Query Letters: Important Tips & Warnings: Part 5 of Query Letters that Work!
Filed under: Blog, Mini-Courses, Query Letters, Resources
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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
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•
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!
My Secret Creativity Weapon
Ok. So, I’m going to break down and share with you a little secret of mine.
It’s something I refer to as my “secret creativity weapon” and I’ve been using it now (very successfully!) for the past six (6!) years. And, I have to tell you – I love it even more now than when I first got it!
While I’m sure there are quite a few writers (and others!) who know about and use this great tool, I’ve never really heard anyone else talk about it. I guess it’s their little “secret” too!
So, if it’s such a great secret, why am I sharing it with you now?
Quite frankly, it’s just been so great to me, and I’ve gotten so many different uses out of it (and still do!) that I want to share it with you! I want to share with you what a great tool it’s been in my writing, my businesses and even just for fun. And, I want to give due diligence to the creator; she deserves it!
When you think of grabbing for a dictionary or thesaurus, you’re probably cool with grabbing whatever’s closest or, if at your computer, keying in dictionary.com or thesaurus.com. I mean, you may have your favorites, but truth be told, (for the most part) they pretty much all say the same thing; right?
WRONG! I thought so too until I had the chance to flip through the Flip Dictionary
by: Barbara Ann Kipfer
.
The Flip Dictionary
So, what makes the Flip Dictionary different?
Better than just synomyms, the Flip Dictionary
- help us figure out that phrase we’re looking for, but just can’t think of or
- when we know what we want to say, but aren’t sure just how to say it.
But, honestly, anyone can benefit from owning a copy. I use it in my business all the time. I’ve even used it to help me decide on what domain names to choose (not Writers Bra though; that was my hubby’s idea . . .)!
Plus, going way beyond your standard “reverse dictionary”, the Flip Dictionary
If you get the chance to “flip” through one or are thinking of buying one . . . I highly recommend it! You’ll “flip” over it! (Forgive me, I just couldn’t resist the cheesy pun…lol)
Happy writing!
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
Self-Publishing Success
Consider this . . . following are all authors who have successfully self-published (I think this may surprise you!):
- Beatrix Potter
- Ezra Pound
- Leo Tolstoy
- T. S. Eliot
- e. e. Cummings
- Edgar Allen Poe
- George Bernard Shaw
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Lord Byron
- James Joyce
- Walt Whitman
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
- Anais Nin
- Mark Twain
- D. H. Lawrence
- Galileo Galilei
- Thomas Harding
- Ernest Hemingway
just to name a few!
Self-publishing is quickly rising through the ranks, proving to be the method of choice for many writers. And, in fact, self-publishing can be one of the most successful and lucrative ways to publish your book.
Just look at Peter Bowerman . . .
When he began in 1994, he had no writing background, no paid professional writing experience, and no commercial writing training and was paying all of his bills within four months!
Peter Bowerman has managed to successfully self-publish several books, with any given one providing him with an ongoing full-time income.
One of the most common complaints concerning the traditional publishing route is that the author still ends up doing most of the legwork, including promotions and marketing, yet sees very (very!) little of the profit.
Peter Bowerman asserts, in his book The Well-Fed Self-Publisher, that
everything a publisher does in the course of creating, distributing, promoting, marketing, and publicizing your book is something you can do yourself, and in virtually every case, as well or better . . .
Pretty powerful assertion; wouldn’t you say?! However, I have had the good fortune of reading Peter’s books, studying his methods and exploring a bit about him, as well. And, I have to tell you, I’m impressed!
When it comes to the question of success in self-publishing, Peter has managed to take the “if” out of the equation and clearly establishes self-publishing success as simply a process to be followed. … A process, I might add, that he details clearly and completely in his book, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher.
If you’ve ever considered self-publishing or would like to explore the option further, I highly recommend The Well-Fed Self-Publisher.
As most of you know, I am an information hound, love learning and am forever reading, exploring, researching, and educating. I am extremely careful and selective about the products and services I choose to associate myself and my companies with, and only put forth those which I sincerely believe are excellent in quality, produce results and will be highly beneficial to my clients and customers. I can sincerely say that should you choose to go the self-publishing route (or would simply like to explore the option), Peter’s book, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher, is the best reference I have found that can be used to completely and successfully navigate the process from beginning to end.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the topics you’ll find inside . . .
- Obtaining your ISBN # (where, how, cost, choices, perks) . . . . pg. 46
- OPD (Official Publication Date v. BBD (Book Bound Date) . . . pg. 46
- SAN # – do you need one? . . . pg. 48
- Library of Congress – PCN Program & LCCN … CIP Program … 3rd Party PCIP ……. pg. 49-50
- Utilizing Amazon ……… pg. 123 – 132
- How to let other authors sell you………… pg. 77
- What marketing is and isn’t …………. pg. 17
- eBooks and ISBN’s……….. pg. 217
- Do you have a viable book?……… pg. 29
- Full Appendix of Self-Publishing Resources ……….pg. 239 – 287
Ok, so that’s just a peak. Obviously, there’s much more.
To learn more or to get your copy of The Well-Fed Self-Publisher click here.
…… to your continued writing success,
-deanna
Had experience with The Well-Fed Self-Publisher? I’d love to hear about it! Send an e-mail to dbRoss@writersbra.com – or – submit your comments via the comment option on this post.
Deanna: Regularly Featured Expert
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