Welcome to Part 5 of the Query Letters That Work! Mini-Course

A Word to the Wise: Important Do’s and Don’ts – Tips and Warnings

So, far in Query Letters that Work! a mini-course, we’ve covered:

• The purpose of the query letter
• Key Components of Query Letters That Work Part One and Part Two
• Key Traits and Characteristics of Winning Query Letters
• What to Do if You’ve Never Been Published and Don’t Have Any Writing Credentials

Now, we’re going to take a look at some important things to remember when writing and submitting your query letters:

Note: For more in-depth explanations of the tips, warnings and things to remember – see Parts 1 – 4 of Query Letters that Work!

• Keep your letter to a single page!

While it might seem like a good idea to include more (and more!) information, doing so will actually hurt your chances rather than working to your advantage. (This doesn’t include attachments, such as: clips).

Editors and agents want to (and expect to!) see your ability to write concisely and effectively and to not have to spend a lot of time reading to determine that! Remember, they are inundated with queries on a regular and ongoing basis. Why bother with 2 and 3 page queries, when they have a stack of 100, single page ones that effectively show topic, subtopics and the ability to connect with the reader? (Hint: they won’t!)

• Include relevant published clips if you have them (unless the publication specifically requests otherwise).

• Always, make sure the tone and the topic fits the publication and the readership!

Click here for tips on researching and getting to know your audience.

Do your homework!

• When querying by mail, always include a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope).

You won’t always receive a response, but doing this encourages the editor or agent to respond and enables them to do so easier and faster.

• Don’t submit the same idea to multiple publishers at the same time!

The only exceptions to this are when a publisher specifically stipulates that this is acceptable or when you notify all of the publishers you are submitting to that you are doing this. In general though, it is best to wait for a response from one publisher before submitting the same idea to another.

As freelance writers, we need to make money from our profession to survive; we can’t wait forever to hear back from one publisher before pitching our awesome ideas to another. So, what do you do if you haven’t heard back, but you really need to move forward? Stay tuned to Writers Bra! I will posting soon all about proper follow-up etiquette with publishers, editors and agents.

• When using qualifications and experience in lieu of writing credentials, make certain that experience is relevant and viable!

If your background has no relevance to the topic you are pitching, leave it out of your query letter altogether. Click here to learn more about how to use your life experiences in place of writing credentials. (Hint: This is excellent for someone who has never been published!)

• Make sure your query letter is in business format and has the appropriate look!

Click here to learn more about how to format your letter and exactly what it should (and shouldn’t!) look like.

• Always address editors and publishers professionally and with a business tone.

This is a business; you are the owner of your business; and you need to treat publishers with the respect and professionalism that their position warrants. After all, they are the gatekeepers to your publishing world.

• Always, always, ALWAYS have someone else proofread your query letter for you!

Writers make terrible proofreaders of their own writings. Why? Quite simply, we see what’s supposed to be there instead of what’s really there.

Now, I’m not talking about creatively; most of us do a pretty darn good job with that part . But, grammar and spelling; especially spelling… trust me; if the word is supposed to have an apostrophe, we’ll see an apostrophe. If the word is supposed be spelled “too” and not “to”… we’re going to see “too”.

Don’t get me wrong; we’ll likely catch a lot of our own mistakes, but we’re just as likely to leave behind a few too (especially if we’ve read the piece dozens of times during the writing process!).

Anyway, why even take that chance? Do you really want your idea tossed out simply because you made a few typos? Threw in an extra “the”? Wrote “good darn”, instead of “darn good”?

While these may not seem like such a big deal, they can be… particularly when an editor already has 75 other query letters sitting on his or her desk.

I’m not saying typos and grammar issues will exclude you from the running; if your idea is good enough and the mistakes are minimal, you just might make it through. But, why take a chance?

Be safe! Have a friend or colleague proof your query letters and other important work before putting it out there…

• Quality matters!

This kind of goes without saying. Most of the tips above are all about just that; quality.

Your query letter needs to be your “best foot forward”. This is precisely how editors and agents will view it.

If your query letter is not in the right format, doesn’t follow the standard process, is sloppy in appearance, addresses the publisher too casually, etc. etc…. it’s going to hurt you as a writer. What the editor will take away from that is, “If that’s their best effort, what can I expect the finished “product” to be like?” Common sense.

And, with that . . .

I hope your query letters are going well! Don’t forget to shout-out your publishing and writing successes through Writers Bra Bally-hoo! We want to hear all about it and we want to help you get it out to the world!

Stay tuned. Still to come in Query Letters that Work! A Mini-Course:

• A Word to the Wise: Important Do’s and Don’ts – Tips and Warnings
• Sample Query Letters
• Final Thoughts: Bringing It All Together & Things to Remember

Plus! I’ve added a topic:

• A Few Key Differences When Querying to Publish Your Book

Wishing you continued writing success,

Deanna
Founder and Creator
Writers Bra

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Ok. So, I’m going to break down and share with you a little secret of mine.

It’s something I refer to as my “secret creativity weapon” and I’ve been using it now (very successfully!) for the past six (6!) years. And, I have to tell you – I love it even more now than when I first got it!

While I’m sure there are quite a few writers (and others!) who know about and use this great tool, I’ve never really heard anyone else talk about it. I guess it’s their little “secret” too!

So, if it’s such a great secret, why am I sharing it with you now?

Quite frankly, it’s just been so great to me, and I’ve gotten so many different uses out of it (and still do!) that I want to share it with you! I want to share with you what a great tool it’s been in my writing, my businesses and even just for fun. And, I want to give due diligence to the creator; she deserves it!

When you think of grabbing for a dictionary or thesaurus, you’re probably cool with grabbing whatever’s closest or, if at your computer, keying in dictionary.com or thesaurus.com. I mean, you may have your favorites, but truth be told, (for the most part) they pretty much all say the same thing; right?

WRONG! I thought so too until I had the chance to flip through the Flip Dictionary by: Barbara Ann Kipfer.

The Flip Dictionary is the coolest thesaurus “style” book I’ve ever used (or seen, for that matter)! I can literally spend hours (and have) flipping from one word to another, as each one I look up sparks a new curiosity or creative inspiration.

So, what the makes the Flip Dictionary different?

Better than just synomyms, the Flip Dictionary offers “clues” designed specifically for writers to:

• help us figure our that phrase we’re looking for, but just can’t think of or
• when we know what we want to say, but aren’t sure just how to say it.

But, honestly, anyone can benefit from owning a copy. I use it in my business all the time. I’ve even used to help me decide on what domain names to choose (not Writers Bra though; that was my hubby’s idea . . .)!

Plus, going way beyond your standard “reverse dictionary”, the Flip Dictionary includes tables, listings of groups by subject, and more. It quite literally expands your thought processes.

If you get the chance to “flip” through one or are thinking of buying one . . . I highly recommend it! You’ll “flip” over it! (Forgive me, I just couldn’t resist the cheesy pun…lol)

Happy writing!

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Listen live to my interview with screenwriting expert and teacher, Jana Williams!

When? Wednesday, October 14th 2p.m. EST

(Can’t make the call? See below!)

Jana Williams teaches screenwriting at Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Vancouver Community College and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Jana began her writing career writing short stories & novels while employed in the publishing industry, but film has always been her true passion. Deciding to take the “leap”, she jumped right in to screenwriting, using her photography experience with the Navy to talk her way into the film industry. (You go girl!)

Her love for film; her experience as a writer and teacher; and her years in the film industry, have gifted Jana with the ability to successfully instruct others on both the art and essentials of screenwriting.

Whether you’re a beginning screenwriter or simply fascinated by how movies work you’re going to really enjoy the Wordsmythe: Online Screenwriting Essentials course.

Get the Scoop!

Learn more about (and from!) Jana and her online screenwriting course by joining me for my phone interview with Jana, live next Wednesday, October 14th!

Questions about screenwriting?

Register for the call and you’ll have access to submit your questions before and even during the call, to be answered by Jana during the live interview!

Can’t make the call?

No worries! As long as you register, I’ve got you covered! Everyone registered for the call will be able to access and download the call to listen to anytime!

REGISTER HERE for the Call with Screenwriting Expert, Jana Williams:

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The good news is that query letter writing is a process and processes can be learned.

Visit Writers Bra, our free support site and community for writers, to learn more.

Receive the entire free mini-course, Query Letters That Work, by registering free at Writers Bra. Simply fill in your e-mail address under the heading “e-News and Updates” at the top right.

Believing for you – great writing success,

-deanna

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I’m so excited to share that our Writers Bra Community has successfully “made the move” to the new site and the site is now officially open!  We are still adding to the site, especially the community boards, almost daily, so you can expect a lot more things still to come!

Even with the new additions being added on a regular basis, you’ll want to get signed up for the Newsletter and in the Membership Community now, so you can start exploring, posting and sharing right away.

As always, Membership in the Writers Bra Community is 100% free of charge.

To learn more about Writers Bra, you can visit the Writers Bra page here, under the Enterprises Menu Tab above, or jump straight on over to the site by clicking here!

Your passion is our purpose.

So, if you have an idea or would like to see something added to the Writers Bra Community, we’d love to hear from you!  Simply log in to the Community (registration and membership is free) and send a message to any Admin or Moderator!

See you there! . . .

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