Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
How to Send a Query Letter. Struggling to get noticed for your writing talents? Craft
a professional calling card that will help you sell that first project to a literary
agent or publisher. You will need Recipient name and address Concise writing skills Plain
letterhead and self-stamped and addressed post card (optional). Step 1. Address your
query letter to the right person by name. Get the most up to date reference lists you
can to avoid mailing someone who has left the agency or from using the wrong title.
Don't hesitate to call an agency or publishing company and ask who deals with new talent
or where to send a query. Step 2. Open your query with the concept of the story in one
to two concise sentences followed by the title and genre. If it's a novel, tell the reader
how long it is and if it is completed. Step 3. Pitch your story in a brief paragraph next.
Cover the characters, conflict, and action from the beginning to the very end. If you
have relevant knowledge to your story or subject, you can also share it at this time. Step 4.
Tell them about your qualifications including any referrals, education, and if you won or
placed in a contest. If your resume is a little light, you can skip this part. Step 5. Tailor
your letter for each person you send it to. You don't have to create a new letter from
scratch each time, but tweak the wording to focus on what the reader is looking for -- and
don't lie. Step 6. Send the reader only what they specifically ask for. Some agents may
want to see a sample chapter, a short portfolio, or just a one page letter, so do your research.
Send along a self-stamped and addressed post card so the recipient can easily respond to
your inquiry. Step 7. Be professional and use plain letterhead and a conservative font
such as courier or arial. Above all, don't let rejection deter you from your writing
goals -- it's a marathon, not a sprint. Did you know The Pony Express sent its first letter
between Saint Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, in 1860.