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How to write a query letter

If you want to write a book or a magazine article, it helps to write a query letter first. The query can be fairly short. You don't have to <i>write </i>the book or article, just <i>describe</i> it to the editor.<br /><div><br /></div><div>One thing that helps me in writing a query letter is to follow this basic form, with just a sentence or two on each topic:<br /><br /><b>1. THE PROBLEM.</b> Why is this book or article needed? What's the gap in the market? What's the story that hasn't been told yet?<br /><br /><b>2. THE SOLUTION. </b>How will the piece I want to write address that need? What is my piece <i>not</i> going to be? What other published works are similar or different? </div><div><br /><b>3. THE SCOPE.</b> How big is this thing, how long, how many pictures? How much is finished already? What is the look, feel, tone, or style?<br /><br /><b>4. THE MARKET.</b> Who is this work for? How am I connected with the audience? How big is the market? The actual marketing and publicity will be a joint effort, but authors often know their market best.<br /><br /><b>5. THE DELIVERABLES.</b> What am I going to provide? Who will bring in the text, captions, permissions, and photos? How long will it take? What will I need help with?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>6. MY QUALIFICATIONS. </b>If the editor doesn't know me already, here's the chance to say why I believe I'm the best person to write the book.</div><div><br /></div><div>As an example, here's a brief letter where I spend just one sentence answering each question. Brevity helps. One page is usually enough, two pages if you must.</div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Dear (Editor of ImagineFX magazine)</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /><b>Workshop: 10 Tips for Working from Photographs </b><br /><br />Artists are always looking for reference tools to improve the realism of their imaginative paintings. They know that photographs offer a useful tool, but also a potential pitfall. I propose to give your readers 10 tips that will help them use photo reference effectively, preserving their innate vision without the risk of photo-dependence. <br /><br />I envision this article appearing in the Workshop section of the magazine, running about 2000-2500 words with approximately 12 - 18 illustrations. Several case study examples would show some works developed with drawings alone as reference, and some with photo reference. <br /><br />As before, with the “Visual Perception” and “Lived-In Future” workshops, the completed article can be delivered to you in hard copy and/or via email within two weeks of your acceptance.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div>You can accompany the query with links to works that you've already written, and you might also include a résumé. You can submit queries as emails, but if you want to cut through the clutter, you can send it as a good old-fashioned letter. A query letter arriving by post is a rare diversion for editors these days.</div><div>------</div><div>Previously on the blog: <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2009/03/using-photo-reference.html">Using Photo Reference</a></div><div><br /></div>

How to write a query letter

If you want to write a book or a magazine article, it helps to write a query letter first. The query can be fairly short. You don't have...

06:30

Hannibal, Missouri, 1983

Hannibal, Missouri, 1983

Hannibal, Missouri, August 25, 1983, by James Gurney. Pencil, 11x14 inches. In 1983 I sat on the curb in Hannibal, Missouri and sketched the...