Windy City Writers

Adventures in Submission Part Two: Writing the Query Letter 

By Kelly O'Connor McNees

Now that you’ve done your homework by reading books that have something in common with yours and identifying agents who represent those books, it’s time to begin the submissions process.

All submissions start with a query letter. The query letter is a fast way for agents to answer two questions as they decide whether to pursue your project:

Do you understand your novel or nonfiction book well enough to present a brief and appealing summary?  

Unfortunately, sometimes a writer gets so excited about her project that she jumps the gun and submits it too early. We all know first drafts are . . . well, first drafts. The revision process smoothes the rough edges and addresses organization and structure of the plot. It also helps solidify in the writer’s mind what the book is about and how to communicate that to others. Just by reading your query letter, most agents can tell whether you’ve got a finished product or an idea that might be great with a lot more work.

Do you understand how your book fits into the marketplace?

Publishers and agents make money by acquiring properties (like your book) that people will want to buy. If you want an agent to consider representing your book, you need to explain why it’s a good investment. That means identifying your audience and comparing your book with others currently in the marketplace.

These are two hefty goals to accomplish in a one-page letter, but it can be done. Agents contact writers based on effective query letters every single day.

Successful query letters are not all alike. Some start with a synopsis; others address the agent’s clients first to demonstrate a link with other published works. Order isn’t really that important when you have a well-written letter. Some things to remember . . .

A query letter is a formal business letter.

Blow the dust off your high school grammar textbook and reacquaint yourself with how to write one. Even if an agent accepts email queries, you’ll still want to err on the side of formality. Address the agent as Mr. or Ms. (please no Miss or Mrs.!). If you can’t be sure about the agent’s gender, open with “Dear Chris Smith.” Avoid slang and informal language, and scan the letter carefully for grammatical errors. Conclude with a professional closing like “sincerely,” “warm regards” or the like.

The query letter should be tailored to each agent.

I hope it goes without saying that printing off a dozen copies of the same letter and sending it to multiple agents is a bad idea.

You are much better off carefully selecting three to five agents who have represented books that have something in common with yours and tailoring your letters to each of them. Your first paragraph might sound something like . . .

I was thrilled to see you represented Murder on the Rise by R.J. Writerman. Readers love the 1950s Italian bakery setting of that novel, and I hope you will find the same flair for time and place in my 85,000 word novel An Inkling of Murder.

The next two or three paragraphs provide a compelling synopsis.

Now is the time to introduce your main character and the basic plot of your story in an intriguing way. To get the right tone, you might want to read the backs of some books like yours. Sound like marketing-speak? You’re right—and your query letter should take that same tone. A two- or three-paragraph synopsis can sound something like . . .

Everyone in Tinytown, Kansas is afraid of Spike Cheever, owner of Devious Designs, a tattoo parlor on the rough side of town. Spike’s face is full of piercings, and his arms and legs are covered in elaborate tattoos. Old ladies cross to the other side of the street when they see him coming.

But Spike isn’t what he seems. Few people are willing to see past his off-putting exterior to the gentle and lonely artist inside. When the quiet town is shattered by the discovery of a tattooed dead body on the steps of City Hall, Spike is the number one suspect. As he works to clear his name he uncovers a conspiracy of silence involving city officials all the way to the top. And they’re willing to do just about anything to keep the truth buried—including shutting Spike up for good.

The next paragraph positions the book in the marketplace

This is where you show off some of your research into your book’s genre and compare your book to others in the marketplace.

Books like In the Ink and Forever Designs, as well as TLC’s popular show LA Ink, demonstrate the public’s interest in the culture of tattoo artistry. An Inkling of Murder makes use of this exotic setting to tell a classic American mystery story. An innocent man, maligned by superficial prejudices, must discover the truth, no matter what it costs him. Faced-paced and full of colorful characters, this mystery is sure to keep readers turning the pages.

The final paragraph includes biographical information

Provide the agent with a sentence or two about yourself. Don’t tell her you like deep-sea fishing and long walks on the beach—unless that’s what the book is actually about. Having a PhD is a lovely achievement, but it doesn’t matter one lick if your book doesn’t sound interesting. A final short paragraph can read something like . . .

I owned a tattoo parlor for twenty years and have published several short pieces about the trade in magazines. As stated in your guidelines, I have included the first fifty pages of An Inkling of Murder, which is my first novel. Thank you for taking the time to consider it.

Now you’re ready to sign off with a professional closing and include your address, phone number, and email. Be sure to read the letter over very carefully for errors.

There are plenty of books and websites that can help you craft a great query letter. Writer’s Market contains a lot of good basics and www.agentquery.com provides a useful list of dos and don’ts as well as plenty of example letters. The most important thing to remember is that it takes time and perseverance to make a match with an agent. Hang in there. Keep writing, keep revising, and don’t lose sight of your goals.

Kelly O’Connor McNees is a writer and freelance editor who helps authors through the submissions process. To find out more, visit www.wordbirdedits.com.