How To Write A Compelling Query Letter

Join me in welcoming Edie Melson, a gifted writer and social media guru, as she explains how to write the dreaded query letter. Edie’s latest book, Connections: Social Media Techniques for Writers, was released in 2013.

Edie Melson

A query is basically a written pitch. As you advance as a freelance writer, you'll have to write less and less of these, because you'll have editors coming to you with assignments. But believe me, the skill you develop writing these will stand you in good stead.

This simple concept has caused more anguish for writers than anything else around. But in the freelance world, it’s a necessary evil. Your queries may find their way to the editor's desk in hard copy format or email, but the principles are the same.

It may seem unfair that your writing ability is judged on a single letter or email, but that is the hard truth in this industry. And, having sat behind the editor’s desk, I now understand why. Invariably a poorly written query previews major problems in the writer’s submitted work. I have rarely found this to be the exception. But rather the rule.

The query letter serves two equally important purposes:

• Get the assignment.
• Showcase your writing ability.

The Parts of the Query 

• Salutation. Make certain you get a name – not Dear Editor. If you can’t find the name listed anywhere, call the office, just don’t let them connect you to the editor. Also, check the spelling and the GENDER. You don’t want to use the wrong pronoun. Here's a post I wrote about the Importance of a Name for more details.
• First Paragraph. You should start with your hook. Don’t use anything corny like, “Don’t miss out on this opportunity.” Instead, it should be a legitimate hook. You also need to reference what part of the magazine/website you’re pitching. Don’t say something like, “This idea would work well anywhere in your magazine.” It's a neon sign that screams amateur. Also give the approximate word count.
• Second Paragraph. This is where you pitch your idea. It’s good to include specifics—even bullet points—here.
• Third Paragraph. This is your bio, your credentials for writing this article. Be honest, but don’t over inflate your merits. As editors, we've seen it all and can spot a fake from a mile away. Also don’t criticize or run down yourself by saying something like, “I don’t have any writing credits, but I’m willing to learn.” 

NOTE: If you don't have any writing credits, include experience you have that would make you a good fit for writing this article. Are you pitching an article about how to get kids ready for to go back to school? It would be important for the editor to know you have six kids in school or that you're a teacher.

Here are the basics you need to achieve these goals:

• Keep it short. Your query letter/email should NOT exceed one page…ever! If you're not sure what one page would look like in an email, write it in a word document first. Then copy and paste it into the email.
• Use a standard font. Times New Roman 12 point font.
• Use standard formatting. For an e-query use block formatting (no paragraph indentions, single spaced, double space between paragraphs). For hard copy use traditional letter formatting (indented paragraphs, single spacing, no extra lines between paragraphs).

Here are some red flags to avoid:

• Too long.
• Strange fonts.
• Improper or mixed formatting.

Also, it’s vitally important not to waste time when sending a query. I don’t mean hurry to send it off, but rather, get to the point. Don’t waste the editor’s time with things that are understood, or have no bearing on the article you’re pitching.

Here are a couple of examples:

• Just say the word and I’ll send you the article. (I really doubt you'd be pitching something and then not agree to send it.)
• I've spent hours researching this subject. (I would hope so.) 

There are a lot of good resources on writing queries out there. The best I’ve ever seen is a screen cast, Anatomy of a Pitch by Alton Gansky. He goes through an actual e-query and explains what works in it and why.

There is also a free e-book, How to Write a Great Query, by Noah Lukeman (You may remember another book he wrote, The First Five Pages). In this book he deals with queries for agents regarding book length manuscripts, but a lot of the tips are also relevant for freelancers—particularly the section on non-fiction books.

Now it's your turn. What experience have you had with queries? What questions do you have?

Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

Edie Melson is a freelance writer and editor with years of experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, and has a popular writing blog, The Write Conversation. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others. She’s also the social media columnist for Southern Writers Magazine and social media coach for My Book Therapy. Connect with her through Twitter and Facebook.

