Book Marketing and the Query Letter

By Karen Cioffi

If you are contemplating writing a book or you’ve already written one and intend on going the traditional publishing path, you’ll need a query letter and a cover letter.

This is true whether you’re an author, a writer, or a business owner who wants to build his authority with a book.

Wondering what a query letter has to do with book marketing?

The query is part of the second step in your book marketing journey. Think of it as the beginning of a hopefully rewarding relationship with a publisher or agent.

The first step is writing a great story. The second is getting a contract – this is where the query comes in.

If you’re not sure what a query letter is, Jane Friedman notes that it’s a stand-alone letter and has only one purpose. Its sole purpose is “to seduce the agent or editor into reading or requesting your work. The query is so much of a sales piece that you should be able to write it without having written a single word of the manuscript.” (1)

The query letter is your foot in the publishing door. So, you can see how much rides on this one or two page letter (preferably one page).

The query letter usually has 8 elements to be aware of:

1. Do your research. Have you gone to the publisher’s or agent’s website to make sure your manuscript topic is something s/he handles?

You can do an online search for publishers or agents that will be a fit for your story. Or, you can use an online service, like WritersMarket.com.

2. Know what you need to do. At the site, did you carefully go over the submission guidelines? I mean really, really, really, carefully!

3. Is your opening (in the query) grabbing? Will it get the reader’s attention?

4. Edit, edit, edit. Have you checked for grammar errors? Have you checked for redundancy? How about spelling? Don’t rely on a word processors speck check feature alone. Edit your letter manually.

5. Keep it short and sweet. Eliminate non-essential personal information.

6. Include credentials, and/or pertinent background information that is relevant to the story you’ve written, if any.

7. Include your book marketing strategy for promoting your book. In this section, include your social media following, only if significant: 500 followers, 1000 followers, 5000, 10,000. Obviously, the more the better. And, it’s essential that you have an author website and include the link in your heading.

8. Have you studied the query letter format?

The format consists of several paragraphs?

a. Your introduction, mentioning that you’ve visited the website and why you’re querying.
b. A very brief gist of what the manuscript is about and the intended age group.
c. A very brief synopsis of the story.
e. Your background, if pertinent. Include your marketing intentions.
f. Thank the editor/agent for her time. Mention that you included XXX pages (the number the guidelines said to send), if applicable.

Taking the time to do it right and write an optimized query letter may make the difference between the slush pile and a contract.

The query letter is the portal to a contract. If the reader says NO at the letter, your manuscript may be great, but it won’t have a chance.



Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author and children’s ghostwriter as well as the founder and editor-in-chief of Writers on the Move. She is also an author/writer online platform instructor with WOW! Women on Writing.

You can check out Karen’s e-classes through WOW! at:
http://www.articlewritingdoctor.com/content-marketing-tools/

Book Marketing and the Query Letter

If you are contemplating writing a book or you’ve already written one, and intend on going the traditional publishing path, you’ll need a query letter and a cover letter.

This is true whether you’re an author, a writer, or a business owner who wants to build his authority with a book.

Wondering what a query letter has to do with book marketing?

The query is the second step in your book marketing journey. Think of it as the beginning of a hopefully rewarding relationship with a publisher or agent.

The first step is writing a great story. The second is getting a contract – this is where the query comes in.

If you’re not sure what a query letter is, Jane Friedman notes that it’s a stand-alone letter and has only one purpose. Its sole purpose is “to seduce the agent or editor into reading or requesting your work. The query is so much of a sales piece that you should be able to write it without having written a single word of the manuscript.” (1)

The query letter is your foot in the publishing door. So, you can see how much rides on this one or two page letter (preferably one page).

The query letter usually has 8 elements to be aware of:

1. Do your research. Have you gone to the publisher’s or agent’s website to make sure your manuscript topic is something s/he handles?

You can do an online search for publishers or agents that will be a fit for your story. Or, you can use an online service, like WritersMarket.com.

2. Know what you need to do. At the site, did you carefully go over the submission guidelines? I mean really, really, really, carefully!

