Free Advice Friday: The Killer Query Letter

What’s on the iPod: Mademoiselle du Paris by Jacqueline Francois

Quite the busy week I’ve had. First a snowstorm that never happened interrupted work on Monday (everyone ran out for bread — apparently, you can’t have a sandwich shortage during a snowstorm). Then an assignment kept me busy with research and lining up interviews. Yesterday, two more projects came in, both with short deadlines. Next week is going to be nuts.

We started a conversation two weeks ago about magazine work, specifically how your ideas can appeal to the magazine editor. We looked at how to study a magazine. Today, I figured it would be fun to send the editor a query letter.

Most of you know how to do this successfully. Still, it never hurts to re-examine our methods, pick up a new tip, etc. For those of you who aren’t as successful at the query, this post is for you, too.

Free Advice Friday: The Killer Query Letter
Now that we’ve done the homework on what a particular magazine is looking for, let’s get an idea to send to them. I’ve heard people advise that you come up with the idea after you read the magazine. That’s usually a good suggestion, but sometimes you have that idea burning and you’ve no where for it to land.

Let’s assume the idea is an overview the ergotic literature trend (If you’ve ever attempted to read House of Leaves or S, you know it’s a book within a book within a book…and written all over the place, including in footnotes and along the margins). You’ve looked at a number of magazines and have decided that Book Lovers Monthly is the first market you’ll approach.

We’ve looked at the magazine and we know that Book Lovers Monthly is a literary and cultural commentary magazine. Their ads tell you their readers have expendable cash or a healthy bank account — Movado watches, airline ads, credit card ads aimed at business owners, car ads and gadget ads that simplify busy lives. Even ads for books from publishers — these are well-read readers.

So here’s how we’ll approach it:

Dear (Editor’s name):


Intelligent readers are turning to ergotic literature for more challenge. Some readers want an encounter that leaves them exhausted.But are these choices smart enough? Is the story being compromised for style?

My proposed article, Why We Love Ergotic Literature, will look at the latest explosion of books meant to challenge. From Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves, which made a successful transition from a shared, web-based book, to J. J. Abrams’ S, today’s elite reader is expecting more than just a good tale. Are these books meeting those expectations?

I’ll talk with authors like Abrams and Danielewski for their take on why the genre works (and maybe why it doesn’t). Plus I’ll seek the input of Jane Doe, professor of literature with University of Minnesota, where ergotic literature is studied. I intend also to include the expertise of Friederich Examiner, a social psychologist and author of twenty books on perceived and actual literary intelligence, for his view on the effects of such challenges on further segmentation of society. And I’ll talk with James A. Bookmaker, acquisitions director for RandomlyHoused Books on if these books are sacrificing the story for style.

I am a veteran writer with over 15 years of expertise. My articles have appeared in several publications, including The Bostonian, New York Lifestyles, New England Living, and Wealthy Shore Dweller. Samples of my work may be viewed at the URLs listed below.

May I write the article for your readers? Thank you for your consideration (name). I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Barbara Writer

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Obviously, this was written off the top of my head without much editing, but it’s the gist of a good query. Let’s take it apart —

The first paragraph is your opener. In fact, if you know how you want to start your article, use that. Speak to the magazine. In this case, I’m using the same tone as the magazine’s cover uses to attract readers.

The second paragraph give them the details. The title should reflect other titles you’ve seen when you did your research. What won’t work here — if I decided to use a 5 Things I Hate About Ergotics Literature approach, it won’t work. This magazine doesn’t use lists like that, and they don’t want it to be a personal account if you’re proposing a feature article.

In the third paragraph, you’ll tell the editors whom it is you’ll hope to talk with. No, you don’t have to ask people ahead of time (unless it’s a celebrity or someone who is critical to your article), but do have an idea of what kind of expert you want to interview. Also, you’re telling the editor what questions you intend to ask.

The fourth paragraph is a quick overview of your background. Pull out the most relevant samples you can.

The last paragraph is where you ask for the job.

Typically, my queries are just three four paragraphs. In this case, I decided to break out the experts into a separate graph just to make it less of a wall of words.

Now, go over your query at least twice before you send it. And make sure to follow the magazine’s guidelines for query submissions (this magazine won’t accept email submissions).

Writers, what elements do you think are essential to a winning query letter?
What formula for writing queries works best for you?