Words That Heal

Writing Encouragement

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5b,9

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Before I share a few words for Writers’ Corner, I want to start with an update from yesterday’s prayer blog. We’ve been praying for Courtney, a young mother battling a cancerous brain tumor. She’s had brain surgery, gamma knife radiation surgery after the cancer showed new growth, and chemotherapy all in the last year. She has MRIs every two months to check treatment progress. July’s MRI was very encouraging as it showed the tumor was responding to treatment.

After yesterday’s MRI and appointment with her oncologist, this is an update from Courtney’s Caring Bridge site written by her sister Lauren:

“So Dr. Peters came in the room carrying 2 images. One was from previous MRI and other from today's. She had a huge smile on her face and excitement in her voice! She said Courtney's scan looked BEAUTIFUL! There was no enhancement shown on today's MRI which means there is no active tumor that can be seen! Chemo and radiation have killed the tumor that was left behind after surgery! Awesome news! She will continue her chemo regimen for a year in an attempt to keep any new growths from appearing. We will repeat the MRI in November. Basically, today the scan could not have looked any better. Our prayers have been answered! Thank you for praying with us! :)” 

Again, I say, Praise God! Thank you to everyone who has been faithful in lifting up Courtney (and others) in prayer through our weekly prayer blog. As a reminder, the prayer list is accessible all the time on the page above.

Now to Writers’ Corner.

I’ve nursed a migraine for the past twenty-four hours, so I’m behind on a few things—this blog post being one. So I'll share a simple word of encouragement.

We all experience periods of discouragement, whether from sickness, writer’s block, or doors that just don’t seem to be opening in our careers. This is when it’s most important to remind ourselves of why we write. We’re Christian writers because God gave us a talent and then a calling to share His message with others.

My good friend and colleague, Cindy Sproles, co-founder of Christian Devotions and Writers Advance! Bootcamp, shared this final thought at this year’s bootcamp held at The Cove (Billy Graham Training Center) in North Carolina.

“When you are discouraged—write; because in discouragement there is strength to be found. When you are joyous—write; because in joy there is encouragement. When you are broken—write; because in brokenness there is growth…Your words will break through barriers, heal wounds, and guide the lost. Your words are fueled by the whispers of God.” 

I’ll share more about 2013 Writer’s Advance! Bootcamp in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, check out the website for more information.

Now, it’s your turn. I want to hear about your writing successes or hurdles you’ve overcome this week.

God bless,

Laura

© Laura Hodges Poole

Gracious To Give And Receive

Welcome to Writers’ Corner. Do you believe March is almost over? Are you on track to accomplish the writing goals you set for the year?

In the past few weeks, we’ve discussed many technical aspects of writing. Today, I just want to take a few minutes to encourage you in your writing journey.

Taking the first step toward becoming a published writer can be scary and exciting at the same time. In His wisdom, God doesn’t unpack the entire process ahead of time because, like so many things in life, if we could see the whole process up front, we might not even start. However, this journey is necessary for our growth.

Recently, I spent time with an author who has twenty books published with more under contract. She asked me how long I’d been writing “seriously” toward publication and then shared it took her eight years to get her first book contract, after her first three manuscripts were rejected. The eight years were not a static time of writing. She attended conferences, received feedback from veteran writers, and learned everything she could to hone her craft.

We’ve discussed in previous weeks the necessity of receiving feedback to be successful. Believe me, this takes an incredible amount of gracious receiving. But, the biggest mistake a writer can make is working in a vacuum, expecting to get published, and unwilling to take constructive feedback. Yet some try it.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17.

Embrace the concept that we are all on the same team working toward fulfilling God’s plan for the Christian literary world. You remember the algebraic term: a + b = c. Let’s apply that to our writing careers.

Gracious giving + gracious receiving = success. Isn’t this what we’re all striving for?

