Query Letter Writing Guide
Uploaded by
Greenleaf Book GroupQuery Letter Writing Guide
Uploaded by
Greenleaf Book GroupQuery
Letter
Resources
Courtesy
of
Greenleaf
Book
Group
Whether
approaching
an
agent
or
a
publisher,
you
will
need
to
draft
a
query
letter.
The
query
letter
is
a
one-‐page
cover
letter
that
introduces
you
and
your
book.
Query
letters
usually
follow
this
format:
First
Paragraph:
Hook
(includes
the
name
of
the
book,
the
genre,
word
count,
and
the
tagline
for
the
book)
Second
Paragraph:
A
one-‐paragraph
synopsis
(think
of
the
book
cover
copy)
Third
Paragraph:
Publishing
Credits
(avoid
any
irrelevant
bio
information)
Formal
closing
Some
agents
like
to
know
why
you
selected
them.
Only
include
this
if
you
have
a
very
personal
or
compelling
reason.
Also,
the
main
focus
of
your
query
letter
is
the
book
itself,
not
you
the
writer.
This
does
not
mean
the
publisher
or
agent
is
not
interested
in
you
the
writer,
or
in
your
platform-‐
building
activities
(which
are
extremely
important).
But
the
reality
is
that
publishers
buy
books,
not
writers,
and
they
must
be
interested
in
the
book
first.
Once
they
are
interested
in
the
book,
then
you
have
to
sell
them
on
why
you
are
the
best
person
to
write
it.
Some
agents
request
a
full
synopsis
with
your
query.
This
can
be
formatted
in
one
of
two
ways:
Character-driven
Story
Opening
hook
(This
can
be
cut
and
pasted
from
your
query)
Summary
of
story
(intro
of
main
character,
backstory)
1st
character
description
2nd
character
description
3rd
character
description
Conclusion—resolution
and
consequences/relevance
Plot-driven
Story
Opening
hook
Summary
of
story
(description
of
main
character
and
secondary
characters)
Plot:
initial
conflict
(who
or
what
sets
the
story
in
motion)
Plot:
1st
twist
Plot:
2nd
twist
Conclusion:
resolution
and
consequence/relevance
Nonfiction
will
include
a
proposal
and
outline
(see
separate
white
paper).
Web
Resources
Books
[Link]
Formatting
&
Submitting
Your
Manuscript
by
Jack
&
[Link]
Glenda
Neff,
Don
Prues,
and
the
editors
of
Writer’s
[Link]
Market
[Link]
The
Writer’s
Digest
Guide
to
Query
Letters
by
Wendy
Burt
Making
the
Perfect
Pitch
by
Katharine
Sands