Query Letters: Important Tips & Warnings: Part 5 of Query Letters that Work!
mini.course
Welcome to Part 5 of the Query Letters That Work! Mini-Course
A Word to the Wise: Important Do’s and Don’ts – Tips and Warnings
So, far in Query Letters that Work! a mini-course, we’ve covered:
- The purpose of the query letter
- Key Components of Query Letters That Work Part One and Part Two
- Key Traits and Characteristics of Winning Query Letters
- What to Do if You’ve Never Been Published and Don’t Have Any Writing Credentials
Now, we’re going to take a look at some important things to remember when writing and submitting your query letters:
Note: For more in-depth explanations of the tips, warnings and things to remember – see Parts 1 – 4 of Query Letters that Work!
- Keep your letter to a single page!
While it might seem like a good idea to include more (and more!) information, doing so will actually hurt your chances rather than working to your advantage. (This doesn’t include attachments, such as: clips).
Editors and agents want to (and expect to!) see your ability to write concisely and effectively and to not have to spend a lot of time reading to determine that! Remember, they are inundated with queries on a regular and ongoing basis. Why bother with 2 and 3 page queries, when they have a stack of 100, single page ones that effectively show topic, subtopics and the ability to connect with the reader? (Hint: they won’t!)
- Include relevant published clips if you have them (unless the publication specifically requests otherwise).
- Always, make sure the tone and the topic fits the publication and the readership!
Click here for tips on researching and getting to know your audience.
Do your homework!
- When querying by mail, always include a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope).
You won’t always receive a response, but doing this encourages the editor or agent to respond and enables them to do so easier and faster.
- Don’t submit the same idea to multiple publishers at the same time!
The only exceptions to this are when a publisher specifically stipulates that this is acceptable or when you notify all of the publishers you are submitting to that you are doing this. In general though, it is best to wait for a response from one publisher before submitting the same idea to another.
As freelance writers, we need to make money from our profession to survive; we can’t wait forever to hear back from one publisher before pitching our awesome ideas to another. So, what do you do if you haven’t heard back, but you really need to move forward? Stay tuned to Writers Bra! I will posting soon all about proper follow-up etiquette with publishers, editors and agents.
- When using qualifications and experience in lieu of writing credentials, make certain that experience is relevant and viable!
If your background has no relevance to the topic you are pitching, leave it out of your query letter altogether. Click here to learn more about how to use your life experiences in place of writing credentials. (Hint: This is excellent for someone who has never been published!)
- Make sure your query letter is in business format and has the appropriate look!
Click here to learn more about how to format your letter and exactly what it should (and shouldn’t!) look like.
- Always address editors and publishers professionally and with a business tone.
This is a business; you are the owner of your business; and you need to treat publishers with the respect and professionalism that their position warrants. After all, they are the gatekeepers to your publishing world.
- Always, always, ALWAYS have someone else proofread your query letter for you!
Writers make terrible proofreaders of their own writings. Why? Quite simply, we see what’s supposed to be there instead of what’s really there.
Now, I’m not talking about creatively; most of us do a pretty darn good job with that part 
. But, grammar and spelling; especially spelling… trust me; if the word is supposed to have an apostrophe, we’ll see an apostrophe. If the word is supposed be spelled “too” and not “to”… we’re going to see “too”.
Don’t get me wrong; we’ll likely catch a lot of our own mistakes, but we’re just as likely to leave behind a few too (especially if we’ve read the piece dozens of times during the writing process!).
Anyway, why even take that chance? Do you really want your idea tossed out simply because you made a few typos? Threw in an extra “the”? Wrote “good darn”, instead of “darn good”?
While these may not seem like such a big deal, they can be… particularly when an editor already has 75 other query letters sitting on his or her desk.
I’m not saying typos and grammar issues will exclude you from the running; if your idea is good enough and the mistakes are minimal, you just might make it through. But, why take a chance?
Be safe! Have a friend or colleague proof your query letters and other important work before putting it out there…
- Quality matters!
This kind of goes without saying. Most of the tips above are all about just that; quality.
Your query letter needs to be your “best foot forward”. This is precisely how editors and agents will view it.