The other half of the equation is willingness to help others. Let’s face it. Most veteran writers have way more work than they have hours in the day. Yet, most writers I’ve encountered are incredibly gracious with their time. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. Gracious giving does not mean unlimited access or advice. Depending on the writer’s schedule, it may mean anything from simple encouragement to giving a critique of your work. If you’re fortunate enough to receive the latter, be gracious in receiving the feedback! While you’re under no obligation to agree with or take their advice, weigh it carefully before you decide to reject it.

The network created between the various levels of writers is an invaluable support group. No matter what stage you’re in, you need positive reinforcement. A few encouraging words can sustain a writer for days, sometimes weeks!

In closing, I’ll share one story of many about those supporting my work. Author and editor Gail Purath is one of the most gracious people I’ve encountered in my writing journey. She has published my work on her website, WOW-Writing On the Word, with more planned for the future. She could’ve easily stopped at sending the acceptance letter. Instead, she has generously supported my other writing efforts. This week, she listed my blog alongside a few big guns in the writing industry on her other website, Bible Love Notes. Check out this informative post for links to other helpful writing information. Thanks, again, Gail!

The bottom line is writers are blessed by God so they can bless others. Think about how you can bless another writer today. Never stop believing in yourself or the talent God blessed you with. If you haven't been published yet--that day will come.

Feel free to share how you’ve been blessed or blessed another in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have, as well.

If you’ve enjoyed Writers’ Corner over the past few weeks, would you consider subscribing to receive new posts in your email? The subscription box is on the top right-hand column. Thanks!

Say What?

Welcome to Thursday’s Writers’ Corner. If you’re new to my blog, this is a weekly feature to encourage fellow writers. No matter where you are in your writing journey, encouragement is a good thing.

Tomorrow, I’m off to The Cove (Billy Graham training center) in Asheville, NC, for a weekend writers’ bootcamp. Should be interesting! As long as I don’t have to do pushups, I’ll be okay. J

Please pray for my traveling safety and that I’ll learn what God wants me to in order to further His kingdom through my writing.

Meanwhile, will you consider becoming a follower of my blog? I’ve also added a simple subscriber box, if you’d like an e-mail alert when I post something new.

Now, let’s discuss a skill many writers struggle with, especially in the beginning. I certainly did. Dialogue and character building.

Think of writing dialogue as the opposite of the polished prose surrounding it, at least to some degree. Your character’s speech should reflect his/her origin and dialect for that region of the country or the country itself, if your setting is a foreign land. This is where good research is a necessity.

If your characters are from Minnesota, they won’t say “yall” when referring to others. However, if your character is from the Southern US, they will. Pepper your character’s speech with the local vernacular.

For the purpose of this blog, we’ll stick with the South for examples, since that’s where I live J

In creating dialogue for Southerners, you might drop the ending of words that end in –ing or drop the beginning syllable. A common joke here in SC is that one syllable words are pronounced with two syllables and multi-syllable words are pronounced in a single syllable when possible. While some folks speak that way, trust me, it’s not the norm for everyone. Even within a setting, you’ll find different degrees of accent. Some are stronger than others, and this should reflect in your characters.

Examples:

“Are you goin’ to the store?”

“How ‘bout a cup of coffee?”

“Somethin’s eatin’ at him.”

Be careful not to overdo the accents or slang. A Southern character won’t say “yall” every time they speak. Make sure your characters sound real regardless of their setting and stay consistent within the character’s accent.

As a beginning writer, it’s easy to slip into your own dialect. Your slang or commonly used words become your characters’ speech pattern.

I can’t stress this enough, if you’re not sure what the dialect is for your character’s setting, research it!

When writing dialogue, the best way to determine if it sounds real is read aloud what you’ve written. Does it flow like someone speaking? There should be contractions and fragments in the dialogue, just like we talk.

