By sheer coincidence, I'd also recently sat in on a terrific workshop led by thriller writer Jonathan Maberry (Zombie:CSU, Patient Zero, etc.) on the correct ways to pitch your novel. One of the things he covered in detail is the query letter. So, while I'm going to list here the things I suggested to my friend, as a matter of full disclosure, much of this comes from Maberry's talk.
Let me preface this by saying, too, that any ten writers will give you ten different opinions on query letters, based on what worked for them. This is just one, but it will distinguish your query from a lot of the competition while doing the job of making you look professional.
1. Start with a couple of paragraphs on the book (lifted directly out of the text if possible). You want them to reflect the tone, the style of the book. Try to find two paragraphs in it that really reflect this thing and that will grab the potential agent. However, DO NOT tell the agent/editor here what your book is about. This is true with short story submissions, as well. I once read the slush pile for Asimov's back in the Gardner Dozois era. And there was nothing that screamed "amateur" louder than a cover letter accompanying a short story that told me in one page (or more...even worse) the whole of the story. If in a cover letter you tell the person who's about to read your story all the exciting things that happen in your story, guess what isn't exciting anymore while they're reading it? Cover letters for short stories--if necessary at all--should never do more than introduce you and the story. We're talking maybe three sentences. You: "I've sold fiction to F&SF, Black Gate, and Mom's Real Good Stories Quarterly." Your story: "Enclosed please find my 6000 word story [TITLE]. I think you'll like it." Unless there is something terribly pertinent that the reader MUST know, that's all. And if there IS something terribly pertinent, the story had better not hinge on knowledge of it, 'cause you aren't going to be on hand to explain this to every reader who ever comes across it. But back to the query.
2. Following the paragraphs, talk a bit about the established market this book will sell to: "In the tradition of Carl Hiaasen and Albert Einstein, [YOUR TITLE]..." In other words name some well-selling books in same the territory you're writing, establishing a)that there is an audience for the book and b)that you know your market and have written to it. Even go so far as to include a brief market analysis. You've looked at the competition, you know what's selling. This does the agent's job for her, saves her speculating about it. Mention the word count to show that you know the scope of your project. This should match what fits for that sub-genre you've written for. A 500,000 word manuscript will be a tough sell for all but those few agents who need to get something down off a high shelf.
3. Tell them you can send them the finished manuscript, clean and ready to go--which means you had better have it clean and ready to go. And it's "I can send you", not "If you would be interested." No wishy-washy stuff. If necessary, take your anti-depressants so that you're in a convivial, take-charge mood that day. You want that coming through the letter.
4. Include, separately, a synopsis of 3-10 pages in present tense summary.
5. All of this in the letter must be no more than one page. Yes, you are being short and sweet, and to the point. You are not going on at great length about yourself, the effort you've put in, or what color tie goes well with the NY Times Bestseller list.
If possible, while still keeping it one page in length, bump up the font size to 13 or 14 point. Or bold it. Anything to make it easier for the agent to read it, while subtly making it stand out.
If you've selected a dozen agents, send this query to all 12 at once (unless they've stated somewhere in their web page/listing that they don't accept simultaneous queries). Whatever happens, you'll know you've given it your best query.
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frostokovich- frostokovich
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1. No. Please, no. If I want to read the writing, I will ask for the writing. I want something similar to the back cover copy of a paperback book, and that's it. If the agent's guidelines say to add samples of the writing, append whatever they ask for after the query letter, in the body of the email, if it's an email submission. Otherwise, I should be able to get a sense of the tone and style from the blurb itself.
It's very possible.
2. Something quick is usually fine, but I'd rather hear about the book, honestly. "This book is like if X and Y had a baby. My book is Z." That works perfectly. Marketing plans are for when you get accepted.
3. I assume if they're querying, their book is ready to go. "I'd be happy to send you chapters." Works. "If you're interested..." also works. Honestly, I don't care. I know what they want.
4. Yes, PLEASE, one page. I've read too many queries that go on about how wonderful their book is, how long they've been working on it, their dog loves it, they have four children, their aunt has brain cancer... All I want to know is about the book. (Please don't bold it, though. That actually makes it harder to read.)
What stands out is a query letter that follows the rules, that doesn't try anything fancy.
It's sad how rare that is.
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