How to Write an Effective Query Letter
Posted on January 7, 2010
Filed Under Magazines | Leave a Comment
Your’s is not the only query letter that a magazine editor will receive; therefore you must do everything within your power to make your letter stand out from all the rest. A query letter can make or break a writer, it is vital that you write a query letter that makes the editor remember your name.
The first step to a successful query letter is to get the name right. Avoid addressing your letter with “Dear Editor” or “Dear Sir”, which gives the impression that you did not put forth much effort with your query.
Another key thing to remember is that editors will only print articles that they think their audience will want to read. Therefore, you need to know the target audience and promote an article in your query that will appeal to the magazine’s readers.
Give your letter a strong opening that will encourage the editor to read more; quickly and professionally make your point. A query letter should only be a single page featuring a single idea. If you are a published writer, you may wish to include a clip as a sample of the quality of your work.
Finally, you want to properly deliver your query letter. Before you send a query letter, ensure that you use the correct submission method. Some magazines disregard email queries, where as others insist you use them. Avoid calling an editor on the telephone unless you have worked with them in the past. If you do send you letter via email, do not put the work “query” in the subject of your email to avoid being deleted if the editor is having a busy day.
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