Best of...Fiction Query Letters

Still at camp. Today is Thursday, which means the last day of regular activities. Tomorrow is full of all-camp games and, of course, the final dance. So sad...I'll be back in the real world for another year of ...life away from camp.

In the meantime, here's a followup to the post I did earlier on query letters. This is a revisit to the Fountain Pen, Inc. blog files, but good stuff nonetheless.

Beth
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Best of...Fiction Query Letters 1 at fountainpeninc.blogspot.com

The Art of Fictional Query Letters

Just a reminder that I'm gone at summer camp all week, but here's a question from a blog reader I thought you might find interesting...

Happy Writing,
Beth
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Dear Beth,

I liked your web site but can you recommend a web site for fiction writers like myself? I'm having trouble with the process of the query and I really would like to find some sort of group that I can learn from.

Sincerely,
S.H.

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S.H.,

I don't know about a group to join. Maybe you can get together with other fiction writers in your area and set up a semi-regular time to meet and go over your query concerns. You could even swap them or have a round-robin, where everyone gets a copy and time to comment.

As far as the actual writing of fiction queries, here are some places to visit for ideas and inspiration:

Queries to Editors

Charlotte Dillon's Write A Query Letter page (amazingly comprehensive--if you read this and still don't comprehend a query letter, you shouldn't be a writer)

Writing a Killer Query Can Be Simple by Natalie Collins at FictionFactor.com


How To Write a Query at AgentQuery.com

Sample Query Letter by Melissa Alvarez

Queries to Agents


How to Write Great Queries Without Resorting to Threats, Bribery or Coercion by Wendy Keller at Absolutewrite.com

How to Query an Agent by Holly Lisle

How to Query a Literary Agent by Richard Dooling (on his blog; also contains additional, excellent links)

Query Letters

I love query letters. No, I really mean that. Something about being forced to write short, tight and succinct really gets me going.

Since spring break I've been toying with two article ideas for writers. Well, one, to be honest, but the first rule of query writing is never send a query with just one idea (unless it's to the big-league magazines, who often like lengthier and more in-depth queries). So I spent a little time, thought about another article idea that's been lurking in the depths of my brain, and put together an outline to get my idea straight.

Just zipped off the query to an editor who is truly one of my favorites to work with. I sense her love of editing through her emails and that's something I really admired. She's also respectful of replying--no 'falling off the earth into the bowels of rejection' for her--if she doesn't think an idea suits her publication, she'll let you know.

Both of my ideas are good, and one in particular has the potential to be a workshop, report or online course. I love those most. If they don't suit her, I'll spiffy 'em up and send to another editor. We shall see...fingers crossed...(must be this new purple wallpaper inspiring my creativity...)