How to Write a Successful Query Letter to an Editor

If you are a writer you may be frustrated at the amount of rejection letters and emails you keep getting. So how do you turn this around to letters and emails of acceptance? Editors now are becoming so busy and swamped with manuscripts and articles that are either unprofessional or inappropriate that they are firmly slamming their doors to unsolicited submissions. In this case the query letter could be your new best friend and way to actually get your foot in that door.

Queries not only benefit the editor but they also benefit you as a writer. Most editors would rather see a short query letter than a 100 page manuscript or a 3000 word article, so writing a short query letter first will save your work ending up on that slush pile. A query letter that is written well will enable the editor to see if you can write effectively, have a well thought out idea that suits the editors line of work, a good grasp of spelling and grammar, and a professional approach to your writing skills and ideas.

A query letter will enable you to save time writing an article that is not likely to be accepted into the mainstream. Not all articles are rejected because they are not good enough though. Some may be rejected if the editor has already got similar articles on file or if they have already covered the issue previously.

If you write a query first you will find all this out beforehand and you can either write something unique and new or focus on another editor. It is a lot easier and less time consuming if you write an article specifically for an editor rather than having to rewrite the original content to suit another editor. This is why a query letter will help you in your career.

A query letter will also allow the editor to give you any feedback on your ideas and writing styles. If the editor likes your style or your idea they may provide you with ideas on article length, specific approaches or maybe refer to someone they know who can use your idea. Finding out exactly what the editor wants and needs in the first place via a query letter will save you precious working time rather than having to revise the article at a later date.

You must always have a hook, a pitch, the main body, your credentials and a close in your query letter. The hook is what grabs the editor's attentions and keeps it there throughout the query letter. If you don't have a hook, you don't have a chance. Your second paragraph has to have your pitch in it. Your pitch is where you explain to the editor what it is you are offering. The body of the query letter is where you sell your services. Usually around two to four paragraphs that will detail what it is that you intend to do within your article. Give the editor a brief of your article and what you intend to write about and the approach you intend to take.

You need to tell the editor why you are the person to write this particular article. They have probably got thousands of quality writers on their files and you have to tell them why to use you instead of them. Tell them about your experiences, if and where you have been previously published, personal experiences if it relates to the article and anything else you think may impress the editor.

Then finish of the query letter with a great closing statement. Thank the editor for their time and tell them you can write the intended article within a short time period and of a high quality. Give them a last reason why they have to use you and your article.