Nov 30, 2006 i originally posted this example of a good query letter back when i was a literary agent, and the lessons still apply today. Writing a query letter can determine whether a literary agent asks to see more or sends you a cordial form letter intended to let you down easy. The first sentence is the hook or the handle or the oneminute elevator pitch. Jan 05, 2018 firsttime query writers can be a teensy bit too emotional in their query letters. Query letters for childrens book fiction musings archive for april 2003. A query letter is traditionally around 300 words long, and its sent in lieu of your book. Whats the difference between a cover letter and a query letter. Query letters book proposals book editing associates. How to write a picture book query the basics the layout of a picture book query. How to write a query letter this section of our website about query letters includes a free 15part guide on writing a query letter. Writers use query letters to pitch article ideas to magazine editors or book ideas to agents and publishers. This example of a good query letter caught my eye when i was a literary agent.
Youre about to make a virtual sales call, and your query letter makes the first impression. The writers digest guide to query letters is a carefully researched, clearly written, wellorganized book that covers virtually every kind of query letter a freelancer would want toneed to send. If you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, a query letter is your first and. It wont keep you from attracting the attention of a traditional publisher if he sees your book selling well. Perfect query letters what should be in a query letter preparing email queries the last query email query dos and donts a terrific query letter how to write great queries the novel query query for an agent writing a query letter that sells how to write a query letter. Aug 18, 2018 i usually work with my clients on multiple versions of their query letters before we consider them ready. How to write a query letter for nonfiction tck publishing. This is a proposal letter that introduces yourself and your book. Today im going to break the query down into three sections to create an easy templateformat you can use to write your own query.
How to write the perfect query letter query letter example. The query letter has one purpose, and one purpose only. When writing a query letter for a picture book you will basically have three main paragraphs, plus your signoff. Apr 05, 2018 at writers relief, we know that if you want to get a book of poems published, you need to write a query letter that makes a good case why your poetry collection should be published over someone elses. Sep 27, 2010 thanks, mary, for focusing on picture book queries today. It is either sent without an accompanying manuscript, or with two or three sample chapters the publishers guidelines will state which form the query should take. Novelists and most memoirists should have a finished and polished manuscript before they begin querying. A good query letter stirs literary agents emotions through factsnot pleading or bragging. It is what you attach to your complete book proposal when submitting it to agents or publishers. Finding a publisher also requires a good query letter. Ive put them here on this page, so you can read some that worked and figure out just how to do your own. Agent statistics, detailing how long each agent typically takes to respond to a query.
How to find a publisher for your first book usa today. In a single page, the writer aims to make the editorpublisher get interested in reading or publishing the entire story. How to write a query letter in 7 steps the reedsy blog. Your query letter should also come with the following. Query letter basics a query letter is a single page cover letter, introducing you and your book.
A book contract with houghton mifflin harcourt hmh a multibook deal. Query letter sample literary agents and literary agencies. If you model your query letter based on the best elements of successful query letters, youll have a much better. A query letter is a onepage letter sent to literary agents in an effort to get them excited about your book. A proper query letter will provide a synopsis of your book, will give a bit. Example of a good query letter writing, book editing, publishing. The query letter that literary agents love to read if youve written a book, are currently writing a book, or are even remotely interested in writing a book, then one of the things youll soon need to consider is how to tackle a query letter. I read and recommended to my agent boss queries for fiction, nonfiction, childrens, ya, howto, investigative journalism, category. From that perspective, a query letter is a marketing pieceits a 30second written commercial for your book, reaching out and grabbing the editor by the collar to explain why they need your book in their life. If youre hoping to secure a traditional publisher for your next great american. Your query letter is an invaluable marketing tool that you will use to promote your book to literary agents and publishers. So let me dissect this really good query letter and extoll its virtues. Query letters and book proposals ghostwriting, editing.
A literary agent shares a reallife novel pitch that ultimately led to a book. Agentquery connect is our coolest way to help aspiring writers. Search tools to help you find the right agent for your book. Ive seen a lot of query letters that worked by adopting this method. In fact, when it comes to landing literary agents and publishers, a compelling and properly formatted query letter is just as important as a good manuscript. The goal is to get a request for the full manuscript, but this is no easy task. The power of a query letter i used to hate publishing houses this can fit for an agent too that only allowed writers to send in a query letter. Stick to these 10 specific dos and donts of writing a query letter to land an. We tell you exactly how to write a great query letter for literary agents. Let us guide you through the query letter writing process and find out what a query letter is, why it is important, basic formatting tips, and much more. Sample query letter the query letter sample below will help you create a successful query letter of your own, so you can get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. Mar 05, 2016 remember, agentseditors can differ in what they expectwant from a query letter or cover letter, so please always check submission guidelines. What you include here should be as relevant as possible.
I read over 100,000 query letters in my time in new york publishing. If the query letter stands alone, its your only chance to sell the editor on your book. If you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, a query letter is. Read comments by other authors who have queried the same agents you have. An easytofollow guide to writing professional queries that produce salesfor articles and nonfiction books. Firsttime query writers can be a teensy bit too emotional in their query letters. Query letter sample below reveals how you can double your chances of getting the attention of book agents and publishers. How to write a query letter for a collection of poems or a book of poetry. When youre pitching fiction to an agent or publisher through a query letter. If youve written a great book, and a rubbish query letter. How to write a successful query letter example and template. This article is part of a series called get a literary agent. A query is a business letter asking permission to send the project described. If you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, a query letter is your first and often, your only chance to get an agent interested in reading and, with hope, signing your work.
