The Query Letter

A query letter… well, that's an entirely different beast than the cover letter. Don't confuse the two. It's the pickup line, the light, enticing touch of a lover's lips on an earlobe, the fingernail lightly tracing well defined ab muscles, the tantalizing strawberries and cream waffles with whip cream.

The purpose is to make the publisher want more. Make them beg for more. Polishing a query letter to a glistening sheen is time well invested, but don't make the mistake of losing your professionalism in the process.

On the not-so-romantic angle is it is a tactic used by the publisher to cut the number of manuscript submissions, thereby creating another difficult hurdle for the new writer. Not only does your work need to be next-to-godly-high-quality, but your query letter has to seduce the only people on the planet sick to death of being seduced.

Your query letter should be short yet contain a strong sense of your writing style and the story you're pitching. The problem is fiction is a matter of taste so the letter needs to be targeted expertly and individually to each publisher. Do not rely on the one-size-fits-all tactic.

Do not query unless your manuscript is complete, polished, and ready for publication. Querying prior to this stage shows a publisher you don't understand the basics of the profession, and they will shy away from your future queries. Do consider including an excerpt from the manuscript, the beginning paragraph if it's a stellar hook, but be sure the guidelines do not prohibit doing so.

In Short…

• One Page
• 12pt Times New Roman
• Single Spaced
• Elements (approx 200-400 words (see below)
• Brevity is best — Get in, get out

Elements of the Query Letter 

Approximately 200-400 words

• Personalization
• Customize the letter for the recipient
• The What
• Genre
• Category
• Word Count
• Title /Subtitle
• The Hook (100-200 words for most novels)
• Protagonist
• Protagonist’s Conflict
• Protagonist's Options
• The sizzle
• Author Bio
• Third Person POV
• Fiction Writing Credits
• Nonfiction Writing Credits
• Writing Credentials
• Education
• Memberships
• Awards
• Special Research
• ‘Thank you’
• Sincerely,

Author I. Name

Mwuaah and Viola! Query letter! Good luck on that book deal, and don't forget…

Write like it's criminal!