Basic information on Query Letters

How To Write a Query Letter

A query letter is the letter you write to an agent, editor, or publisher, asking if he or she might be interested in reading more of your material. Sending all of your material without being requested to do so is frowned upon in the publishing industry.

Above All Else, Proofread Everything That Goes Into The Envelope.

Always include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE).

The Letter should:

• Be no longer than one page.
• Have a catchy but professional introduction (how you heard of agent, great plot idea, etc.)
• Detail your experience (credentials for writing the book - can be professional and/or personal experience). Your credentials are crucial for nonfiction, and may be less important for fiction, but sell yourself. Nobody thinks it's bragging.
• Include details about the project in a short paragraph. If fiction, one- or two-line "log line," plus word count and genre, if appropriate; if nonfiction, a brief description of the project, plus finish this sentence: "My book is the first book that..."

The Enclosures:

• A self-addressed, stamped envelope: large enough to fit a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Do not send checks, cash, money orders, or food stamps. If you'd like your material returned, please include a large enough envelope pre-stamped with sufficient postage. Please do NOT use postal meters; the post office often gives us a hard time about these.
• Press clippings about you or other books you've written.
• Anything else the specific agent may request.

Don't:

• Make the cover letter longer than one (1) page.
• Mention other manuscripts sitting in your drawer, asking the agent to choose which one to see. Discuss only the best, strongest, most saleable manuscript you have.
• Send it until it's the best-written, tightest prose you can possibly write.
• If this is an email query don't include attachments or force the editor to link to your Website to read sample materials - make it as easy for them as possible.

Sample Query Letter

30 January 20XX
[include all of your contact information: address, email, phone, etc.]
Mr. Ian Successful
43 Literary Lane
Novelsville, OH 44022
123 456 7890
email@emailaddress.com

[check the agent's guidelines: do they want a snail-mail or electronic query?]
Mr. (or Ms.) Wonderful Folioagent:
Folio Literary Management
505 8th Avenue, Suite 603
New York, NY 10018

Re: My Dog Eliot

Dear Mr. (or Ms.) Folioagent:

[The Hook] You may remember that we met yesterday at the water cooler. [or, next best] I recently completed a novel that is similar to The Memory of Running, which I know your agency represents, and I thought you might want to take a look at it. [or, next best] I read your listing in Literary Marketplace, and thought that you might be interested in taking a look at a novel I just completed.

[Professional, or interesting personal, background of the author that make it clear why the author is the best person to tell this tale] I have been writing for the past twenty-seven years. My short stories have appeared in Playboy, GQ, and Martha Stewart Living. [or] I am an avid dog-owner, and have owned the same dog for the past twelve years.

[Information about the novel] My Dog Eliot, a novel of 97,000 words, tells of these experiences. [possible comparison to another novel] It is similar to The Great Gatsby only in that both novels are written in English.

Since I know you are an avid dog fan, I am writing to ask if you would be interested in representing me. I am enclosing an outline, synopsis, sample chapter(s), press clippings about my other published works, endorsements by: (1) bestselling authors; (2) celebrities; (3) experts; (4) other people who really would be useful for endorsements, and, of course, a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage if I want all of my materials returned to me.

[submission information] This is on a multiple submission. If you are interested in reading the entire manuscript, however, I will be happy to give you exclusivity for six weeks.

Sincerely yours,
Ian Successful

For more information on query letters, click here.