Same reasoning applies to developing characters. Names are an excellent way to start character development and can represent the degree to which the person reflects their heritage. For example, the names Billy Bob Thornton or Billy Ray Cyrus conjure up a mental image of a good ol’ Southern boy.

But not all characters will be developed to an extreme. Readers will grow tired of characters who all mirror each other. Even if your book is set in the South, some characters will be refined and perhaps their speech won’t be distinguishable from any other part of the U.S. Overuse of stereotypical language because the writer hasn’t done their research will be apparent.

Spend a few minutes reading aloud your WIP and see if your characters seem real to you. Meanwhile, enjoy this humorous video, "Bill Cosby, Understanding Southern," from his old TV show, You Bet Your Life.

Show, Don't Tell

Week two of Writers’ Corner, and I’m glad you returned. Would you take a moment to become a follower, if you’ve enjoyed the blog so far? Thanks!

The winner of the critique giveaway is Rosilind Jukic from Zagreb, Croatia! I look forward to reading your submission, Rosilind. Please review the rules from last week’s Writers’ Corner post and then send me your WIP as an attachment through email. My contact info is above.

As we discussed last week, revising and editing are a necessary part of the writing process. It’s easy to catch obvious spelling or grammatical errors, but the ability to self-edit is a skill acquired over time. In addition to seeking feedback/critiques from fellow writers, good writing tools are important.  

If you were to look at a published writer’s bookshelf, you’d see a few dog-eared writing books. My two favorites are: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to edit yourself into print, by Renni Browne and Dave King, and Getting The Words Right: 39 ways to improve your writing, by Theodore A. Rees Cheney.

Both books were invaluable during the early stages of my writing career. They’re chock-full of helpful advice and examples to help with editing. They can be ordered inexpensively through www.Amazon.com.

Now, let’s look at one admonition a writer might get from an editor: Show, don’t tell.

You might ask—isn’t all writing telling? Not exactly. Mastering this concept can be a challenge. “Telling” can creep into even the most experienced writer’s work. After all, the writer sees the scene clearly in their mind. It’s easy to forget the reader doesn’t have the same vantage point.

The editing phase is the perfect time to uncover telling scenes. As writers, we owe it to our readers to dig a little deeper—put them on the stage with the characters.

So what does “show, don’t tell” mean?

As Mark Twain put it, “Don’t say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.”

Here’s an example:

Telling

Dawn was distraught that her terrier Fluffy lay on the side of the road dead. She felt guilty because it was her fault for letting him run free instead of putting him on a leash.

Showing

Dawn stumbled down the sidewalk. Her mind refused to believe what her eyes told her. Fluffy, her little brown terrier, lay in a crumpled heap on the roadside where a speeding car had tossed him like yesterday’s garbage.

Dawn dropped to her knees in front of Fluffy. She ran a trembling hand across his soft fur. He shivered one final breath before his body grew still.

“Fluffy!” Dawn scooped the dog into her arms and clutched him to her chest.

“Why?” She wailed. “Why did I let you out of the house without your leash?”

She rocked back and forth, sobbing, with tears streaming down her cheeks. The neighbors stepped onto their porch and craned their necks to see what had happened.

The differences between the two scenes are pretty obvious. After reading the second scene, the reader knows Dawn is distraught and guilt-ridden without the writer writing either word. Not only that, the writer has engaged the reader’s senses to the point where they wonder how the rest of the scene may unfold. This keeps the reader from putting down the book.

This concept applies to both fiction and non-fiction. Whether you’re writing an article or a book, the best way to share the story is with anecdotes or scenes with action and dialogue.

Now, take a look at your work in progress (WIP), and see if there are scenes you can rewrite to show your story better.

And if you have a favorite book on writing, please share in the comments. I’d love to hear about it.

Writers' Corner Launch

Welcome to Writers' Corner. If all goes according to plan, this feature will appear each Thursday, so please plan to return. Maybe even become a follower!

