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Charlie’s Choice
Weekly Tips to Help You Write,
Publish & Promote Your Work
SECRETS OF COMPOSING A
QUERY LETTER THAT SELLS
One of the most important items in a professional writer’s tool box, the query letter is the key to unlocking the door of a magazine editor’s office. With very few exceptions, editors don’t want completed manuscripts sent to them. Their schedules are too busy to allow them to read every submission. Editorial protocol requires the writer to request permission to send the completed article. That is done with a query letter, designed to spark the interest of the editor and
allow him/her to see how well suited the proposed article is for the magazine.
Opinions vary widely on how to construct this important document, but any effective query should include these two basic elements. It must demonstrate to the editor that the subject of the article will be of value to readers of that specific magazine and assure him/her that you are qualified to produce the piece. The editor must be convinced that the approach you take to your subject makes sense and will appeal to his/her readership.
That may seem like an awful lot to do within the confines of one single-spaced page. But it is generally accepted in the industry that if you can’t describe your article well and demonstrate that you are the best person to write the piece within a single page, you don’t have a real grasp on your subject.
(If you are writing for a newspaper, do not submit a query. Daily newspaper editors are far too busy meeting deadlines to read a query and respond to it. They much prefer submission of your completed manuscript.)
If your query accomplishes its task successfully, the response from the editor will be an invitation to send him/her the finished manuscript. However, the editor may suggest a specific approach to the article or perhaps want you to add something additional to your story before you submit the actual manuscript. That is one of the principal reasons editors prefer receiving a query first before they see the completed story.
You have the choice of sending your query either by snail mail or as an e-mail. Check the magazine’s web site to determine whether the editor has specific preference.
Target Your Query Carefully
Don’t send off a query until you have reviewed at least one current edition of the magazine. Study it carefully to determine the writing style the editor prefers and the type of content the publication features. Review my column of April 22 in which I spoke about reading like a writer. That means studying each component part of a magazine so that you can tailor your writing to the likes its editor and avoid any dislikes.
Once again, I urge you to purchase your own copy of the Writer’s Market, to help you select the most appropriate target for your query. As I have indicated in previous columns, the directory will give you most of the basic data you require for submission. I also recommend the online directory The Wooden Horse as an excellent source for info on magazines.
Most publications maintain their own web sites. Click on the magazine’s name in your favorite search engine, and search for writer’s guidelines.
Always remember, calling an editor on the phone should be a matter of last resort. Editors are busy. They must meet tight deadlines. Designing and executing an edition of the magazine is a very challenging task. Phone calls can be terribly disruptive. Unless the editor specifically invites you to call, don’t do it.
Some editors insist upon exclusivity when you query; others have no objection to you sending out multiple queries. The listing on the directories or on the publication’s web site will specify the editor’s preference. If you are sending multiple submissions, mention it in your query letter No editor likes to be caught short when planning a future edition only to discover that you have given first rights to a competitor.
Simple and Specific
There are two essential guidelines to writing an effective query: simplicity and specificity.
You are writing a business letter, not a literary masterpiece. While the quality of your writing will be a factor, the essence of the query is selling your idea and yourself to the editor. The opening paragraph of your letter must capture the editor’s interest. If it does not, the query will end up in the “round file.”
The next graph or so should reveal the essence of the article simply and directly. The letter should indicate the market for the article. Here you must be absolutely specific and factual. For example, There isn’t just a “large” market for the piece. The potential readers for this article in this niche market number as high as X, according to a report by __________.
The editor is not interested in what your friends or family think of the book. So don’t be like the many writers who try to prove the value of the piece by explaining “everyone in my family I showed the book to has loved it, including my Uncle David who is a professor.” If you have an endorsement from someone with credentials in the field, absolutely include that in the letter.
The editor wants to know your qualifications to write the article. Again, be very specific about your background, but realize this is not a resume. Simply highlight your training and/or experience that relates directly to the book’s subject.
The Mechanics
Discuss only one article in your query. Save the rest of your brilliant ideas for future contacts. It is hard enough to pitch one article well in a one-page query.
The query letter must have a professional appearance. There can be no misspellings and grammar must be perfect. Use plain white 8 ½ X 11 paper and black ink. Color or other gimmicks will hurt, not help, your sale. Single space your letter. Address it to the specific editor who handles acquisitions, as outlined in the directory. Be absolutely certain of the spelling of the editor’s name and title.
Never forget to include a stamped and addressed return envelope with your query. If no SASE accompanies the query, you can be quite certain it will end up in the waste basket.
In most directories, the magazine’s listing will estimate the time it normally takes for a reply. If you have not heard in that period of time, you can feel free to follow up with another letter. If no time period is listed, I suggest you follow up if you have not heard in two months.
Because trade journals represent such a receptive and lucrative market for freelance article writers, we’ll devote next week’s column exclusively to this segment of the periodical world. See you next week.
Keep Writing!
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