Email Queries

Email Queries

The Writer’s Guide to Queries

When sending out your finished works it is always better to start out with a query. Some publisher and agents will ask for a query before they will even look at the big picture. Here is one way to go about that. Remember to only use an email query if the publisher/agent will accept it.

Email Queries

The Writer’s Guide to Queries, Pitches, & Proposals by Moira Allen

Chapter 4: Queries The Break The Rules

Email queries have two advantages; save postage and time. The Disadvantages are more numerous. A common complaint among editors is that some writers don’t prepare email queries carefully. Many do not proofread, and are often less formal; chattier then the traditional query.

Here are some guidelines for writing an Electronic Query

The Header
To: address your query to the right person. Try to locate the exact address of the editor. Do not send to a general info@ or letter@.
From: Use professional sounding email and real name, not a user name or nickname.
Subject: Include the word ‘query’ plus a two or three word description of your proposal. Never leave this line blank. Do not be cute or informal.

The Text
Treat it like a traditional query. Include the hook, pitch, credentials and close. Use one to three paragraphs to accomplish this.

Credentials
It is acceptable to list credentials. Also use this opportunity to provide a link to a web site that features more of your work.

The Address Block
In the traditional query this would go at the top. In an electronic query you would list this on the bottom.

The Signature Block
You can use a standard signature block to include your web site, book titles that have been published. Avoid using cute blocks or graphics.

Format
Single space
Double space paragraphs
Don’t use bullets
Avoid long paragraph blocks
Don’t insert any format commands
Turn off “smart’ quotes
Don’t use keyboard commands to create long dash, or “m-dash”
Don’t use special characters
Avoid emoticons
Never us HTML or graphics or color
Use readable fonts; 10 or 12 and Arial or Courier

Attachments
Don’t use. These tend to get deleted as spam.