Join me as I share my journey to publication, rejection, and writing tips. Some weeks, I’ll hold a Q&A session where writers of all levels are welcomed to comment and ask questions. Occasionally, I’ll host a guest blogger who’s a colleague in the writing industry.

Whether you’re published, a newbie, or someone plugging along in the middle, everyone needs encouragement to stay the course. That’s the purpose of Writers’ Corner.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Encouragement flows both directions on this blog. I look forward to our journey together in becoming better writers and getting to know everyone.

I’m a published, agented writer who’s still growing and seeking God’s plan in the literary world.  I write fiction and non-fiction, basically whatever God lays on my heart. I encourage you to explore the pages above, my profile on the right, and the archives to learn more about me and my writing.

One of the many lessons I’ve learned since embarking on the journey to publication is—no matter where you are on the path, no one “arrives.” Well, unless you’re Stephen King, Jan Karon, or JK Rowling.

Even so, most published writers are part of a critique group or have a critique partner. If not, their agent or editor serves this function. I assure you the manuscript handed to the agent is not what ends up on a retailer’s shelf.

In order to become published (and I think it’s safe to say that’s the goal of every writer), you cannot write in a vacuum. The mythological hermit tucked away in his cabin churning out bestsellers is just that—a myth. Writers have to seek and accept feedback as crucial to growth.

This doesn’t mean you have to revise your WIP (work in progress) exactly the way someone else instructs you. As you become a seasoned writer, you’ll find your voice and learn what advice to discard and what is spot-on.

Feedback can be painful. But look at trees that are pruned in the fall. They come back even more beautifully shaped in the spring. Critiques are subjective, but good critiques offer constructive criticism that enables growth. I’ve been fortunate to have some fantastic writers and editors in my journey give me sound advice and feedback.

Last year, I joined the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) large critique group. From there, I moved to a smaller group of published and/or agented writers. Both groups have been vital in crafting my fiction manuscript and pushing me to the next level.

So this leads me to the first giveaway of Writers’ Corner. You guessed it! A free critique.

I will randomly select one person to receive a free critique based on the following rules:

1.   Leave a comment on this post of a few sentences describing your WIP. Feel free to briefly introduce yourself, as well.

2.   Winning WIP submission must be 2,000 words or less.

3.   I feel certain most people reading this blog don’t have to be told this, but I’ll state it anyway. Entries cannot be erotic, vulgar, or blasphemous. For example, please do not give God a last name or slander Him and expect me to critique your work. I reserve the right to reject the entry and reselect based on these rules.

4.   You must agree to have rhino skin. Think “American Idol.” I promise not to be Simon Cowell. I’m more of a Paula. I will find the good and give you encouragement, but I will also point out your errors.

5.   The critique is not exhaustive. Most writers have to ascend the writing ladder one rung at the time. That’s hard to do if your writing has been ripped apart on all fronts. Better to tackle a few issues and learn. When doing so, you often discover other areas of your writing that need improvement.

6.   Understand that I’m not an expert. I’m not ashamed to say I’m still learning my craft. My feedback is designed to aid in your goal of becoming a published writer. However, there is no implication of publication hinted at or guaranteed, if you follow my advice.

Okay, now that we’re all on the same page, get to commenting! I will announce the winner next Thursday.

Writers' Corner Pre-Launch

I’m excited to welcome you to the pre-launch of Writers’ Corner, a weekly blog post to help fellow writers. Join me as I share my journey to publication, rejection, and writing tips. Some weeks, I’ll hold a Q&A session where writers of all levels are welcomed to comment and ask questions. Occasionally, I’ll host a guest blogger who’s a colleague in the writing industry.

And there will be free giveaways!

Whether you’re a published writer, a newbie, or someone plugging along in the middle, everyone needs encouragement to stay the course. I hope you'll find that in Writers' Corner. 

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Encouragement flows both directions on this blog. I look forward to our journey together in becoming better writers and getting to know everyone. Join me Thursday for the first post of this series.