Tekeyla (Tequila) Friday Studios Publishing copyrighted the following blog post. You may share on social media.
Query letters are the most essential part of your submission. This letter lets an editor know whether or not they should spend time reading your work. A well-written query letter will often get the editor's attention and help your work stand out among thousands of other submissions.
What happens when your query letter does not meet the editor's expectations? Your work immediately ends up in the return to sender or the ignore pile on an editor's desk.
There are three parts to an excellent query letter. The first part is the hook. This is your opening sentence, which enthralls the reader to want to read more of the letter. Think of the hook as your one-line, thirty-second sale pitch. Even in an email, this is important as it tells the editor why they want to invest in your work.
One way to start is by using a quote from your manuscript. Daniel's heart jackhammered his chest as his adrenal raced through his veins. His mouth went dry...a body? His mind spun, and his skin became a clammy mask of perspiration as he inched around the island in his kitchen. It couldn't be. Dad must have passed out again from too much alcohol, but the pool of red liquid told Daniel's brain a different story.
Another way is by describing the setting. The wind howled, and the rain smelted the ground with heavy, thick drops.
Or you can open your query by describing a central event, such as When sixteen-year-old Daniel discovers his father murdered in their kitchen; Daniel embarks on a dangerous journey to find out who the killer is. He soon learns that his father was hiding dark secrets from his family that have put the family in danger.
The last suggestion for opening is to use your central theme. A Father's Sinister Deceit is a story about family loyalties, survival and coming of age.
The second part of your query letter lets the editor know the word count and its intended author. A Father's Sinister Deceit is a young adult novel suitable for ages 16 and up. It is 90,000 words. It is professionally edited (if the editor you hired is comfortable, give the name or business.)
The last part of your query letter should tell the editor who you are, why you are the best person to write on this topic, what your credentials are, and what affiliated writing groups and social media you belong to.
For example, I have three diplomas in writing for children and young adults through the Institute of Children's Literature. I have a BA in Forensic Science and a Masters in English. I have published short stories (name periodicals), and my first book, the Jamerson Fiend, was published by Reindeer Press, a four-star Amazon seller.
I am active on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can follow my blog at wwww.nameofblog.com. I belong to nameawritersgroup.com. This information gives the editor ideas on marketing campaigns in which you can participate to sell your books.
To end your query letter:
Please find the first two chapters of A Father's Sinister Deceit enclosed for you to review. I look forward to hearing from you. My contact information is...
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