How to Write Great Query Letters
Craft Queries That Will Grab Editors' Attention, Get Assignments
Writing great query letters is a skill that you can perfect with practice, to increase your chances of getting assignments and making more money
A query letter is an introduction to a new editor, or a continued ‘conversation’ with one who has already given you work. Like a well-crafted resume, a great query letter’s importance cannot be underestimated. It has to shine, to stand out from the rest, if you are to have any chance of getting an assignment. Make your query letters shine by following these tips.
Grab Editor’s Attention in Paragraph One
Don’t begin a query letter by explaining who you are, how long you have been writing, and where you have been published. This information, though important, comes later.
The first paragraph should focus on one thing, getting an editor’s attention. After all, editors read many queries every day. They don’t have time to continue reading one that begins in a boring way, or that has a topic obviously unsuited to their publication.
Assuming that you have done your research and know that this is a great topic for this particular magazine, use your first paragraph to make this idea stand out. How do you do this? You could begin with a story that makes the editor curious about the idea, and wanting to learn more. For example, if you are writing about a health issue that you have faced, you might tell the editor about the moment when the doctor confirmed your worst fear, or the one when the doctor gave you a clean bill of health. If you’re pitching a health story more general than personal in nature, you might begin with information about a new and exciting type of treatment.
Explain to The Editor in Paragraph Two
In the second paragraph explain why the editor’s readers would be interested in the article you want to write for them. Will it give them some new and helpful information? Will it allow them to set new goals, learn something new, or just daydream about a grand adventure? Editors won’t give assignments if they know that their readers won’t be interested in what you’re proposing.
Give More Detail in Paragraph Three
Paragraph three is the place to provide more details about the article, including its length, when an editor could expect to receive it, the article’s working title, and the sources you would contact for this piece. If you envision sidebars to accompany the article, tell the editor this, and mention how many (read more in How To Write Great Sidebars). Propose a section of the magazine where the article would fit. A shorter piece might be great for an up-front section or the magazine’s back page, while a longer feature would be perfect for the middle. If you have photographs to accompany an article (either your own or from another source), let the editor know this as well, even if the magazine sends out its own photographers. This is the paragraph where you figuratively pat the editor on the shoulder and reassure him or her that you have thought about all the elements of the piece.
Discuss Your Experience in Paragraph Four
The fourth and final paragraph is where you blow your own horn, detailing what you’ve published and where, any professional associations to which you belong, and your experience with the subject manner (of particular importance if you don’t have many, or any, published articles). Blow your horn loud, here. It’s your last chance to make sure the editor understands that you would be the best writer for this assignment.