If your query letter is not in the right format, doesn’t follow the standard process, is sloppy in appearance, addresses the publisher too casually, etc. etc…. it’s going to hurt you as a writer. What the editor will take away from that is, “If that’s their best effort, what can I expect the finished “product” to be like?” Common sense.
And, with that . . .
I hope your query letters are going well! Don’t forget to shout-out your publishing and writing successes through Writers Bra Bally-hoo! We want to hear all about it and we want to help you get it out to the world!
Stay tuned. Still to come in Query Letters that Work! A Mini-Course:
- A Word to the Wise: Important Do’s and Don’ts – Tips and Warnings
- Sample Query Letters
- Final Thoughts: Bringing It All Together & Things to Remember
Plus! I’ve added a topic:
- A Few Key Differences When Querying to Publish Your Book
Wishing you continued writing success,
Deanna
Founder and Creator
Writers Bra
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Poetry Contest: Writer’s Digest
A Call to Our Fellow Poets!
Writer’s Digest is hosting its 5th Annual Poetry Awards Competition!
This competition is the only one offered by Writer’s Digest exclusively for poets.
Every style of poetry is welcome. The only requirement is that your poems be 32 lines or fewer. And, you can enter as many poems as you’d like!
Just what can you win?
The 1st Place Winner will receive: $500
2nd Place: $250
3rd Place: $100
Wait! There’s more . . .
4th – 10th Places will receive $25 each.
11th – 25th Places: A $50 Gift Certificate to Writer’s Digest Books
1st – 10th place winners will also have their names listed in the August 2010 issue of Writer’s Digest, to be followed by a listing on the Writer’s Digest site. And, as an added bonus, all winners will receive a copy of the 2010 Poet’s Market.
The deadline for entering is December 15, 2009
For competition rules and to enter click here or visit Writer’s Digest and select “competitions” from the menu.
Want some feedback on your poems before entering them?
Visit the Writer’s Bra Community, share your thoughts, your work, whatever’s on your mind. That’s what we’re here for!
Oh! When you win, be sure to shout about it through Writers Bra Bally-hoo!
•Keep Writing•
Published? Shout-Out with Writers Bra Bally-hoo!
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Whatever your writing success, share it with the world through the new Writers Bra Bally-hoo! program!
Writers Bra Bally-hoo! is a complimentary service provided by Writers Bra to help you and your writing gain some exposure.
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Never Been Published? What to do! Part 4: Query Letters That Work!
Part 4 of Query Letters That Work!
mini-course continued . . .
What to Do if You’ve Never Been Published and
Don’t Have Writing Credentials
So far in the Query Letters That Work! Mini-Course, we’ve explored:
- The Purpose of the Query Letter
- Key Components of Query Letters That Work
- Key Traits and Characteristics of Winning Query Letters
Whether you have published pieces or not, you should always approach writing your query letter as if it’s the one and only thing standing between you and publishing success. Quite often, it is!
Now, let’s talk about what you can do to make your query letter work even if you’re brand new to publishing and don’t yet have published clips you can share or writing credentials to include in your letter.
Yes, the competition is fierce, but it may not be as hard as you think. Now more than ever, the doors to becoming a published writer are wider and easier to walk through. But!… right along with the increase in opportunities, the competition has grown increasingly large, as well. That’s just it though… the competition you are facing is more about the number of people you are competing against than it is about published writers with credentials beating you to the punch.
Don’t get me wrong; there are a lot of accomplished, published writers out there. But, they are mostly dominating in certain arenas; publishing in the bigger publications. To snag your first publishing credits, you’ll want to start with the smaller publications and this is where your topic and writing can help you get noticed over other writers seeking first time publication.
The best way to establish yourself and get that first publishing credit under your belt is to pitch a topic you have some background experience with or for which you have some qualifications.
Taking another look at my swine flu article query from earlier in the course, as an example:
“As a Nurse Practitioner, I am exposed to and work with flu sufferers on a regular basis. Every year, for the past four years, I have helped educate our local community about the various types of flu and ways to protect themselves throughout the flu season. This season alone I have personally assisted in the treatment of three patients who contracted swine flu.
