Query Letter Basics
Dear Deb,
I’m ready to query a magazine editor. Is there a specific format I need to follow?
Deb writes~
Winning styles and formats vary. However, all effective queries must (1) pique interest in the article concept, (2) showcase your writing skill, and (3) demonstrate professionalism.
Pique interest. A writer has ten seconds to capture an editor’s attention, so get to the point. No generic ideas: be unique and precise. Explain why this idea, why that magazine, and how that magazine’s readers will benefit from the information in the article.
Showcase writing skill. Craft a well-written query in your own voice that also reflects the magazine’s tone, voice, and style. Don’t think writing ability doesn’t matter in a query--it does. If you can’t compose a good query, no editor will trust you with an article. The query must be free of grammar and usage errors, misspellings, capitalization and punctuation errors, and formatting errors. Keep your query length at one page. I’m not kidding. One. Page. Editors are busy, remember?
Be professional. Use white or off-white color paper, 8-1/2 by 11 size, black ink, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, single spaced, and no cutesy stuff. Follow writer’s guidelines scrupulously. Get the appropriate editor’s name, and spell it correctly. Suggest a word length and turn-around time following assignment; e.g., 400 words, within two weeks. Hint: Editors are more likely to give newbies a chance with a short article or filler. Include clips if you have them; don’t mention them if you don’t. Don’t nag the editor, but do follow up with an e-mail or phone call after a reasonable time period has passed since your query submittal.
John Wood’s How to Write Attention-Grabbing Query & Cover Letters and Jenna Glatzer’s Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer contain successful query examples. Choose one, and get going!