The Writer's Digest Guide To Query Letters

124 Pages·2011·0.84 MB·English

by  Burt-Thomas

THE WRITER’S DIGEST
GUIDE TO
QUERY
LETTERS
www.writersdigest.com
Cincinnati, Ohio
WENDY BURT-THOMAS
The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters © 2008 by Wendy Burt-Thomas. Manufactured in the United
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Burt-Thomas, Wendy.
The Writer’s Digest guide to query letters / by Wendy Burt-Thomas.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-58297566-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Queries (Authorship) I. Title. II. Title: Guide to query letters.
PN161.B87 2008
808’.02--dc22
2008036208
Edited by Lauren Mosko
Designed by Claudean Wheeler
Production coordinated by Mark Griffin
DEDICATION
To my children, Ben and Gracie, who I hope will be inspired to write on
paper (instead of walls) one day.
And to Aaron, who pretends not to notice.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?
What's a Query Anyway?
Why Use a Query Letter?
Who Writes Queries?
Knowing When You're Ready
The Ever-Evolving Query Letter
Computers
The Web
E-mail
Increased Foreign Correspondence
Keeping Track Of Submissions
CHAPTER 1:
QUERY BASICS
I. Thou Shalt Look Professional
Include an SASE (If You’re Querying by Snail Mail)
Address Your Query to the Right Editor or Agent, With the Right Title
Format Your Query According to Industry Standards
Spell the Magazine, Agency, or Publishing House Correctly and Get Its
Address Right
II. Thou Shalt Pitch a Great Lead
III. Thou Shalt Tailor Your Query to the Magazine
IV. Thou Shalt Offer a Fresh Idea
V. Thou Shalt Be Creative in Your Presentation
VI. Thou Shalt Tighten Your Query Angle
VII. Thou Shalt Sweeten the Pot
Photos, Graphics, Illustrations, or Renderings
Sidebars and Sidelights
The Giveaway
VIII. Thou Shalt Not Propose the Impossible
Failure to Deliver
Short Turnarounds
Impossible Word Counts
IX. Thou Shalt Show Credentials
X. Thou Shalt Have Fun
CHAPTER 2:
ARTICLE QUERIES
Components Of A Query
The Opening Hook
The Supporting Details
Your Qualifications
The Thank-You
Identifying Your Market
Decoding Writer's Guidelines
Whom to Contact
How to Contact
Web Site
Preferred Word Count
Types of Material Accepted
Percent of Freelance Material Accepted
Publication Frequency
Circulation
Founding Date
Pay Rates
Payment Terms
Number of Manuscripts Purchased Each Year
Information on Photo Submissions
If the Magazine Has Online Versions
Rights Purchased
Columns/Departments
Notes From the Editor
General Information About the Magazine
If Byline/Bio Is Given
Lead Time
If Simultaneous Submissions Are Accepted
How to Receive a Sample Copy
Kill Fee
Visits Per Month
Special Issues
Response Time
If Reprints Are Accepted
Famous People Who Have Contributed
If the Publication Pays for Writer’s Expenses
Other Market Resources
Knowing What Editors Want
Impress an Editor With …
Depress an Editor With …
CHAPTER 3:
NONFICTION BOOK QUERIES
Query vs. Proposal
The Opening Hook
The Supporting Details
Your Qualifications
The Summary
The Thank-You and Request to Send the Proposal
Book Proposals
Key Components of a Nonfiction Book Proposal
Choosing a Publisher
Catch a Book Editor’s Eye With …
Ensure an Editor Will Overlook You By …
Special Nonfiction Book Considerations
CHAPTER 4:
NOVEL QUERIES
Understanding the Fiction Query
The Credentials Question
Common Novel Query Mistakes
Components of a Novel Synopsis
Romance
Literary
Mystery
Thriller/Suspense
Speculative
Children’s
Cross-Genre
CHAPTER 5:
AGENT QUERIES
Components of an Agent Query Letter
Landing Agent Representation
Approach With Caution
Choosing Wisely
Becoming the Model Client
Have a Platform
Understand the Business and Its Processes
Be Willing to Rewrite
Respect Your Agent’s Opinions
Have a Book Deal With a Publisher
Have Incredible Talent (Without the Ego)
Have Patience
Strive for More Than One Book
Be Careful With Referrals
A Client Only a Mother Could Love
Sending Unfocused Queries
Not Following Through on Deadlines
Including Irrelevant Information in Your Query
Lying/Exaggerating
Nagging
Pushing for Too Much Control
Expecting an Unrealistic Advance and Royalties
CHAPTER 6:
FOLLOWING UP
Magazine Article Queries
Queries to Agents
Queries to Book Publishers
Interpreting Rejection Letters (And the Coded Phrases Within Them)
Responding to an Acceptance or Rejection
CHAPTER 7:
OTHER FORMS OF CORRESPONDENCE
Cover Letters
Thank-You Notes
Turning Down an Assignment
Pulling an Article Submission
Requesting Information From a Source
Complaining to an Editor
Following Up on a “Maybe”
Following Up on Payment
Some Parting Words
APPENDIX:
RESOURCES
Glossary of Terms
For Further Study
Trade Magazines
Books and Reference Guides
Web Sites
E-Zines
Organizations and Genre Groups
Online Writing Courses