It's finally time to actually write your query! You've got your manuscript at the appropriate stage depending on what you're writing; you've got your proposal pretty much ready to fire off at the first nod from a queried professional; and you've made your address list according to your specifications and needs. It's time!
In my opinion, the query letter is the most important part of the process--until you put it behind you and move on to the next step. But, without a successful query letter, your work here is done. If your recipient reads your query and finds himself yawning or rolling his eyes, you won't hear from him. And, it's difficult (not impossible) to try a second query for the same work at a later date. So, a poorly-written or boring query will only cost you the hours and hours of time you already put into your WIP (work in progress). That's a price I don't want to pay and I'm sure you don't either!
My five tips for A Quality Query are:
1. Write well!
2. Keep it short.
3. Stand out in some way.
4. Briefly highlight your experience.
5. Sell your project.
Pretty obvious, huh? But, you'd be surprised at what people say in queries. Just remember that the query isn't the proposal. It's only meant to be a teaser. If it leaves its' reader wanting more, it's successful.
Write Well.
This one is so obvious that I hate to belabor the point. But, I'll say a few things. The query letter is no place to let your guard down. Edit with a fine-toothed comb...and then edit more. As a writer, you want to write everything well, but emails can be more conversational, blog posts aren't always perfect, etc. Your query letter, though...
Keep it short.
Often, your query can just be pasted into the body of an email. A lot of professionals don't want to have to open an attachment from someone they don't know. So, unless they specify otherwise, just create your document in a word-processing program and then paste it into an email. But, just because there are no page boundaries in an email, that doesn't mean you can go on and on. I still try to keep my query to one page if at all possible. Remember, this is a teaser. You can elaborate on your points in your proposal.
Stand out in some way.
Now you want me to tell you how to stand out, right? Sorry! That one's going to be up to you to figure out. Something clever that you say, a connection of some kind, a mutual acquaintance--just something to make your query stand out among the piles of others that will make you memorable in a good way. If you can find a way to make scented emails, you'll definitely stand out!
Briefly highlight your experience.
Don't write your biography; that's what the proposal is for. You just want one paragraph to touch on your credentials. It should be just enough to convey that you're qualified to write your book, but save the details for the proposal.
Sell your project.
With writing that sings, and in just a few paragraphs, you need to convince your reader that the literary marketplace NEEDS your book and that, based on your good ideas and stellar writing, it will be a bestseller. If it's a work of fiction, you should be able to cover the main plot, discuss a character or two and offer an example of a conflict and resolution. If your work is non-fiction, explain the goal and list some of the chapter ideas or interesting facts.
Goal: When your reader is finished with your query, he will ask for a full proposal.
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