Many people have a tough time crafting their query. Basically, a query is not a business letter - it is a sales tool. It is the first thing they see to decide if they want to even glance at a synopsis or first page. Make it work for you.
A successful query letter should be at most one page and contain the following - and ONLY the following:
1. Salutation. I don't know that I'd necessarily tell them you got their name from Publishers' Marketplace - now, if you were referred to them or have met them, then, yes, mention that.
2. Intro of the work - name, genre, word count and a high-concept line if you've got it. (Dorothy Gale meets JAWS is the one for my current manuscript, as an example.) Perhaps your genre description is your high-concept: time-travel, medieval mystery is another of mine (I have gotten a request from that.) Things like saying "I'd like to present anunusual proposal" would, I feel, put them on the defensive. Kind of like saying you've got the next DaVinci Code. Let the work stand on its own merits. Instead of telling them that it's unusal, show them with the description (see? telling vs. showing all over the place LOL).
3. A *blurb* about the manuscript, typically a paragraph. Keep this in third person. You want to highlight the character(s)' GMC - goal, motivation and conflict. (See "Goal, Motivation, Conflict by Debra Dixon.) Show the resolution, the ending. No "if you want to see how this ends, you'll have to buy the book." People do it; honest. Editors/agents will reject because of it. Hook them with the story; you don't need to tell them they will travel from here to here. Show the story. What is the catalyst for his journey? What are his obstacles? Is this a mystery or a history? Is this adventure/thriller/etc. What does he learn/do - that is, what's his character arc, how does he grow.
4. Any relevant credentials you have regarding subject matter. - ONLY - in a concise form: I am an archaelogist who has studied this time period, etc. No resume in the query letter on things not relevant to the story. They are interested in first time authors for the story they are submitting, not your career path. If they want to read the story and subsequently buy/rep the story, then, yes, where you see your writing career will come into play. But first and foremost, it's all about the story.
5. Contact information.
6. Thank you and your signature.
Some publishers will accept a synopsis and a few pages. Others don't. You will usually get rejected if you don't follow their submission guidelines.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 20
Another great article. I'm sweating through the final chapters of a YA novel, but what really gets my heart racing is the thought of writing a query letter--yikes! This is good, solid advice, better than I've read in some reference books. Thanks.
Pat S. (dear lady that she is) sent me over here to check out your article. I am trying to get my "blurb", or what I like to call the "mini-synopsis" to shine like diamonds before I send it out into the cruel, cruel publishing world. We all know how important these query letters are. If you have a moment would you be a dear (similar to Pat) and have a look at it. The novel is of the sci-fi genre, and I know you write in a different genre, but maybe you could at least tell me if it is concise enough. It's two paragraphs long. The "tag lines" are there too. And the "compare to other things" sentence. I haven't written the rest of the query yet. That part isn't quite as difficult and I will be using your article and Julie's (HI JULIE!) to help me out there.
If you have time to look. Here's the address:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977007395
If you are too busy, I understand.
Thanks for the great tips. Excellent article.
Yay, I say again.
I've seen writers help each other with query letters. As you said, this is a sales pitch. And it's sometimes hard to sell ourselves. Having someone help--looking at yourself and your piece through his eyes--can work wonders.
One of the best letters I ever wrote was a query for someone else. He had all the right information. It was just dull. But since I didn't have any trouble praising someone else's work, I beefed up his letter. Don't know that he used it since he asked everyone in our writer's group for advice, but I won't be shy about asking someone else for advice when I query.
My queries have been all over the place and with wildly mixed results. There is no rule for what will appeal to whoever is going to read it. Really. The paperback novel I have out now had a real "blow off" for a query (I just didn't know what the heck to say) and the owner of the publisher got back to me ONE WEEK later to say the novel really grabbed him. I was, like, "WOW!"
Some ebook publishers just have you fill out their own form. I don't like that. It looks so cold, but I guess it helps them get to the meat of things right away.
I've been reading about the dreaded query letter. While what you have to say is repeated through out those articles; the way you wrote it made it easier to understand.
Underline the title of the book and italicize the blurb. Make sure your margins are 1" all the way around. As to font, I use Times New Roman 14 or Courier 12 (They're similar in size, true type fonts and standard in the industry. Don't get cute on the fonts, or you'll turn them off.) Plain white paper.
So says paragraph 2 in the handbook of the Gather Point Fairy.