Write Winning Query Letter to Editors, Agents

When submitting your short story or article to a magazine or your novel or non-fiction book to a literary agent or publisher, you almost certainly will need to write a query letter. The goal of such a letter, also known as a query, is to pique the receiver’s interest so they’ll bother to read your work. That then could lead them to buying and publishing your writing.

While query letters vary in format, good ones always contain five brief paragraphs in which you pitch your writing. These paragraphs are:
• Opening – In a single sentence, tell why you’re writing. For example, if pitching a novel to a literary agent, you might write: I am seeking representation for my novel “Windmill,” the story of the Steinar family on the western plains of Nebraska.
• Hook – The second paragraph is like the back cover blurb for a book, a tagline that concisely summarizes the book to pique the reader’s interest. For example: For fifteen years, Carl Steinar and his sons, Peter and Lyle, have maintained a tenuous balance, keeping together their family and farm. Like blades in a well-oiled windmill, each works in harmony with the other – until Abbie Blaire, the new reporter in town comes to write a story about them, throwing a monkey wrench into their perfect machine: She is the spitting image of the wife and mother the Steinar men lost years ago.
• Synopsis – The third paragraph tells in a couple of sentences what the story is about. This is not simply a reiteration of the plot, though. For example: With Abbie Blaire’s arrival, the Steinar men find themselves on new trajectories in which their needs and goals can only collide. Resentment and jealousy between the brothers and with their father leads each to make difficult choices that can only lead to one of their deaths.
• Author’s bio – The fourth paragraph tells about you. Keep it related to your writing, specifically your credits, and if pitching non-fiction why you’re qualified to write this book. For example: Four of my short stories have been published, three in literary magazines and one in an anthology. Holding a master’s degree in English, for eight years I taught poetry and writing. I’m the award-winning author of several works of journalism and the author of two non-fiction books and a collection of poetry.
• Closing – You then would include a simple, single sentence asking the editor/agent/publisher if you may send them your work. To wit: Please let me know if you are interested in receiving a copy of “Windmill” for your further review.

There are some additional guidelines to follow when writing a query. First, be sure to write in formal business style. You are making a business proposition, after all, and you want to appear professional. Secondly, stick to a page. Anything more is too long. Remember that potential readers will have even less information to go on when deciding to purchase your book or read your story, so a page actually is a luxury for you. Finally, should you include a sample chapter (Some agents/editors/publishers oddly enough ask for this in their guidelines for query letters.) include a SASE if you want your manuscript returned.

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My name is Rob Bignell. I’m an affordable, professional editor who runs Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the manuscript needs of writers both new and published. I also offer a variety of self-publishing services. During the past 15 years, I’ve helped more than 400 novelists and nonfiction authors obtain their publishing dreams at reasonable prices. I’m also the author of the Storytelling 101 writing guidebooks, four nonfiction hiking guidebook series, and the literary novel Windmill. Several of my short stories in the literary and science fiction genres also have been published.

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