Directory Writing Workshops

Writers Workshop: Query Writing

Dancing Word Writers Workshop

with Suzanne Eller

September 24, 2000

Hosted by: Anne McDonald

Dancing Word Publisher/Editor

*This chat has been edited for clarity

Anne McDonald: Tonight we are blessed to have Suzanne Eller with us to give us some tips on our favorite pasttime...writing query letters.

Suzanne Eller: : )

Anne McDonald: We will first open in prayer. Father, God, thank You for seeing us through another week. Bless our time together tonight, and give us wisdom in our conversation. Guide Suzanne as she imparts her experience to us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Welcome to all newcomers to the workshop take a seat and let's get started. Suzanne, would you like to take the floor?

Suzanne Eller: Sure. It's a pleasure to be here. First of all, my friends call me Suzie. : ) So in this room tonight I'm Suzie.

Why are queries important? One reason: the slush pile! A well-written query has the ability to launch your idea out of the slush pile and onto the editor's desk.

More and more editors are swamped. A good query is a diamond in the rough. Editors have to sift through hundreds of manuscripts and queries daily. That doesn't count the demand of editing, layout, and publication of a magazine.

When you get the hang of writing great queries, you will sell more work. It's that simple.

I want to break the query down into bite-sized pieces tonight. After I share a brief intro on each aspect of a well-written query, I'll answer two-three questions. Okay? Okay. : )

What is a query? We might as well start at the beginning. A query is a creative one to two page single-spaced letter that contains a synopsis of your idea, supporting information, and your writing credits.

It should also provide the editor with details such as differing slants, options such as side bars, approximate word count and turnaround time.

Now let's take a minute and look at each of these parts. First we will start with your thesis statement. You have to know your idea before you can sell your idea to an editor. The thesis statement is the backbone of your query.