Although they’ve been known to give the most seasoned of writers the yips, the fact remains if you want to be published, sooner or later, you’re going to have to write a Query Letter. Now don’t get your knickers in a twist–they really aren’t that horrid, as long as you follow these few easy steps. I had initially posted this info last summer but I think it bears repeating, and with a few updates to bring us up to speed…
First, some preliminaries… First and foremost, a query is a business letter. Since more and more agents are accepting queries only through email, and since that email entails one finger firmly adhered to the delete button, you want your query to be as concise and professional as possible. If you are sending a query by mail, make sure it’s on plain paper (unscented, preferably), following standard business letter formatting, no fancy pictures or gimmicks necessary. If you’re emailing, send it in the body of the email and NOT by attachment. Since attachments can carry viruses, agents are loath to open them unless they know you, so send attachments by invitation only. Most definitely use honorifics (Mr., Ms. etc.) in your Salutation as you should never assume familiarity. If you had previously met with the agent at a conference, workshop, cocktail party, etc, and were invited to query, most definitely write REQUESTED in the subject line as well as the first line of the email. These will get opened first. As a best practice, check the agent’s website or blog for query/submission guidelines. Try Google, Jeff Herman’s guide, the library for The Literary Marketplace, or http://www.agentquery.com/, just to name a few resources. Now, on to the actual construction…
Para One - Howdy! With Benefits - This is your query knock-on-the-door, your literary calling card designed to get the agent/editor’s attention. Introduce yourself, remind her if you’ve previously met and where (we chatted during lunch at the XXXX Writers’ Conference), if you’ve been invited to query/submit, the name of your novel, the genre and word count, and a one line teaser such as: A cross between Stephen King and Carl Hiaasen, My Bloody Margarita is a mystery wrapped up in one night stand… to illustrate your story and your writing style. Think of a New York Times Bestseller List blurb, but on the whole, keep this para to a five-six line minimum, with just the facts, ma’am, inviting her to the next para to learn more.
Para Two – In which we employ The Hard Sell - this is where you get ONE paragraph to car-crush your entire 80,000 word novel into one easily digestible capsule. Twelve to fifteen lines in all, introduce your main characters, basic plot line, conflict, lessons learned, the conclusion. Remember, although you want the agent/editor to be intrigued, you don’t want to raise her ire. So if you say …but if you want to know how the story turns out, you’ll just have to request the rest of it… you’re just asking for a delete. Be creative, not cagey.
Para Three – It’s all about YOU! – This is where you get your close-up, Mr. DeMille; it’s all about you, you, you. Cite your published works, awards, training, blogs, websites, education (if pertinent), professional associations, jobs or skills that give you credibility for/authority on what you’re writing about. Again, because this is a business letter, remain professional. Don’t take this personally, but no one really cares if you like to raise bunnies and take long walks lakeside, unless, of course, you’re writing about The Killer Hare of Lake Superior. And no one cares if your mother or your BFF Nora thinks it’s fabulous–not unless that best friend happens to be Nora Roberts, and if it is, by all means say so! But again, no more than twelve to fifteen lines. If it’s sent via email, a link to your blog or website is also a bonus, as long as you insert it in the text.
Para Four – Wrap it up – This is your shortest paragraph of all. I’ll even toss in examples free of charge: I can send a proposal or the complete novel at your request. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. OR According to your submission guidelines, what follows is the first ten pages (or synopsis or first three chapters, or any combination thereof stated in their guidelines) of The Rage of Innocence. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. THAT SHOULD BE IT. No more, no less, just a salute as you head out the door. And with the proliferation of agent/publisher websites, in addition to the more traditional Literary Marketplace for information, there should be NO EXCUSE not to submit according to the specified guidelines. As a matter of fact, agents/editors fully expect it.
All finished? PROOFREAD AND SPELL-CHECK, add your name (or signature, if it’s going in the mail), and email address and phone number. If it’s hard copy, the date, your address, email address and phone number already should have been above the salutation. Hard copies should also include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE). All in all, email or hard copy, a succinct query should never contain more than 400-450 words, and NEVER more than one page. And never query unless you have a completed, fully polished, proofread and spell-checked novel ready to go. I know of agents who get 200 queries a week, and some substantially more. That’s a heck of a queue, and if you’re not ready to submit at a moment’s notice, rest assured there are hundreds of others who are.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, don’t let it get you down when the inevitable rejections come. It’s the rare writer that hasn’t received their fair share, and after awhile, they’re almost badges of honor. Matter of fact, get a group of writers together and watch them swap rejections stories. Before long, it’ll turn into a veritable pissing contest on who’s gotten the worst one or who’s gotten more, and someone invariably gets a free drink out of sympathy. So buck up, bucko, the law of averages is on your side and sooner or later, something will click. And until then? You’re building your portfolio and becoming a better writer, while collecting not what we’ll call rejections as much as vouchers for a free dirty Martini.
Good luck and smooch!
Trudy
