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!

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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

Welcome to Part 3 of Query Letters That Work! :

Key Traits & Characteristics of Winning Query Letters

A winning query letter has two primary objectives:

1. To persuade the agent or editor to want more from you
2. To provide the editor or agent with a way to easily get in touch with you

As we’ve explored earlier in the Query Letters That Work! Mini-Course, following the specific process for writing, formatting and presenting your query letter can go a long way toward achieving these goals.  To further help you improve your chances; you’ll want to pay attention to some of the common traits and characteristics of successful query letters.

Own Your Business

Think of yourself as the owner of your own business; as a writer, that’s precisely what you are!  How would the CEO of your company communicate with other business professionals?  From beginning to end, all of your communication with others in the industry should be polite and professional in tone.  Regardless of the outcome, treat the representatives of the publication or agency you are querying with respect and professionalism.  You never know when they just might be in a position to help (or hold back!) your career in the future; and a positive and professional manner can go a long way.

In business, as in life, never burn bridges that you don’t absolutely have to.

Do Your Homework

A winning query letter always shows that the writer did his or her homework.  Always. Remember, this is a business; your business.  Even if it’s not your full-time “job”, from the very moment you “announce” your intent to publish, your writing becomes a business and when dealing with others in the industry, you need to treat it as such.

• Would you go to work for a company before knowing the benefits or even what you’re salary will be?
• In your business, would you spend big bucks to market a product or service without first finding out if the demand exists?
• Would you spend your time and effort developing a product without knowing if anyone even wanted it, needed it or would buy it?

You don’t want to market your “product” to an audience who may not even be in the market for what you’re selling.  Now, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t send unsolicited queries; by all means, send away!  What it does mean however, is you need to know exactly who it is you are, and should be, selling to.  Never assume you know what a publication is about simply by its name or even something you saw or read on “Joe Blo’s” web site.  Do yourself a favor and do the research!  And, view it for what it is – an investment in yourself and your career.  Now that’s a worthwhile investment!

Before submitting your query, you should know who it is you’re submitting to and have a pretty good idea of what it is they want.

A few tips for researching and getting to know your audience:

• Review a copy of the magazine or publication
  • Buy a copy or if you can, buy several different issues or editions.
  • Many publications will allow you to purchase a single edition at a special rate for writers.
  • A few (very few) publications will provide a complimentary copy to freelance writers, upon request.
• Request a media or press kit from the publication
  • A media or press kit is something publications put together primarily for advertisers and includes demographics of its readership.  This kit contains a goldmine of information for writers, such as:
    • Sex and age of the publication’s audience
    • Median household income
    • Upcoming topic issues and submission schedules (Bingo!)
• Study the website of the agency or publication!

The most successful query letters contain a single pitch only!  Don’t include multiple topic or book pitches in the same letter.  And, don’t send any additional queries to the same publication or agency until you’ve received some type of reply or feedback first.

Another key characteristic of successful query letters is a sound (and sane!) approach.  Don’t embellish!  No fluff. No over exaggerated comparisons.  No empty words.  Excite your audience with sound, skilled writing and by proposing a topic of interest to the readers.

Combining the traits and characteristics reviewed here with all that you’ve learned so far in The Query Letters That Work! Mini-Course, can definitely give you a leg up on much of the competition.

Ready. Set. ACTION!

Keep writing; compose sample query letters and do a step-by-step comparison with what you’ve learned.  Make note of any missing components and areas that need work.  Re-work your letter and compare again.  Keep trying; and always remember . . .

Practice Makes Progress!

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

Stay tuned!
And, as always . . .
Keep Writing!

-deanna

Welcome to Part 2 of Query Letters That Work! :

Key Components of Query Letters That Work

While, as writers we are creative and our writing needs to show this, the actual process and format of putting together a query letter is formal.

In order to be taken seriously as a writer and considered for publication, your query letter needs to contain specific key parts and the letter needs to be formatted in business style format.

But, first let’s take a look at exactly what your query letter says about you.

Though brief, query letters show editors several key things:

• Whether or not you have an idea that fits with their readership and publication.
• How knowledgeable you are (or are not!) about the publication.
• Whether or not you are able to effectively connect with your target audience.
• What, if any, credentials or qualification you have.
• Whether your writing style is amateurish or professional and polished.
• Whether or not you have the expertise to write about the topic you are proposing.
• If you have a sound working knowledge of the language and lingo required to write the article.
• And, of course, a taste of your grammar and spelling skills.

Editors are highly skilled at spotting details quickly and effectively and usually have a great deal of experience in knowing what will work and what won’t for their readership.  So, though query letters are but brief, one page introductions, they literally speak volumes to an editor.

Don’t let this scare or intimidate you though! This is actually good news for you . . .

Constructed well, your query letter can be a powerful tool for getting your writing out to the world!

