The Secret

to Writing a Great Query Letter

If you Google "Query Letters", you will have more results than you can count, and most of them will be written by teachers. But this report is based on what Mr. Noah Lukeman has to say about it. He is an editor!

The query letter has but one function, and that is to make the editor want to read more.

Do not address your letter with Dear Editor, To Whom it May Concern, or Dear Agent, unless you want it to be trashed immediately. Call to verify the name and spelling of the editor.

Do not use: improper formatting, exclamation marks, colored paper, colored print, bold print, underlining, cursive script, large font, etc. They will be tossed immediately. If you must emphasize, use only italics.

Use white or off-white, good quality paper that measures 8 ½” by 11”. Or better yet, invest in personalized stationary with contact information in the header or footer. Be sure to include your phone number and email.

Use plain black ink and a laser or high quality inkjet. The print should be 12-point font, such as Times or Garamond.

Leave ample one-inch margins all around. Do not use justified margins. Single space; indent paragraphs; don't double space between para- graphs. If you are pitching a book, use all caps for the title. 

Your first paragraph should consist of one or two sentences. That is your hook. The next sentence or two should describe the plot and summary. Just answer the question, “What is my story about?” If you have statistics or demographics, use them here. The last sentence or two should be your biography. Use major credits here. If you have no credits, or only minor ones, say nothing. 

Three to six total sentences must suffice for an article, story or essay. In addition, you may use a simple closing, such as: “Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.” Nothing more. Your grand total should not exceed eight sentences.

Be sure you include a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope).

For a book: no more than three sentences each to three paragraphs, and a brief closing. Single space, with indented paragraphs. Do not double-space between paragraphs. Put the title in caps.

Do not use the names of characters. Refer to them as the main character, the antagonist, the protagonist or the narrator.

Do not mention subplots, quote your own work or try anything cute.

(continued in next column)

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Query Letter

          (cont'd. from last column)

Do not mention minor publications, minor awards or endorsements from unknown authors.

Don't say:

 1. "I've never read your magazine, but... "

 2. "My aunt loved this story... "

 3. "You will be glad... "

 4. "I don't have any writing credits, but... "

 5. "I hope you like my story... "

 6. "If you don't buy my story, someone else will."

Do:

 1. Show the time period your story is written in.

 2. Be specific.

 3. Tell the location.

 4. If climate plays a large part, mention the climate.

 5. Could you say you are writing in the tradition of Thomas Wolfe or some other author? Then say that.

 6. Can you accurately compare your story with another well-known work?

 7. If your life experience is relative to your story, mention it briefly.

 8. Be humble.

Your last paragraph will be your biography. If you have no credits, leave them out. Be sure you include a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope).

If you really want to get the editor’s attention, Fed-Ex your story. Fed-ex'd stories go to the top of the editor's pile.

Expect rejections. Mr. Lukeman also writes books and he gets up to 10 rejections a day. (He has sold 200 books.) He says it is the persistence that counts.

Now that you know how to do it, get busy!

A kitten is chiefly remarkable for rushing about like mad at nothing whatever, and generally stopping before it gets there.

Agnes Repplier 

   Broken

         New Year's

                Resolutions?

Did you resolve to pursue your talents this year? Write more often? Finish that story? Give poetry a try? And you've already broken your resolution? OH, NO!

Hey - don't worry about it! Here is your chance to start again.

Don't be cross with yourself. It is only natural for people to need a "reboot" now and then. You must renew your pledges daily to work new vows into old habits. This is true of every kind of habit – dieting, smoking, gambling, etc. And it is most definitely true with writing. 

Make daily resolutions. They are the only kind that really accomplish anything. Here are a few ideas to help you refocus:

Break your writing time into small chunks that you can work in every day. Fifteen minutes is a good choice. That will give you five minutes to clear your mind and ten minutes to get into the groove. You will be surprised what you can write in fifteen minutes.

True story: An unpublished author wrote and finished a book within a year by writing fifteen minutes a day on her lunch hour. She sent it to a publisher. He bought it.

Writers, you set your own limitations. You also create your own chances in life.

If you don't feel inspiration when you sit down to write, don't let that concern you. Write about your work, your boss, your mate, or how you want to remodel the house. Read editorials in the newspapers and reply to them. Do whatever you must, but write!

Don't allow yourself to be satisfied with complacency. It won't work in a writer's life. Get on or off the pot.

Writing is calling to you or you wouldn't be reading this. Starve it, and the urge will die entirely. Feed it, and surprise yourself.

Get back on the writing horse and start again - as many times as it takes!

MS.  DEB  SEZ

When I was a young writer, I would have given anything to be published. Do you feel like that? Okay. Here's your chance. In 200 words or less, tell me what writing means to you, or comment on the newsletter. I will publish it in the next newsletter. Let me hear from you!

Send it to:

deborahowen@cwinst.com.

THE MUSE

What is this strange thing called the muse?

It is a writer's best friend, but it won't come when you call it. It has a mind of its own.

The muse is like the wind. You will know it when it hits you. You will know it when it leaves. When it hits:

* You will be sharp and focused

* You won't be able to type as fast as you can think

* You won't want to be disturbed

* You won't want to eat or sleep

Whatever you do:

* DON'T stop writing

* DON'T let anyone disturb you

* DON'T take a break!

Court the muse. Love it. Run, when it calls. The muse will transport you from this world to any world you want to create.

But the muse is a persnickety house guest. To coax it out of hiding, write at least 15 minutes a day, every day, at the same time of day. Within two weeks, you will feel it.

You won't be able to get to the keyboard fast enough. You will want to write into the wee hours of the morning.

When you resist the urge to write, the muse will call on you less the next day, and much less in every succeeding day that you put it off. Finally, it will be gone in less time than it took it to come.

Over the years, I have noticed that school students have the hardest time wooing and holding the muse. I have seen good writers go under due to complacency. Writing is a gift. Don't put it off.

             Dear Darla

I'm confused. Is a plot and a theme the same thing? Or are they different?    Lauren

Dear Lauren

Plot and theme are not the same thing. The plot is either a series of events or one major scene that forms the central climax. The theme is the overall pitch of the story (what the story is about, in general).

Thanks for writing, Lauren!

Send your writing questions to: deborahowen@cwinst.com.

Darla