials are most likely to include some of the following:
• Professional experience
• Academic degrees or training
• Teaching experience
• Personal experience
• Writing experience
• Interviews
So, be creative with your credentials. Think of what you already do and you may be surprised that this may be exactly what editors are looking for.
5. The Close
Use the final paragraph to thank your editor for taking the time to consider your proposal and make a final offer to help close the deal. I usually tell the editor here how long it will take for me to deliver the article or book. This will help them to gauge whether or not your article or book will fit their publication themes.
You may also want to encourage the editor to ask you for more. Ask a question, or present an interesting anecdote. These are all ways to leave the editor with something interesting.
Formatting the Query letter
Although this is the least important part of writing a query letter, it still merits some discussion since if you don’t write your letter properly it can show a lack of professionalism.
So, here are a few elements of a well-formatted query letter. Please use this as a checklist when writing your very first query letter.
Elements of a well-formatted query letter:
* A decent letterhead
You can design a basic letterhead on your computer simply by printing your name and address at the top of the page in an attractive but not excessively fancy font.
* A business-style body
Use block or modified block style when writing the body of your letter. Always include a blank line between paragraphs and don’t indent more than five spaces (if you indent at all).
* Include contact information
Your letterhead should include complete contact information, including your full name, address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address. It isn’t necessary to include your URL. You can include your website in the credentials section.
* A formal salutation
Unless you know the editor personally, don’t use first names. If you’re not sure whether the editor is male or female, you should use the editor’s title.
* Clean, spell-check the letter
Make sure that you don’t send out a query riddled with typos or grammatical errors. This is a real faux pas! Don’t rely solely on your computer spell-checker either. Visually proofread your query several times before sending it out.
* Provide a SASE (Self-addressed Stamped Envelope)
Don’t use a #9 envelope for your SASE. Use a full-size business envelope (#10), folded in thirds. Be sure it has adequate postage.
Take the time to make sure that all of these elements are in place before sending your query letter.
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