You've written, edited, and proofed your manuscript until it glows in the dark. Now what? You may be unsure about the process of marketing to an agent, editor or publisher. Although you can approach any one of these, the option with the greatest potential success is contacting an agent who handles manuscripts in your genre. You communicate with this person via a query letter, the writing of which falls into the realm of the unknown. Most writers don’t fully understand the purpose of the query and aren’t clear about how to craft an effective one. Unfortunately, if writers don’t take the time, or make the effort, to figure it out, they set themselves up to receive the most dreaded document in the writing world—the rejection letter.  

Writing a query letter is not rocket science. It can be accomplished in three steps.

But first, you need to make a mind shift from “telling” to “selling.” If you don’t know how to sell, no problem—you can learn. Look at what you’ve already learned to do: write words, string them together into sentences, group sentences into paragraphs, build bridges between the paragraphs and continue with this sequence until you’ve completed a manuscript. Amazing!  

There’s one aspect in selling that makes the difference between failing and succeeding. Ask any salesperson to describe what helps them close the sale—doesn’t matter if they’re selling umbrellas, diamonds or surfboards. They’ll tell you, “speak in terms of the other person’s interests.” In other words, define the benefits the prospective customer will derive by purchasing the product. For example, the umbrella salesperson will show how the umbrella works by effortlessly opening and closing it while telling about its strength, coverage and speedy drying time. If done properly, these demonstrated and spoken benefits address the prospective buyer’s bottom-line question of, “what’s in it for me?”  

As a writer, your “show and tell” is the query letter. Written on white paper, Times-Roman type face with one-inch margins and one space between paragraphs, this letter shows you understand the basics of writing a business letter. The content of the letter tells the reader about your manuscript so clearly they will be compelled to ask you to submit it.   Keep in mind that in all agents, editors, and publishers have the same bottom line. Sales. They need to find manuscripts that will become books that sell well and generate profits. They’re constantly looking for manuscripts that fill that need. Keep this in mind as you convey the message that you have something of value for them.  Demonstrate your writing skills by leaping right into your story using the following three steps.  

This might have been what Robert Southey wrote in a query letter regarding his re-telling of the folk tale GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS.  

STEP ONE: The First Paragraph

Tell the plot of the story in three sentences or less.

Some children need to be taught to be courteous instead of headstrong. This lesson may come too late for one little girl as she not only becomes the unexpected guest at lunch, but also becomes the main course. 

STEP TWO: The Second Paragraph

Expand the plot, in three to six sentences, including characteristics and attitudes of the protagonist (main character).

Six-year old Goldilocks disobeys her parents and sneaks off to play in the woods. An hour later, hungry and lost, she stumbles onto a cottage in the middle of nowhere. Hoping for a snack and some directions, she enters without invitation and accidentally breaks a chair when she sits on it.  Next, she slurps down a bowl of porridge and flops onto a bed for a little nap. When the Bear family returns from their walk, they’re delighted to discover this tasty little intruder, just in time for lunch.   

STEP THREE: The Third Paragraph

Describe your background and writing experience.

I’m a published poet with great interest in folk tales, particularly those in which there is interaction between talking animals and humans. The story of GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS cannot be traced to a particular writer, so I decided to write a 2,500 word version of this story.  

If you haven’t been published, that’s okay. Your skill in writing the first two paragraphs will speak for itself. Don’t forget to mention any writers’ courses, conferences, residency programs or writing groups you’ve worked with to expand your skills. It’s a good idea, as in the example, to tell of your interest or passion in the topic. When you give the TITLE OF YOUR STORY, use caps. Include the word count.  

Close with a simple, “Thank you for your time and consideration.”