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QUERY LETTERS TO DIE FOR
(Copyright 2013)
David Paul Williams
david@thewriterealtor.com
www.thewriterealtor.com
425.463.6384
Getting the gig
8 Characteristics of Successful Query Letters
Sell your idea and you
Must express confidence in your idea and your ability to write it
Must be written in tone/style of the magazine
Friendly
Convey a sense of your personality
A dash of humor
Addressed to specific editor
Cannot contain typos or spelling/grammar errors
Stage One
Think Like An Editor
Does this idea belong in the magazine
Have we run this before
Have our competitors run this before
Is this the best way to approach the story
Is this the best writer for the story
If this idea is not right, should we encourage this writer
Stage Two
Query Formula (consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative OW)
Traditional
one page
the hook
the pitch
the body
the creds
the close
SASE
Digital Age
email
content remains the same
it’s still a business communication