I often find it helpful to imagine that i am writing the copy for a catalogue synopsis or the back cover or jacket flap. Theres a very specific standard for query letters that you should not deviate from, when possible. In order to have a book published by a traditional publisher, you will likely need to know how to write a query letter to find a literary agent. To help inspire you, weve collected 116 examples of successful query letters from famous authors spanning various genres, from crime fiction, to fantasy, to young adult. Generally, each book gets a page in the publishers catalogue, and all houses use the same general formulatemplate.
The query letter that literary agents love to read godly. To help inspire you, weve collected 116 query letter. Type the publisher s name and address on the top left. The complete idiots guide to book proposals and query. How to write a query letter with examples of real successful. You want your first contact with literary agents or acquisitions editors to do the best possible job of convincing them to read your manuscript, and we can help. Your agent will then begin submitting your manuscript to the different publishers on your list.
Query letter basics for the childrens book market book. Our published writers and professional book editors help write or revise query letters and nonfiction or fiction book proposals. This letter is short, sweet, and definitely to the point. Burtthomas includes instructional guidelines and numerous examples for article queries, nonfiction book queries and novel queries. A query letter is a way of introducing your writing to editors or literary agents and publishers. In fact, some literary agents accept only query letters and request sample pages only from writers who present a strong query letter. Sixteenyearold hannahs faith was seriously injured by the accident that killed her sister, so when her chance at. The magical lemon tree recipe book is a middle grade contemporary fantasy novel, complete at 56,000 words with series potential, and will appeal to fans of the truth about twinkie pie and the peculiar incident on shady street. Mar 21, 2016 of course you think the book is thematically resonant and that readers will love ityou wrote it. The query letter is so much of a sales piece that its quite possible to write one without having written a word of the manuscript. Jan 30, 20 while query letters vary a little depending on who the agent is and their guidelines and what type of book youre writing novel, nonfiction, poetry, etc. Unless youve had books published through a publishing house. A query letter is an appeal to publishers or agents in an effort to get them interested in something youve written, usually a book. We recommend that you consult your local bookstore or library for sources that can direct you in locating an appropriate agent andor publisher.
Example of a good query letter clean version dear mr. How to write a winning query letter for traditional publishers. How to write a query letter that grabs a literary agents. I am looking for a publisher who will commit fully to the series. How to draft proposals to childrens book publishers dummies. And then youve come to the closing portion of your query letter. Agentquery find the agent who will find you a publisher. A finished manuscript isnt the only piece of the puzzle. Post your query letter and receive indepth feedback and critiques. How to write a darn good query letter ny book editors. You have one page and 300 words or less to woo a literary agent into falling in love with your story and then requesting your manuscript. In a single page, the writer aims to make the editor publisher get interested in reading or publishing the entire story. Transition from the hook into a synopsis of your book. That said, this still makes this letter a great example to show herebecause its proof that even a query faux pas wont result in an instant rejection.
But most authors simply have wrong ideas about how to truly make their query letter get an agents or agents assistants attention because most of what has been previously written or told about writing an effective query letter is complete nonsense. With that in mind, you should treat your query letter as if it is the only evidence you have of the quality of your manuscriptwith many agents that will be the case. Example of a good query letter nathan bransford writing. So write a professional, intelligent, concise, intriguing query and not only will you entice an agent to ask for more, but youll move yourself one step closer to a book sale. Although query letters are incredibly important when presenting your work, whether fiction or nonfiction, to an agent, editor, or. On the road to traditional publication, your query letter plays a central role in getting literary agents and publishers to notice your book.
Much of the advice out there about how to write a query letter is oriented toward novels. Read a sample literary agent query letter with hints. Since publishers are constantly receiving countless manuscripts, literary agents act as a filtering system for the publishing. Nonfiction books jane friedman for years, ive offered a lengthy guide on how to write a query letter for a novel. Its part of our free 15part guidelines on how to write a query letter by mark malatesta. If you dont have any success, dont be afraid to selfpublish. Writers use these letters to pitch their ideas to editors and publishers. But what should you do if you have a nonfiction project.
You should put just as much care and attention into crafting and polishing your query as you did into your manuscript. How to write a query letter for a literary agent nathan bransford. Near the bottom of each query youll find a link to the authors website and a link to buy the book the query is for. Agents and publishers are busy, and often swamped with incoming requests so your query letter. Its a free social networking site that allows our aqc members to meet and greet onlineabove and beyond the traditional message boards and writers forums. The query letter is so much of a sales piece that its quite possible to. It shows how to quickly capture an agents attention.
Near the bottom of each query youll find a link to the authors website and a link to buy the book the query. Wow children book publishers with perfect query letters. Or even, im sorry i dont have more publishing credits to share with you because im new. Remember, agentseditors can differ in what they expectwant from a query letter or cover letter, so please always check submission guidelines.
Its a onepage letter used to get an editor or agent. When youre pitching fiction to an agent or publisher through a query letter, your ultimate goal is to get your manuscript read. Let us all learn from emily conrad, who was both gracious enough to send me a good query letter and generous enough to let me use her as a guinea pig. On the road to traditional publication, your query letter plays a central role in getting your book noticed. How to write a query letter that gets manuscript requests. A great query letter sells your book from that perspective, a query letter is a marketing pieceits a 30second written commercial for your book, reaching out and grabbing the editor by the collar to explain why they need your book in their life. Query letter sample how to write an agent query sample query letter the query letter sample below will help you create a successful query letter of your own, so you can get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. I mean, come on, how can they tell how i write, just from a query letter. Any unsolicited manuscripts, proposals or query letters that we receive will not be returned, and harpercollins is not responsible for any materials submitted.
360 581 1595 675 1105 459 229 874 1190 872 902 819 1539 1053 1025 845 712 695 617 266 1520 1196 291 1624 837 386 674 689 1168 977 427 1034 1271 551 1478 393 325