The FIction Query Letter
I’ve
had so many requests for the August, 2006 column of the How to Write a Query Letter that I’ve decided to reprint it.
Okay, so you’ve finished
your novel, you’ve edited it; you’re feeling pretty good about the finished project. Now comes the hard part…writing the query letter, but first…
Write a paragraph that explains
your novel. Don’t want to take the time to do this? Then write one sentence in 25 words or less to describe your story.
Again, edit, edit, edit. Why?
Because this is the starting
point to writing a clear and concise query letter. Editors don’t have the
time to wade through long drawn out query letters that skirt around your story, or your reasons as the author for writing
the book or why the people who have read your book think it’s the best thing they’ve ever read. Believe me, I’ve had it all submitted to me and every excuse in the book as to why I should
waste my time reading what the author sent.
A fiction query letter
is one page, single-spaced and is a selling tool. It had better be sharp, concise
and tell the plot of your novel, not the meaning of the plot. In the first sentence
tell the editor what genre you are writing, the approximate number of words, and the premise of the plot as a hook.
If you can’t put the
hook in the premise, then put that hook in the first sentence of the first paragraph of the body. Use two or three paragraphs in the body of the query to tell the plot and introduce main character.
If you are a published author
(not self-published) then you can list your credentials in one sentence at the end of the query. It isn’t necessary to do this if you are a new writer. In
the following sentence ask if you
may send them three sample chapters, your author’s bio, a story outline and book comparison. You might even want to add a marketing section.
Be professional in attitude,
approach and in writing your query letter. Once you’ve made up a list of
editors, you are ready to send the query letter. When you receive a rejection,
note the date on your list. Don’t call an editor and ask if they’ve
received the query. If an editor wants to see your material you will get a call
or a note asking you to send it. Regarding a query, if you don’t hear from
them in 6 months consider it a rejection, they won’t be sending a rejection letter.
After 6 months you can then go back to that publishing house to another editor who might take your type of book. Not to the same editors who rejected you. If
an editor asks to see your complete or partial manuscript and they hold it for say 2 months without responding, then you could
call and ask what is the status of the manuscript. DO NOT HARASS AN EDITOR.
In reality you are the master
of your career. However, I have seen a writing career or two destroyed because
the authors became nuisances to their editors. Needless to say word spreads to
other houses about this type of author. Once you submit your query letters forget
them and go on to another project. When you receive the rejections, read them,
learn from what the editor has to say about your project. If more than one editor
says the same thing take to heart what they say. Fix the problem before submitting
to other editors. This is a learning experience for all writers!
EXAMPLES
OF FICTION QUERY LETTERS
Author’s name
Address
City/zip
Phone
e-mail
Publisher
Editor by name and title
Address
City/zip
Dear Mr./Ms. Editor by last
name:
Proposed book: The title of the book
by author’s name
Title of book is a 10,000 (or whatever) word historical romance (use genre). (Hook) It is the
story of (name of hero) and (here is where you tell the editor the theme of the story).
The body of the letter tells
the plot of your book, not the meaning of the plot. It intrigues
the editor enough to make them want to read the novel. The body of the query
letter contains 2 to 3 paragraphs and is about a 150-word description of the story.
The query letter is always
single-spaced and is always one page. If you find yourself going
more than one page, edit, edit, edit until you have the plot of the book on this one page.
If you have published other
novels (not self-published), then you can tell the editor the names of those books and the publisher. And be prepared for the editor to ask for sales figures on those books.
Otherwise the author does not have to give their credentials. And it is
best not to, unless you’ve published.
Always end the letter with…May
I send you 3 sample chapters, a synopsis, author’s bio, and book comparison?
Sincerely,
®®®®®®®
Use letterhead or Name
Address
State/zip
Phone
e-mail address
Date EXAMPLE #1 OF MYSTERY QUERY LETTER
Agency name
Agent’s name if there
is one
Address
State/zip
Dear Ms.(or Mr.) Agent’s
name:
Proposed book: Follow the Money by author
Follow the Money is a contemporary mystery of approximately 61,000 words. The story involves 39-year old Congressman, Scott Murray, and is set in Washington, D.C.
and Sonoma, California where
Scott learns life is more valuable than politics.
While on Easter break at his California home Scott is summoned to Eureka by a known crook and while waiting at the Napa
airport for his plane to come in, he is warned not to go by Kit Sommers. Kit
is a masseuse for the Sonoma Mission Inn and has overheard plans to do Scott in. As
the plane is landing it is blown out of the air. This sets off a string of four
attempts on Scott’s life before he exposes the culprit behind the master plan to corner the market on the world’s
fresh water supply.
Scott, working closely with
his father, Pembroke Murray IV, retired attorney and friend, Paul O’Hara, Kit Sommers and Los Angeles Times columnist,
Sue Ann Walker, they uncover a Tuscan family who have taken root in a Napa winery and extends all the way to Washington and
beyond. The head of the family, Carlo Tremonti, buys up California rice farms first, which alerts Scott to his devious plan. As others become involved it’s obvious Scott has to stop the Tremonti’s. When one of Tremonti’s Washington
contacts rats out his son, Domenic who is killed, Carlo Tremonti offers Scott the position of his right hand man. Scott refuses and brings Tremonti down.
May I send you three chapters,
an outline, author’s bio and book comparison?
Sincerely,
®®®®®®
Author
Address
City/state
Phone
e-mail
Date EXAMPLE #2 OF Historical Romance Novel QUERY
Berkley Books Group
Gail Fortune, Editor
374 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
Dear Ms. Fortune:
Proposed book: Alessandra by author
Alessandra is an 80,000 word historical romance set in Texas
in 1880. It is the story of eighteen-year old Alessandra Shannahan who is kidnapped
and thrown into a world of different culture. She must sort out the chaos and
confusion of what she learns about her bloodline to regain trust in herself and her beliefs.
On the eve of burying her
murdered Irish father, Alessandra is kidnapped and taken deep into the Chisos
Mountains by an Indian named Lobo.
He tells her he brought her there to see her dying grandmother, Blueflower and to hear her prophecy. Alessandra learns that her father was Irish, but her mother was part Comanche and part Spanish. Blueflower tells Alessandra her mother died trying to follow her father down the Chisos to his ranch in
El Paso.
Alessandra can’t accept
the prophecy. In time Lobo brings Alessandra the proof she needs. Lobo takes Alessandra to a contraband town where he is to meet his enemy, El Condor, to kill him. El Condor kills Lobo and kidnaps Alessandra where he takes her into Mexico.
Texas Ranger, Brandt Coleman
is given the assignment to retrieve Alessandra at all costs. He has an old score
to settle with El Condor, the man who killed his brother. He finds Alessandra
when she escapes from Condor’s Mexican village and protects her. Brandt and Alessandra fall in love, marry and have
a son. When the Texas
and Mexican governments learn El Condor is about to start a revolution the Rangers use Alessandra as bait to catch El Condor.
May I send you 3 sample chapters,
an outline, author’s bio and book comparisons?
Sincerely,
