What makes a good query letter? I’ve heard this question time and time again from aspiring authors longing for the rare privilege of publication. Let me share some tips I have picked up over the years as well as things that stand out to me from query letters received by our company with submissions.
A business letter format should be used when creating the query. Address the editor you are pitching to by name. This shows that you took the time to find out a bit about them and are not just sending out a generic form letter. This small detail could set you apart from the slush pile. Make sure to include your contact information, not just your email address but also your physical address and telephone number. This is always a good idea even when submitting electronically. If you are submitting a hard copy, be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope. This small courtesy doesn’t go unnoticed. It shows that you care about their time and resources. Most important, keep your letter to one page. This is not a synopsis of your book and a biography of your life. Keep it concise and to the point.
First and foremost, your query letter should tell about your book. What’s the title of your book? What’s your book about? What genre does your book fit into? Who is the main character? What is the main plot? What sets your book apart from others? This is not a place for a one-page synopsis (that should be attached separately), but is the perfect place to polish your 30 second elevator speech. Be sure that you are submitting to a publisher or editor who accepts your genre. Editors do not have time to waste. Taking the time to do a little research about who your submitting to and what genres they like to work with is appreciated by editors and publishers. It shows initiative.
I know this seems backwards, but introduce yourself after you have summarized the details of your book. Make sure to mention if you have met the editor at a conference or seminar and if they requested a sample of your work. Keep your background pertinent to writing. Don’t tell the editor about your children or pets. Instead, give them your background in writing. Are you a member of local writers’ group? Do you have any other published works? Do you have a degree in Fine Arts? What qualifications do you have to write about your non-fiction topic? Have you been published in anthologies or magazines? What kind of following do you have in place? What kind of author’s platform have you built for yourself? It’s very helpful if the editor can google you and see an online presence with a following. You don’t have to include all of these, just the things that pertain to you and show your expertise.
The most important thing to do before you submit a query is to PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD. A query is the first impression you give to an editor. If you submit a letter full of typos and grammar errors, it can be a good indicator of how much editing your manuscript will require. A poorly crafted query could land your masterpiece in the slush pile before it’s even looked at. A query letter is the first taste of your writing. It’s how you present yourself and can leave a lasting impression for good or bad. I hope these tips will help make it a good one.
Look for Part 2 – The Four Types of Synopsis and When to Use Them, next month. And…
Keep writing!
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