3. Is your opening (in the query) grabbing? Will it get the reader’s attention?

4. Edit, edit, edit. Have you checked for grammar errors? Have you checked for redundancy? How about spelling? Don’t rely on a word processors speck check feature alone. Edit your letter manually.

5. Keep it short and sweet. Eliminate non-essential personal information.

6. Include credentials, and/or pertinent background information, if any.

7. Include your book marketing strategy for promoting your book. In this section, include your social media following, only if significant: 500 followers, 1000 followers, 5000, 10,000. Obviously, the more the better. And, it’s essential that you have an author website and include the link in your heading.

8. Have you studied the query letter format?

The format consists of several paragraphs:

a. Your introduction, mentioning that you’ve visited the website and why you’re querying.
b. A very brief gist of what the manuscript is about and the intended age group.
c. A very brief synopsis of the story.
e. Your background, if pertinent. Include your marketing intentions.
f. Thank the editor/agent for her time. Mention that you included XXX pages (the number the guidelines said to send), if applicable.

Taking the time to do it right and write an optimized query letter may make the difference between the slush pile and a contract.

The query letter is the portal to a contract. If the reader says NO at the letter, your manuscript may be great, but it won’t have a chance.

References:
1) http://janefriedman.com/2014/04/11/query-letters/
http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-to-write-the-perfect-query-letter

This post was originally published at:
Book Marketing and the Query Letter

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, successful children’s ghostwriter as well as an author online platform instructor with WOW! Women on Writing. For must-know writing and marketing tips, get free access to The Writing World.

Also, be sure to check out Karen award-winning children's middle-grade fantasy, "Walking Through Walls."

Help for that Horrid, Frightful Cover/Query Letter

by Vivian Zabel  

       Usually the first thing an agent, editor, or publisher sees from a writer is a cover letter or query letter. I hear so often, "But how do I write a good cover letter?" I hope to help unravel the mystery.

Sample Cover Letter with Suggestions

           *** The following cover letter is one I would send with a copy of my short story, "Hidden Lies" to an agent. Addresses, phone numbers, and names used (except for my name and email address) are not real. Any information between double asterisks (**) are not part of the letter but information about what goes in that place in the letter.
         For this sample, I've used the block format; however, I usually use a format with the inside return address in the upper right hand corner, with paragraphs indented, and with the closing in line with the inside address, on the right side.***


2912 My Street
My Town, State zipcode
April 13, 2006


John Johns **Use name of editor or agent for genre and item, even call company to ask.**
Johns Literary Agency
Mailing address
Sometown, Somestate zip

Dear Mr. Johns: **If person is a woman, use Ms. unless you know differently.**

Life has many conflicts, and relationships aren’t always as the members involved believe. The enclosed short story “Hidden Lies” reveals that members of the same family don’t always know the “skeletons” hidden in the family “closet.” In fact, none ever viewed a freezer in the same way again.
As a teacher of English and composition for twenty-five years, I not only taught writing, but also studied and honed my own skills. From 1974 through 1977, I had short stories, articles, and poetry published in Potpourri magazine. Later years, articles and short stories appeared in regional publications, in the Teachers of English anthology Teachers Write, and in Standard magazine. More current information may be found on my web site, http://www.vivianzabel.com.

Thank you for considering my short story. I will await a decision at your earliest convenience. You may also reach me by phone, 405-555-1411, or by email, vzabel@writing.com. Enclosed is a SASE for your use.

Sincerely,

(signature here)