Please find enclosed two clips; one from Healthy Peeps Magazine and the other, a local news article I recently wrote on regional flu statistics.”
Strip away the writing credentials found in the second paragraph and, as you can see, our Nurse Practitioner still has some viable qualifications and experience for pitching this particular topic. Because of this, she is much more likely to be taken in to serious consideration than someone with no relevant background just pitching the topic blind.
Tie your topic in with some related background or qualifications and you can show your potential writing abilities through your query letter itself. This combination of topic related experience and effective writing skills are a great way to break in to the world of publishing and snag that first published writing credential.
Chances are you are already reading publications that cover topics you can relate to. So, begin to think about why you relate to those topics; what in your background or past draws you to that particular topic. Do this and you just might find you have some relatable experience that you can draw from to write about.
Another way is simply to list your skills, training, and volunteer and job experiences. Then, start brainstorming on some ideas for articles.
Everyone has skills and experience in something! So, just take your time and give yourself a good thorough background assessment. Stretch yourself; you’ll be surprised at just how many things you have experience with and have accomplished in your life!
If you’re still having a tough time, here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Did you ever babysit?
- Are you a parent?
- Do you have, or have you had, pets?
- What was your first job?
- Are you married?
- Do you budget your household?
- Are you always critiquing the books you read; the movies you see?
- Have you taught a teenager how to drive?
- Are your friends always coming to you for advice?
As you can see, you can find experience just about anywhere. During the process of self-discovery, don’t limit yourself. List everything. Afterward, once you have it all down, you can go through it, choose the strongest and most comprehensive and fine tune it.
Once you’ve documented your experience and qualifications, start looking for publications whose subject matter and audience relate to your background. Start with smaller, less known publications and work your way up. By the time you get to the “big boys”, you should have a few writing credits under your belt with clips you can include in your new query letters.
Don’t forget to share your publishing successes with Writers Bra! I do post about our members! You can send your publishing announcements to:
bal⋅ly⋅hoo
[n. bal-ee-hoo; v. bal-ee-hoo, bal-ee-hoo] noun, plural -hoos, verb, -hooed, -hoo⋅ing.
–noun
1. a clamorous and vigorous attempt to win customers or advance any cause; blatant advertising or publicity.
2. clamor or outcry.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
4. to advertise or push by ballyhoo. n. pl. bal·ly·hoos
- Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity.
- Noisy shouting or uproar.
“ballyhoo.” Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 18 Oct. 2009. <Dictionary.comhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ballyhoo>.
Stay tuned . . .
STILL TO COME IN THE QUERY LETTERS THAT WORK! MINI-COURSE:
- A Word to the Wise: Important Do’s and Don’ts – Tips and Warnings
- Sample Query Letters
- Final Thoughts: Bringing It All Together & Things to Remember
Plus! I’ve added a topic:
- A Few Key Differences When Querying to Publish Your Book
I can’t wait to receive the news at bally-hoo@writersbra.com all about your publishing successes!
Keep Writing! xxoo
Interview Success and Back to Query Letters that Work!
The live interview with screenwriting expert, Jana Williams was a huge success! (Even despite my power outage and extended loss of internet access during the call… aaaahh! lol)
I received lots of great questions I was able to get answered on the call and Jana was extremely giving and shared a ton of really good information for screenwriters, writers and even actors!
Those of you who registered for the call will be receiving an e-mail soon with access to download a copy of the call. For those of you who missed it, hang tight; I’m going to try to make it available through some other avenues by early next week.
I will be returning to the Query Letters That Work! Mini-Course, with our next topic being “What to Do if You’ve Never Been Published and Don’t Have Writing Credentials”. So, stay tuned; you definitely won’t want to miss out on the rest of the course!
Still to come in the Query Letters That Work! Mini-Course:
- What to Do if You’ve Never Been Published and Don’t Have Writing Credentials
- A Word to the Wise: Important Do’s and Don’ts – Tips and Warnings
- Sample Query Letters
- Final Thoughts: Bringing it All Together and Things to Remember
Keep writing!
Deanna: Regularly Featured Expert
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Learn Screenwriting
