A Query Letter that Worked

Image by Sarah Reid via Flickr

 

It takes weeks, months, or in my case, years of writing and research between, school, work, running a household, taking care of kids, and just life in general. Then, it takes a few more weeks or months of editing, revising, and rewriting, until one day, you exhale a smile as you're flooded with feelings of pride and relief. Your manuscript is finally ready! Then you think, now what? If you've written a fiction novel, and decided that self-publishing is not for you, your next move should be to write a query letter. On occasion, depending on the literary agency, a fiction book proposal may also be required. I'll save that for another blog. For now, I'll give you a sample of a query letter that worked for me.

 

I am, by no means, an expert; however, my latest query letter has received several hits, so I know I'm doing something right. Here's what I believe makes up a successful query letter:

 

1. Limited Length. Keep in mind that the arrival of your query letter to an agent's mailbox or inbox is not a rare phenomenon. Most agencies get hundreds of submissions per month. In order to make a decision on each of them, they have to read them. I imagine an agent cringing each time they open a letter that contains more than one page of text. In addition, they are certainly not going to read that lengthy letter unless they're given good reason to, so my suggestion is to focus on quality of content, rather than quantity.
2. Professionalism. This is not a letter to your best friend. Likely, you have never met this person, and if you'd been given the opportunity to pitch your story in person, you would not have said something like, “What's up, Joe?” Instead, you would've extended your nervous, sweaty palm and properly introduced yourself to the agent. Do not address them by their first name (or worse, the wrong name), use slang terms or phrases, or say anything vulgar or inappropriate. Do address them as Mr. or Ms., use a proper letter format, and accurate spelling and grammar.
3. Guidelines. Some literary agencies will give specific guidelines outlining what they want included in a query letter submitted to them. However, based on the many examples I have examined, there is a basic recipe:
• Short Synopsis of the Story: These leading one to two paragraphs should summarize your entire book. The opening line should entice the agent to read further. Remember though, don't be unprofessional. You can be intriguing without telling a corny joke or throwing down a flashy line. Your book is interesting, isn't it? Stick to the story. You can also open with a short greeting, then follow with the synopsis.
• Manuscript Info: This short paragraph should be used to reveal the genre (if it isn't obvious from reading the synopsis), word-count, and target audience. Explain who will read your book, and why it stands out in the crowd of others similar to it.
• Short Author Bio: This paragraph should briefly describe you and your professional background, as it pertains to writing. If you've been previously published, won a writing contest, or had been the editor of your school paper, those are all relevant to put here. If you've never been previously published and have no major writing accomplishments, you can opt to leave this out. If the agent requests it, be truthful and offer to tell them why you wrote the book. Maybe you've loved writing stories since 1^st grade, or that you were inspired by a true life event. Don't tell them how many brothers and sisters that you have, or that your favorite food is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – too much information.
• Closing Considerations: These last couple sentences will be the easiest. Just thank them for their time and consideration. Tell them you look forward to hearing from them. If they've requested additional material, such as a more detailed synopsis or sample chapters, mention here where they can find them: maybe they're attached separately or trailing the query letter. Be short and sweet.

Now that you know the makings of a successful query letter, I will now offer my own as a sample. Remember, depending on the agent's guidelines, you may need to tweak it a little, but this will be a good foundation to retract from or build onto.

 

Dear [Ms./Mr. Agent's Last Name],

I would like to introduce you to a story set in the turn of the 19th century. The journey begins with a young mother, named Emma, and her struggle to face each day just over a year after her husband's death. The mother desires to leave her children a legacy that breeds success, but can't seem to do more than make ends meet. Unexpectedly, her life takes a sudden turn when she meets the handsome son of a kind neighboring couple who believes there's more to this young widow than a beautiful face. After realizing Emma's talent to paint, he challenges her to showcase her work at a state-wide art contest. As quickly as she realizes her dreams could be possible, she receives a blow that threatens a devastating end to everything. As Emma struggles with guilt and self-worth, she can only rely on the faith that God has put His plan for her in motion.

 

Emma's Grace is completed in 53,000 words. This story can appeal to a wide age-range of Christian women because Emma is easily related to on many levels. Although this book is a romance, I challenge that Emma and Will's relationship is typical – even a bit quirky. It will keep your heart fluttering and your mind guessing! In addition, you could call Emma a feminist of her time. She respects the job of wife and mother, but believes that God creates different paths for everyone, and gives gifts for a reason. Emma seeks to not only raise her children to be honorable people, but open their eyes to their full potential.

 

Per your request, I have included the first three chapters in a Word document, attached. Thanks in advance for your time and consideration. I truly hope you are compelled to read more about the story I am so excited about!

 

Sincerely,

[Author Name]

[Address]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]