The Writer's Digest Guide To Query Letters PDF
Preview The Writer's Digest Guide To Query Letters
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 States of America. All rights reserved. No other part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Writer’s Digest Books, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. (800) 289-0963. First edition. For more fine books from F+W Media, visit www.fwmedia.com or www.writersdigest.com/books/. To receive a free weekly e-mail newsletter delivering tips and updates about writing and about Writer’s Digest products, register directly at http://newsletters.fwpublications.com. 12 11 10 09 08 5 4 3 2 1 Distributed in Canada by Fraser Direct, 100 Armstrong Avenue, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 5S4, Tel: (905) 877-4411. Distributed in the U.K. and Europe by David & Charles Brunel House, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 4PU, England, Tel: (+44) 1626-323200, Fax: (+44) 1626-323319, E-mail: postmaster@davidandcharles. co.uk. Distributed in Australia by Capricorn Link, P.O. Box 704, Windsor, NSW 2756 Australia, Tel: (02) 4577-3555 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
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