How to Write a Query Letter in 7 Steps

How to Write a Query Letter in 7 Steps How to Write a Query Letter in 7 Steps A starving writer stands in front of a mailbox, clutching a hefty brown envelope addressed to a publishing company. They say a prayer, push their manuscript in, and begin the long wait for a reply that could make or break their career. It's a romantic image, but most major publishers don't actually accept "unsolicited manuscripts" these days. If that writer were serious about being published, they’d first seek out an agent. And for that, they'd need a query letter. Ready to get an agent? Here's how to write a query letter in 7 steps With the help of our brand-new infographic, this post will show you how to write a query letter that gets results. Note: a lot of research needs to happen before you start querying agents. This article will focus on the query letter itself, and specifically, queries for fiction. You can learn about queries for non-fiction submissions in this post  and how to write a non-fiction book proposal right here. Writing an Effective Query Letter  A query letter is a note asking an agent if they’re interested in representing a book. Agents may receive a dozen or more queries a day - and might only sign four or five authors per year. So you can see how making a good first impression in your query is crucial. Now, there's no "standard" format that all authors use for their letters. However, a query is a business document and as such should look like a formal one-page business letter. Our one universal piece of advice about querying is to keep the letter short. Think 300 to 400 words at the very most. Many agents field queries using their phones, so think about how will your letter look on a small screen. Does it give the impression of being a huge wall of text, or a disjointed series of singles sentences? If so, revise to make it more concise, orderly, and organized. Without further ado, here’s how to write a query letter in 7 steps.Step 1: Capture the agent’s attention with your greetingâ€Å"Dear Ms. Tyler† That’s perfectly fine, assuming that the agent’s name is Tyler and she is, indeed, a woman. The following line should then make the agent prick up their ears. If you’ve published before, why not start with that? Also make sure to mention any critical recognition or awards you've received for your previous work.I’m seeking representation for my novel, The Bedlam Stacks.  This novel is the follow-up to The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, which was shortlisted for the Betty Trask Prize, and a finalist for the Locust First Novel Prize in 2016.If you haven’t published before, another great way to start is with a personal connection.We met at last year’s Writer’s Digest Annual Conference and chatted briefly about your work with up-and-coming romance authors.Or, better yet, get a referral from an established author or a publishing insider.Jane Doe at Del Rey Books suggested that I contact you regarding representation for my debut science fiction novel, Arbormancer.Networking is crucial in publishing. â€Å"You want something that will bring the submission directly to the agent rather than an assistant or an intern,† says editor and former agent Fran Lebowitz. â€Å"Showing that you are connected never hurts.† If you have no connections to speak of, don’t panic; just jump straight into your pitch.I’m writing to seek representation for my 92,500-word debut thriller, Operation Kill.The title, genre, and word count: three key pieces of information are right there in your first sentence. With that out of the way, let’s really grab their attention!Tip: Always mention your genre, word count and target audience in your query.Step 2: Craft an irresistible hook"Sell the book, don’t apologize for it, and know how to condense its true meaning to a couple of sentences.†Ã‚   - Jonny Geller, CEO of Curtis Brown (John le Carrà ©, David Mitchell, Susanna Clarke)Within the first few pages of a novel, you need to make it impossible for readers to put your book down. In a query letter, you have to make do with just a few lines. This part of the letter is known as the hook. Your hook should show agents how your book is different from the thousands of others in your genre. It could be an awesome concept that makes the reader wonder why someone hasn’t thought of it before. Just look at the hook for Jeff Lindsay’s Darkly Dreaming Dexter:Meet Dexter Morgan, a polite wolf in sheep’s clothing. He’s handsome and charming, but something in his past has made him abide by a different set of rules. He’s a serial killer whose one golden rule makes him immensely likable: he only kills bad people.Another great hook might involve an intriguing central conflict, like the one in Stepheni e Meyers’ Twilight:About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn’t know how potent that part might be -   that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.Not only does this introduce the genre and tone (dark paranormal romance), it sets up the narrator’s dilemma: she knows she’s in love with a man who might kill her. What will happen next? Is she walking into a trap? Will her love conquer the vampire’s bloodlust? Perfecting your hook might take days - but it’s the most important part of your pitch, hands down.