You've done it. You've written a book that is sure to be hailed as a literary masterpiece for the rest of time. This has been your lifelong dream. One more thing stands between you and publishing success: getting someone to notice your book and get it printed.
In reality, it's not hard to get an editor's attention. You just have to follow the rules and send what people in the business call a "query letter." A query letter is a formal business letter that is one or two pages long. It should be short, and any publishing executive who reads it should be interested in what you have to say. After all, if you can't sell your book to a single person, why should a publishing house think you can sell it to thousands or millions of people? If you want to know how to write a great query letter that gets people's attention, you've come to the right place. Cover each of the following points, and I guarantee that within a week of sending your query letter, an editor will call you.
First, talk to the right publisher: This seems like a no-brainer, but you wouldn't believe how many writers get this wrong. Make sure that the publisher you want to work with publishes books in your genre. Don't send a query letter to the editor of a computer manual publisher if you write fantasy novels. It will be thrown away without being looked at again. The best way to find the right publisher is to find and open books that are similar to yours. Who is the book's publisher? Does the name of the same publisher keep coming up? If so, you should talk to that person.
Point #2: Sell to the right person. Never send a query letter addressed to "Editor" or "To Whom It May Concern." A letter like this will end up in the "slush pile" and then in the trash. Once you know who you want to publish your book, you can look at a book like Jeff Herman's Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents, latest edition (most libraries or large bookstores will have it). The book will have a page or two of information about the publisher in question, including the name and contact information of the person to whom all questions should be sent. Most of the time, this is a CEO or managing editor. Send the query letter to that person in particular, and make sure you spell and use the right gender for their name.
Point #3: Your Opening (Especially the First Sentence): Your query letter's first paragraph should get right to the point. Tell the editor why you're getting in touch with him or her. Were you sent by someone they know? Someone well-known may have praised your work. Either one will grab your attention right away. But the most important thing you can do in your opening is to describe who your book is for and where it will be sold. You should also explain why your book is different or has sales potential. Be specific. Don't say, "My book is something all women will want to read." Say, "My book will appeal to five million women between the ages of 40 and 55 who watch The Oprah Winfrey Show." The editor will decide within the first two sentences if they want to read the rest of your query or not, so it's very important to spend a lot of time making the best possible opening. If you know anyone in the media or know how to make your book so interesting that the media can't help but cover it, say so in the first sentence. Attention from the media sells books, and that's what publishers do for a living.
Point #4: Describe Your Product: In the second paragraph, describe your book in a few words. Give the editor a short summary of the book, just as it might appear on the cover. If you can, talk about other best-selling books in the same genre and explain how yours is different. Give facts about your work, not your thoughts about it. "There are 5.8 million single women who could be the market" is a fact. The statement "This is the best book ever written" is a point of view. Tell the editor how your book will meet a need that hasn't been met yet. Keep it short and don't go on and on. In this situation, less is more.
#5: Who the author is: Talk about yourself in the third sentence. What's the point of this book? What's your background? Do you know a lot about the subject? Have you ever been in a book or magazine? Do you have media experience or media contacts? If so, you should tell the editor. Say so if you don't have much experience. Be straight-forward and honest. Experience is helpful, but not having it won't automatically rule you out. By putting "fluff" on your resume, you. You should never talk about your personal life unless it has something to do with selling the book.
Sixth Point: Make them want more: Thank the editor for his or her time and offer to send your full book proposal (for nonfiction) or the first few chapters of your book (for fiction). Don't forget to include your contact information. If your query letter gets the editor's attention, he or she will get in touch with you to find out more. So, don't send a book proposal or sample chapters unless the publisher asks you to. Also, if you send a query to more than one editor at the same time, let them know that you did so. Also, if you're giving the editor an exclusive period of two weeks, say so. This is the method I recommend. Lastly, don't send a SASE along with your question. Most of the time, a SASE is used to send an author a form rejection letter. Don't make it seem like you expect to be turned down. If they are interested, an editor will call or email you right away. They won't send letters by mail.
Point #7: Check, check, and check again: A query letter is the first piece of writing an editor will see from a possible author. It ought to be just right. If you can't write a professional, mistake-free one-page letter, why should anyone think you can write a whole book? Don't rely on spell check to catch your mistakes, and keep in mind that good writing comes from rewriting, rewriting, and more rewriting. Work on each sentence until it's as good as it can be. You have spent a lot of time on your manuscript. You can spend a few hours getting your query letter just right.
Point #8: Presentation: You've put in the time to make a query letter that really stands out. Now you have to give it to the editor in the right way or you might be thought of as a beginner. It's important to use a LaserJet printer to print your query letter in black ink on high-quality, plain white 8 1/2 x 11 paper (no dot-matrix). Use a letterhead if you have one. But don't try to do too much. Don't use border patterns. Anything that takes away from the main point of your letter could cause it to be turned down. Use FedEx to send your letter when the time comes. This is useful in two ways. First, because it costs money, it shows that you are a professional and not just sending a bunch of queries to publishers around the world. The second and most important thing is that it is opened. The "slush pile" is not the place for a FedEx envelope. Aside from writing clearly and professionally, FedEx is the best way to stand out from the thousands of authors who query a publisher every year. Lastly, don't send gifts with your query letter or use "gimmicks." Good writing or a unique product idea can't be replaced by bribes or clever tricks. If you write your letter well, you can be sure it will get the answer it deserves.
If you use all of the above 8 tips when writing your query letter, I can guarantee that it will be better than 99.5% of the queries a publisher gets in a year. Also, if there is a market for your book, a query letter written according to this outline will almost always get a request for a book proposal or sample chapters within a week, if there is a market for it. At that point, an editor has shown interest in your book, and you're already halfway to having it published. So start working on your knockout query letter right away!
