Writing a Query Letter

One of the hardest things for many writers is not actually writing the manuscript, but writing the query letter. Compared to writing the query letter, a manuscript is a piece of cake.

There are several things an editor will look for in a query letter. If a query letter lacks the required material, the editor won’t even bother looking at the manuscript, no matter how good it is. Here are some basic steps to consider when writing a query letter.

Address: At the top of the query letter should be the name and address of the publisher. Make sure the publisher’s name is correct; don’t put “Mr. Jane Smith” or get the address wrong. The editor will probably get a good kick out of it and throw it in the trash can.

First Paragraph: One space under the address should be the date, and one space under that the letter should start. The first sentence of the query letter should be a grabber, a sentence that hooks the editor and makes them want to read every word on the page. Make it as suspenseful or shocking as possible. The first paragraph should be a summary of the story, something that’s read on the back cover of a book. Highlight only the most important events, introduce one or two key characters, and don’t give away the ending!

Second Paragraph: The second paragraph should be stating your qualifications, like any previous publishing experience. If you don’t have any previous publishing qualifications, don’t say anything. Stating that you have no publishing experience is basically a shout-out to the editor that you have no experience at all and would probably not be worth the time. The second paragraph should also tell the editor what line the book is intended for and how many words it has.

Thank-You: The third paragraph should be a thank-you to the editor for taking time out of their busy schedule to read the query letter.

Signature: Make sure that your signature is both typed and signed. Under the signature there should be your contact information, such as address, telephone number, and email address.

Enclosed Material: The last required item for a query letter is to let the editor know what is enclosed. Rarely do editors ask for a full manuscript upfront. They might ask for a synopsis or even the first three chapters of the book. Below the contact information needs to be a single line that looks something like “Encl: Synopsis, chapters 1-2, return envelope.”

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