Articles on writing

Sunday, October 30, 2005

The Power of a Query Letter

When I completed my first romance novel and faced the intimidating task of trying to
find a home for it, I soon realized that I hated to submit work to publishers or agents
-- that only allowed writers to send in a query letter. I mean, come on! How can
anyone judge how well I write fiction, just from a query letter? At least give me a
chance to show I can tell a good story! BUT... You knew there was a BUT coming,
didn't you? Of course you did.

As it happens, some years went by, and in doing critique work for others, I had the
chance to read over a number of query letters. That's when I realized how much I
picked up about each person's writing ability even when I had nothing to go on but
that letter.

Okay. Now, think of a skilled editor -- or agent -- with a full query letter in hand. She
has probably seen thousands of them. Think of how much she can learn about your
writing style and your manuscript from that one page query letter. With little more
than a minute, an editor will know if she can toss that query to the reject pile if...

You sent it on lovely pink paper with small red print that promises to cause her to go
cross-eyed after the first paragraph. (Use a good grade white paper instead, and try an
ordinary font and very readable style and size print in your every day basic black.)

You addressed the query to Dear Editor, and then rambled on for four pages when the
guidelines stated plainly that you were to send in a one-page query letter. On top of
that, your novel is a 100,000 word historical, and the house you queried only
publishes 75,000 word contemporaries. (A person who has the time to write a whole
novel, can surely take the time to do a little market research.)

In reading half of the query, she's already found one spelling error and two grammar
mistakes. (First impressions do mean a lot. A query letter should be lacking in one
thing - mistakes.)

While reading, the editor finds herself needing to go back and read a couple of
sentences over, to be sure of what you meant. (Your writing should be tight and clear.)

When finished with the query, she still doesn't know the word count, setting, or the
line the writer is targeting. (It is best to make sure that somewhere in those first few
sentences you answer those questions and mention that the manuscript is complete.)

If the writer who sent this editor the query letter didn't even bother to do this much
right, what are the chances that a manuscript from the writer will be any better? Most
editors don't have the time to take chances.

In the Beginning
Completing and scanning your query shows you have never sold novel-length fiction
before, then she can probably toss your query to the rejection pile. There are 200
other query letters sitting there from writers with completed manuscripts and perfect
query letters.

On to the Middle
Next in the query letter is your pitch about your story. You have to make this short
and sweet, and still grab her interest. Think of this as being the blurb on a novel. How
many times have you read a book's back cover and set the book down or placed it into
your shopping cart, making that decision solely from those couple of paragraphs? If
the editor doesn't like your writing style, or if she has just bought a story with the
same plot line, then she can toss this query too. Reading further won't do her any
good, or you.

The End
Last in your letter are a few lines to brag about yourself as a writer. Come on, you
have something positive you can add. I know you do. Have you published any thing?
Been writing for seven years? Are you a member of RWA? What about part of a
critique group? Have you had something place in a writing contest? Maybe the
heroine in your story is a nurse, and so are you? Anything good at all you can add to
give you a little edge, is perfect for here.

Some things that will probably get your query tossed during this part are if you add
things like... I know you will think this is the very best book you have ever read! Or...
My mom and sister both loved this story so much, they said it just has to be published
and should sell millions of copies!

So you see, that simple little query letter, only a single page long, that most of us hate
with a passion to write, can tell an editor (or agent) every thing she needs to know
about you and your manuscript -- at least every thing she needs to know to decide if
she should use her precious time to read chapter one.

Charlotte Dillon ~ www.charlottedillon.com

Posted by Lisa Renee Jones :: 7:33 PM :: 0 Comments: