Query letter

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A query letter is a letter to a periodical or publishing house to ascertain interest in a book or article while it is in the planning stages. It is commonly used in freelance journalism. Often it is accompanied by a treatment, summary or a first chapter of a potential piece of writing.

At an event held by The Progressive, it was explained that a query letter should be sent to publications likely to be receptive. The questioner should have familiarity with the publication, and do background research to ensure that it has not been done before.

If it has, the questioner may wish to try a new angle, according to Jack Vitek at Edgewood College.

The Progressive says that it doesn't have much sympathy for spelling errors. The query letter is partially a test of whether the author can write. Proofreading is mandatory.

[edit] General format of query letter

A query letter generally contains the following four parts:

The name and length and type of manuscript you are sending.
What your story or book is about.
Your qualifications if any to write the book
Thank you note to the editor/agent for her/his time and sign off.

Along with the query letter, a Self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) must also be sent. Each part of the query letter must be written in the proper format providing all the required information.