Query Letter

 



I’m always asked how to write a query letter to a potential agent or publisher. It’s simple, It’s a letter that checks all the boxes and is especially unique to your manuscript and to the genre to which the agent or publisher specializes. Don’t send a query letter to an agent or publisher that doesn’t specialize in your genre. For example, if you’re writing a mystery novel that is filled with blood guts and gore don’t send your query letter to an agent or publisher that specializes in romance or sci-fi stories, your letter will never be read.

Start your letter off with a quick paragraph that introduces you, and your work to the person the letter is addressed to. For example, start the letter off with this line:

I’m writing to you in the hopes of obtaining representation for “The Name of your work”, a 90,000-word adult mystery novel that is the first in a future series called “Blank Series”.  Include your hook line in this paragraph.

Then in the next paragraph, describe the manuscript in brief and the purpose of the story. Be sure to slightly compare your work to their top-selling client and their best work. That same writer and book is your inspiration for your story. Flattery helps to let them know that you understand their stable of clients and their work, and you want to be a part of that stable. Remember you’re writing a mystery so what causes your main characters to define themselves in the story. So, do they have special powers of deduction or talent that sets them apart from other detectives or family members?

Your character has been thrust into the investigation only to discover that they don’t feel confident in what is being asked of them in the investigation. So, explain to the reader how they plan to discover the truth of the mystery, if there is comedy in the story, describe it to the reader without giving away the entire storyline. But be sure to give the plot, the twists, and the final outcome to the reader in order to make them want to read more of your actual novel.

Compare your work to the work of other writers that might be within their client list. In other words, say something like the fans of Stuart Woods will find the characters and story within “Blank Series” just as thrilling and captivating as those within his Stone Barrington series. In this paragraph, you’re describing who your audience would be, the same as Stuart Woods who likes to listen to or read books with the same characters in them throughout a good series of stories. Then let it be known that you’re already working on the next books in the series. Besides this first novel, I’ve already begun to design the next few books in the series that will also continue the story of the main characters, but with different cases and struggles.

Be sure to give your credentials in the letter. Like if I were sending a letter to an agent about a mystery novel concept, I’d mention that I have a master's in criminology and have worked with law enforcement and federal agencies over the years on multiple cases. If you’ve self-published any works mention that too. This way they know you’re a serious writer with the background to promote. The same goes for winning any awards for your work in the writing world or in your professional life.

Close the letter with praise of their client listing within their stable of writers and that you believe your work would be a good compliment to the work of their top seller client as their work and yours happens to encourage both humor and strategic investigations.

Then sign it and send it off. Be sure to have someone read it over for grammar, spelling and flow.

 

Artist and Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, and journalist. business professional, creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Master's in Criminology and a BS in Business Management she stepped out of the loop for a while but is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, and photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.

 

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