Now, let’s talk about how to do just that!

What should you include in your query letter?

All query letters need to contain the following critical components:

• An attention grabbing introductory paragraph often referred to as the “hook”.
• A clear, concise, precise description of what you are offering the publication, also known as the “pitch”.
• A “body” in which you provide the details of your proposed piece.
• Your “credentials” and qualifications.  (Don’t panic if you don’t have any!  Remember, I’ll be covering this a bit later in the course.)
• And, the “close”; a final paragraph thanking the editor for their consideration, plus one final boost to illicit a response!

Along with some potential enclosures, these are your key components in a nutshell.

Every query letter that lands on an editor’s desk will (ok, should) have all of these same components.  So, how do you make yours stand out? . . . and, in a good way?

That is exactly what I’ll be covering in Section 2 of Key Components of Query Letters That Work!

So, stay tuned!

Note: I realize this is focusing mostly on query letters for articles.  I will still be covering the differences when applying the process to book manuscripts!

A bit (more!) about rejection . . .

Many times (many, many, many times!) you won’t receive any real explanation for the rejections you receive.

Remember when I said that rejections can be a good thing?  Encouraging even?

If you receive feedback or criticism in a rejection . . . rejoice!

Most editors (and agents) don’t take the time to provide feedback.

Think about it . . .

They receive tons (tons!) of inquiries and manuscripts on a regular basis.  They just don’t have the time to provide feedback, let alone quality feedback, to everyone.  If they do provide any, they are most certainly making time to do so.  And, why would any editor or agent make time in their busy schedule to provide explanations, feedback or criticism to a writer they aren’t even going to publish?

Exactly!  If you are fortunate enough to get that feedback, take it as a sign that the editor or agent sees in you the potential to be published at some point in the near future.  And, this is very encouraging indeed!

to be continued . . .

STILL TO COME IN THE “QUERY LETTERS THAT WORK” MINI-COURSE:

• Key Components of Query Letters That Work (Section 2:  the “meat”)
• Key Traits and Characteristics of Winning Query Letters
• What to Do if You’ve Never Been Published and Don’t Have Any 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 & Things to Remember

QUERY LETTERS THAT WORK

Part One

As writers, one would think this would be easy; right up our alley, so-to-speak.  But, the fact is, writing a query letter is a very specific and formal process; one that can leave many writers frustrated and unsure.

I’ve worked with many talented writers who have been tripped-up by or struggled with the process of writing query letters, myself included!  We’ve all been there.

The good news is that query letter writing is a process and processes can be learned.

Every writer who hopes to see their work published needs to know how to write a smart and effective query letter.

The #1 purpose of the query letter is to promote.

Here is where the entrepreneur in you needs to come out.  And, as a writer and freelancer, you are an entrepreneur.  As a matter of fact, the connection is so intimate that I’m currently in the process of writing a piece for my home blog, dbRoss Enterprises, called “Writers and Entrepreneurs – A Marriage!”.

Your query letter is your opportunity to sell yourself and your writing.  It’s your pitch.  To get your writing “in the door”, you first need to get the attention of someone who is in a position to take it all the way to print, such as an agent or an editor.

While occasionally it works out that a writer is able to accomplish this through networking or an already published writer, most often the query letter is the writers only means of introduction.  And, chances are, even if you are fortunate enough to establish connections, you will still need to submit query letters many times throughout your writing career.

While there is no guarantee you’ll sell a number one best seller with your first query letter upon completion of this course, you will have the knowledge and information you need to learn how to write smart, effective query letters, thus increasing your chances of getting assignments with those publishers with whom your writing is a good fit.

Just remember – Practice makes progress!

Coming up in Part Two: The Key Components of Query Letters That Work

Now for a bit about rejection . . .

Know that all writers deal with rejection.  ALL writers!

No one likes it.  It’s not pleasant.  But, rejection is a normal part of the process in any writing career.

Just take a look through Rotten Rejections: The Letters That Publishers Wish They’d Never Sent by Andre Bernard, and you can read actual rejection letters received by such authors as James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway and Jane Austen.

Celebrate your 1st rejection . . . and every single one you receive thereafter.  After all, each one just puts you one step closer to your next published work!

I, myself,  decoupaged an antique table of mine with the letters I’ve received over the years.  ( . . . even before Augusten Burroughs told of his mother doing this, in his book Running with Scissors: A Memoir ).  :o)

Don’t ever let a rejection slow you down!  Keep writing and keep submitting!

Some rejections can even be a good sign; encouraging and valuable . . .

to be continued . . .

STILL TO COME IN THE “QUERY LETTERS THAT WORK” MINI-COURSE:

• Key Components of Query Letters That Work
• Key Traits and Characteristics of Winning Query Letters
• What to Do if You’ve Never Been Published and Don’t Have Any 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 & Things to Remember