Sell your idea (and expertise)
Your query letter has only one purpose: to get
the agent or editor to ask for more material.
Writer’s Digest five best tips:
Be compelling. For fiction, you need an intriguing synopsis. Make sure it’s your very
best writing.
Say what is distinctive about your book idea. Avoid claims like “the only book to” or
“the first book to.” Be different in some meaningful way.
Show that you can write. Memoir, autobiography and fiction all require artful writing:
good storytelling, an eye for detail and a compelling narrative. Make sure your query
letter demonstrates a command of the craft of writing.
Sell your expertise. In fiction, editors and agents are looking for writers who have
been published (preferably in well-regarded publications) or who have studied with
leading writers or gone to schools known for excellent writing programs.
If you have been published, be specific. Agents told us that it irritates them when
writers say, “I am a published author of two books,” and do not provide complete
information.
http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/get-published-sell-mywork/secrets_to_a_great_book_query_letter
Book Query Letter Basics
1. Create a compelling opening paragraph that:
captures your idea in a few words and makes the reader want to know more.
indicates you are seeking an agent (or publisher).
2. Introduce yourself and your qualifications—be complete about your expertise and writing track
record.
3. Introduce your book idea.
Fiction: Provide a synopsis—and make it exciting.
4. Craft a strong closing paragraph. Offer to send your proposal, manuscript, clippings, copy of a
previous book or whatever else is relevant and impressive.
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you don’t, you may not hear anything from either
agents or editors.
6. If you’re sending an e-mail, include the query in the message. Don’t ask agents or editors to
download and read an attachment or visit your Web site—they aren’t likely to do it.
http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/get-published-sellmy-work/secrets_to_a_great_book_query_letter
Dear Ms. Jeglinski:
I am seeking representation for INK, a 75,000-word YA Urban Fantasy
set in Japan.
When her mom dies, sixteen-year-old Katie never expects to end up
living in Shizuoka with her English-teaching aunt. It’s bad enough that
she can’t read or write much Japanese, but when Katie stumbles into
the middle of an ugly breakup, put her on the radar of Yuu Tomohiro,
her new school’s arrogant and gorgeous kendo star. After his bullying
provokes her to spy on him, she discovers his secret passion for
drawing, and that his badass attitude is mainly reserved for his kendo
matches.
But it isn’t Tomohiro’s kendo talent that has Yakuza gangsters honing in
on him-it’s his drawings. Because everything Tomohiro sketches in ink
comes to life, and something always goes wrong.
Now Katie has to decide whether to stay away from the guy she’s falling
for, or to face the Yakuza alongside him. And the worst part? The ink
itself is hunting Katie, and there may be one person Tomohiro can’t
protect her from-himself.
I have been previously published as the 2007 Fiction Contest winner in
Room Magazine, and in the Drollerie Press anthology Playthings of the
Gods (Feb 2011). I have a story forthcoming in the Tesseracts 15
anthology (Sept 2011).
Thank you for time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Amanda Sun
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/jeglinski-query