Part 2 of Query Letters That Work! – Key Components
Filed under: Blog, Mini-Courses, Query Letters, Resources
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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! mini-course: Part One
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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
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
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
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