Guidelines for writing a query letter

Your query letter is your foot-in-the-door of a publishing company. Here are some guidelines for writing a query letter. You want to peak the editor’s interest so he/she will want to read your book proposal, sample chapters, and ultimately the entire manuscript.

· Use your professional stationery.

· Find out the name of editor by calling the editorial department of the publishing company and asking who handles the type of material you're submitting.

· Attach a stamped, self-addressed, return envelope.

You can use this outline to fill in the specifics of your letter.

Editor’s name & title

Address of publishing company

Dear [name of editor]:

[Give the reasons you are contacting them: e.g., because they have done books on your subject or you published with them before.]

TITLE AND SUBTITLE will spread my unique message [subject hook and book hook, 2 paragraphs max]

[MARKET, 1 paragraph]

[AUTHOR BIO, 1 paragraph]

[PLATFORM, 1 paragraph—how you will promote the book]

[STATS] e.g., The manuscript is xx,xxx words and will be completed by xx. This book will ideally be packaged with xxx. It has the potential for foreign rights. I have material for several more books of xxx.

[THANK THEM. They are doing you a favor by reading your material.]

It is my sincerest hope that you will favorably receive and review this query. Thank you for your time and consideration. May I send you my completed book proposal?

Sincerely yours,

Tips on writing a book proposal

Writing a book proposal can be a daunting task, but the effort can pay off big time in helping you get your book published. Here are some tips on writing the proposal.

· Once you have written your book proposal, it is much easier to write the query letter, which is a condensed version of the book proposal.

· Hooks, hooks, and more hooks. Hooks will spread your unique message. Include a subject hook, your book hook, and hooks for the synopsis of each chapter of your book.

· Before sending your book proposal, be sure to check out the publisher’s Web site for manuscript submission guidelines. Each publisher is different, so you may need to modify your generic proposal to fit each publisher’s requirements.

· Send your proposal to a specific editor, not to “Whom it may concern.”

· Follow the advice of a professional. I strongly suggest reading How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larson.