Vivian Gilbert Zabel


2 enclosures:
Manuscript: “Hidden Lies”
SASE


                            * * * Notes about cover letter * * *

1. Author’s address and current date goes in upper left hand corner (if using block letter) or upper right hand corner. The author’s email address may go under date.
2. The inside address for the publisher, agent, or publisher goes next, using the name of the person who should get the manuscript according to the type of writing and genre. Call the company or agency and ask for the correct editor or agent if necessary.
3. Address the person by Mr. or Ms. (unless you know the woman prefers Miss or Mrs.) and his or her last name. Do NOT address the person by a first name unless you already know him or her extremely well.
4. The first paragraph should get the attention of the editor or agent as well as informing him of the material you are sending and a bit about the story. Do not go into great depth.
5. The next paragraph should give only a small amount of biographical information and only that which is related to closely to what you are submitting or your expertise. I included that I taught and learned more about writing while teaching, which gives support for me as a writer. Then I gave information about my published work and my website address, so if the agent/editor wants more information, she can find it. Do not falsify anything.
         If you have clips (news releases or clippings) and have them on a website, be sure to include that information. For example, I am in the process of scanning and adding clips to my website.
6. Do not over praise yourself or your writing, complain about anyone else’s not accepting it, or give your friends’ opinions. At the same time don’t belittle yourself or your work.
7. Finally, thanking the person for taking time to consider submitted material is good manners. Notice that I don’t set a deadline but let the agent know I will be waiting for his decision. I also include other ways he can reach me: phone number and email address. I let him know that I have enclosed a Self Addressed Stamped (with enough postage to return the material to me) Envelope (which is large enough to hold the material) - better known as SASE. However, an electronic submission doesn't require an SASE. Be sure to follow the submission guidelines.
8. Then add a list of enclosures after the signature area. For an electronic submission, give a list of attachments.          

        IMPORTANT NOTE: Even one misspelled word, grammar error, or confusing passage would result in an agent or editor returning the manuscript or throwing the material away if no SASE were enclosed, or deleting the information if the submission is electronic.        
        If the letter is boring or contains any errors, agents and editors will often not read more than the first paragraph. The submitted material would then never be read.          
        If the cover letter is written well enough to attract the agent's or editor's attention, then the author must keep that attention throughout the manuscript - which contains NO errors.          
        I cannot stress that idea enough: Spelling, grammar, and other errors will destroy any chance of an item being accepted by an agent or editor. This idea is not my opinion but is stressed over and over by editors, agents, and other writing experts.          
        Hopefully, the above information will help writers fear a cover/query letter less.

How to Write an Agent Query Letter

Once you have finally finished your masterpiece, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty and begin writing query letters to potential agents and publishers.

In essence, a query letter is similar to a cover letter that you would send out on the front of a resume for a potential job. However, a query can be so much more. This is your opportunity to make a valuable first impression on potential agents and publishers to entice them to contact you and find out more about your work.

Do Your Homework

Before sending out a generic, mass query letter to multiple agents and publishers, it is critical to do your homework. Take the time to find out which agents or publishing houses would be best to represent your work. You will only be wasting time if you send out query letters to agents that do not represent your genre or already represent books similar to your work.

Submit Correctly

Next, it is important to figure out the individual submission guidelines for each agent or publisher. Some agents are very, very specific about their submission guidelines in order to weed out the good from the bad in potential authors. You will be doing yourself a serious disservice if you do not follow an agent’s or publisher’s submission guidelines to the letter. In many cases, if you don’t follow the submission guidelines set in place, then your query will be automatically rejected.

Include a Personal Touch

It’s important that your query is personalized to show that you are reaching out to an agent for a reason. Many agents will be turned off by a generic query letter that does not speak to them sincerely. Mention specific books that an agent represents that you identify with or qualities about an agency that would best match your project.

From there, your query letter should consist of five basic components:

1. Hook: The hook is the first line that will grab an agent’s attention and make them want to read more.
2. Pitch: After grabbing the attention of the agent, your second paragraph will contain your pitch. This is the purpose or summary of your work.
3. Body: The body of your query is used to sell your work, offering details of the plot, characters, and audience of the manuscript. This body is often likened to the summary that you would read on the jacket cover of a book.
4. Credentials: In one paragraph, summarize your credentials as to why you are qualified to publish your work in a specific market. This can include education, writing accomplishments, and/or literary awards.
5. Closing: In the last paragraph, thank the agent sincerely for taking the time to review your work and offer to send them the full manuscript if they are interested.

Bethany Ramos is an author and full-time freelance writer with experience in Internet marketing, social media marketing, and SEO. She is passionate about writing captivating children's books and witty chick lit. For more information, you can visit her blog at http://chicklit-books.com/.