The Writers Digest Guide To Query Letters

bMake That Crucial, Positive First Impression/bPAnyone who's researched the marketplace knows: The path to publication begins with your query letter. If your query is weak, unfocused, or uninspired, an editor or agent won't even bother to request your article, novel manuscript, or nonfiction book proposal. But a well-crafted, compelling query sent to the right editor or agent is an essential sales tool for fiction writers and the most effective way for nonfiction writers to pre-sell your idea. PIn this book, professional freelance writer and magazine editor Wendy Burt-Thomas shares practical advice on how to craft persuasive letters that connect with editors and agents and ultimately generate sales for you. You'll learn how to:ulliConduct targeted research to find suitable editors and agents/liliHook an editor with a tantalizing lead and shape a summary that compels editors to buy/liliSelect the strongest slant for your book or article/liliUse research and interview shortcuts that keep your query prep profitable/liliMake your query rejection-proof by weeding out subtle mistakes that can sabotage your project/liliCommunicate your author platform and sell yourself as the best writer for the subject/li/ulComplete with dozens of sample queries - some that landed article assignments, agents, or book deals, and others that never stood a chance - this book offers you a comprehensive strategy for presenting your writing ideas in a way that will increase your chances of publication. Though the title may lead some to believe it's strictly to be shelved as a reference manual, The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters is a smooth read from cover to cover.