The query letter is totally different in form and purpose. It is your best business suit, your nicest dress, your hair combed, your nails cleaned, your teeth brushed, your deodorant on, and your credentials -- all in one. In short -- it's your initial introduction to a prospective future employer. It's your absentee interview. Make it the best you can.
A query letter should be brief, but complete and charming, if possible. Keep it short and to the point. Editors are busy people and don't have time for long narratives. This letter serves as an instrument to introduce you and your manuscript. nothing more.
This letter will tell its recipient a lot about your writing skills and style BEFORE reading your work. It also provides them with a record on you and your story.
You must take your precious 500 or so pages and condense them into a few crisp, powerful sentences while keeping it interesting enough to whet the editor's appetite for the complete work. No small task! This is the place for your GMC statement to do it's work.
The query consists of four major sections.
SECTION #1 -- this section should state the type of story (romance, historical, mystery, sports, etc.), setting, approximate number of words, title and an explanation of the title (if necessary).
SECTION #2 -- This section should contain a very abbreviated version of the story - a catch line.
Example:Mary Jones, a simple, country school teacher, thought that traveling through the wilderness in a covered wagon was just what she needed to spice up her mundane existence -- until she is taken captive by a band of Cheyennes on the warpath and married to their chief.
You'll notice that the above sketch of the plot contains within it a brief character sketch of Mary. This is advisable -- as long as it's brief. Again, use the GMC statement here. It'll tell an editor everything she needs to know to make a decision as to whether or not to request a full manuscript or a partial.
SECTION #3 -- This section should contain a brief summary of your writing experience, publications (if any), and your credentials for writing on this subject. Don't forget your chapter and RWA affiliation.
SECTION #4 - This section should read similar to the following:
The manuscript is complete and ready to be forwarded to you by return mail. Enclosed is a SASE for the convenience of your reply. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Some people feel stating the presence of a SASE is unnecessary, but it is both accepted practice and essential, since things get misplaced in a busy publishing office. If they do not have a SASE, your manuscript will not be returned to you. Publishing houses will not finance the return of manuscripts.
DO NOT include negative comments such as: I have never published anything ... or If you want to see the finished manuscript ... Always write in a positive mode. By the same token, an arrogant attitude such as: I'm sure this is the best story ever to pass over your desk ... is just as unacceptable.
It goes without saying that this letter -- like your manuscript -- should be as free from grammatical mistakes, spelling and punctuation errors, and as neatly presented as your manuscript. PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD It!!!
