|
Writers Workshop: Query Writing
|
|
Dancing Word Writers Workshopwith 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. Can you define in one paragraph (two-three lines) your non-fiction idea? If not, you aren't clear about your idea and neither will the editor. This is an art form in itself, but we are writers. Right? Any questions at this point? Anne McDonald: What is the purpose of the sidebar? Suzanne Eller: We'll talk more about the sidebar in a few moments, but a sidebar is an eye catcher. It can be a quiz or it can be a related topic. Jane: Does this also apply to fiction? Suzanne Eller: Fiction publications usually ask for the manuscript so you tend to write a cover letter rather than a query letter. Denverone: Is there a different query letter to get an agent? Suzanne Eller: Your query letter to an agent will have much the same aspects, but is for a different purpose. I tell you what, let's go ahead and discuss the rest of the aspects of a query letter and we'll limit the questions to each segment and then ask general questions at the end. Less confusing. : ) Okay? You guys are great. The next part of the query is the hook. Your idea must hook the editor and it should be placed somewhere toward the beginning. A hook might be a lead in sentence. That is similar to what you see on the front of magazines or headlines. They are intended to grab your attention. It might be posed in the form of a question, quip, quote, anecdote or statistic. Humor is a wonderful tool and very few writers use it, but hooks can be serious as well. Your goal is to catch the editor's attention in a non-gimmick way so that they will want to read your manuscript or see more about your idea SRW: One agent told me I made a very good case having done research into the market I was going for. That extra bit can help. Suzanne Eller: Great. You are right because you came across as a professional. There are a lot of bad queries out there and editors and agents have to sift through them. StellersCreek: I like to use the catchy lead from my article as an intro & hook. Suzanne Eller: That's great. That is also why it is important to develop your thesis before you write your query. What is the heart of your idea? Then you can use that as a lead in sentence or use an anecdote to demonstrate your point. All great hooks. Before we go on to slants, does anyone have a questions or statement about the "hook"? swordmerchant: Is it okay to use a real hook if it is an editor you don't particularly like? Suzanne Eller: : ) onery. I don't think so, remember you want to sell your work SRW: Don't be cute and try leaving the editor hanging. They're not your reader and they DON'T want surprises. They want to know the ending. Suzanne Eller: That's why I stressed avoiding gimmicks. I'm talking about good writing. What is intriguing about your idea? Why would your editor want to read further? I will give an example of a hook that I used when I queried TCW. I sold them the article and it was in last month's issue. I wrote: What do you do when you feel trapped in the fast lane? Is it unrealistic to believe a modern-day woman can stop and smell the roses? Sad to say, many women don't have time to take a deep breath, much less smell the roses. That was my lead in question on the query. It was the heart of my article (thesis) and posed in a question. It was also the "hook" of my query, designed to lure the editor to want to know more. Any questions on the hook? Jane: Is there someplace we can actually see a copy of a real query letter? Suzanne Eller: There is a wonderful book by John Wood. I highly recommend it. It is titled How to Write Effective and Powerful Query Letters. It has several examples. Carmen: I also recommend the book. It can be found at online stores and also traditional stores. Suzanne Eller: Let's move on. The next aspect of your query is the slant. Most editors work around a theme. Let's say the theme is breast cancer. I am a breast cancer survivor of nine years. What unique slant can I bring to the table? Remember, the editor has to fill an entire magazine around this one theme. Each story has to be unique, so I can brainstorm and I might come up with many ideas such as: how to tell your children you have cancer; how to deal with modesty during radiation; how it affects you and your job; my faith during breast cancer. Do you see what I'm saying? There are many ways you can look at one topic or theme. Unfortunately this is an area where many writers drop the ball. It is a good idea to present more than one slant in your query. Presenting multiple slants is like hitting a target with 3 arrows instead of 1. Any questions on slants? StellersCreek: When you present multiple slants, do you list them as "Or I could write about this." How do you present that? Suzanne Eller: No, I might present it like this: As a breast cancer survivor, this article could be slanted to fit the following: and then I might list in bulleted form three slants (one sentence per slant). Don't forget supporting information. If you have quotes from experts or statistics that bolster your idea, share them briefly. I emphasize briefly. You are not writing the article, you are giving the editor enough information to get the gist of the proposed article. One thought: Be sure and KNOW that you have permission to use someone's name or a quote in your article. There is nothing more embarrasing than promising something you cannot deliver. Any questions on supporting information? StellersCreek: What do you do if you do not have a sample clip similar to the idea that you are proposing? Suzanne Eller: Then don't mention it and don't send it. Let your excellent query be your introduction. StellersCreek: Do you ever send a clip of another type? Suzanne Eller: Sometimes, yes. But I usually only send clips if they are requested in the guidelines. The next section is estimated word count and extras. Check the layout of the magazine to which you plan to submit your query. If they use quizzes, sidebars, photographs, etc. then offer that if it is a possibility. Again, keep in mind the editor has a magazine to fill. The more that you help meet their need, the better relationship you gain with editors. Also offer word count (approximate). Again, it is important that you know what that magazine's typical word count is. Also tell them when you can supply the article. Many magazines pay for extras such as photos, sidebars, and quizzes. I sold a sidebar and a quiz with my TCW article. Any questions? Let's move on. What are your credits? If you are a new writer and have zero credits, simply do not mention it. Don't tell them your grandma or your writer's group said this would be a perfect fit for their publication. Let the strength of your query show you are a pro, but if you have credits, share them. Briefly list them in a one paragraph statement. Experience does count! Depending upon the market and guidelines, I will sometimes send clips to give an idea of my writing style or credits. cathy: What if you have only two or three published credits? Suzanne Eller: You might say: Cathy LastName has been published in Name of Magazine, Name of Magazine and Name of Magazine. cathy: Even if they aren't in magazines and you're trying to break into one? Suzanne Eller: What are your credits? cathy: Newspaper, The secret place...like that Suzanne Eller: Secret Place is a devotional market and a good one. If you write a column for a newspaper, that builds credibility as a writer. So if you are writing a query to an inspirational magazine, sure. In the beginning I listed nothing, but eventually I was able to build my bio. You'll do the same. : ) To summarize, these are the checkpoints you can use as you write your query: 1. Before you write your query, summarize your article idea in 25 words or less. 2. Find the editor's name and address and verify they are correct. Make a phone call to the publisher or check the masthead of the magazine. 3. Write your beginning paragraph(s). Hook your editor with a question, anecdote, quip, statistic, lead-in heading something that shares the heart of the idea. 4. Write the supporting paragraph--stats, experts, etc. 5. Write your qualifications in one paragraph. 6. Write your ending paragraph, giving details such as word length, various slants, extras offered, and turnaround time. 7. After you have written your first draft review your query. Be sure to ask yourself the following: Is it creative? boring? wordy? intriguing? Is it tightly focused? What is your angle or slant? Is it unique? Are your statistics reliable? Can you come through with the supporting info? Is it written for the appropriate publication and market? If it is about your women's quilting group, then it probably wouldn't be a good fit for a men's fishing magazine unless you have one terrific slant. : ) Did you offer options? Do you note clips? Last, read your query out loud. If it doesn't sound good to your ears, it won't sound good to an editor. Guys, last year I decided to write queries and become good at writing queries. I was wasting too much time sending manuscripts and SASE's out the door, only to have them boomerang back to me. When you get the hang of writing great queries,: you can come up with a personal goal. Mine at the beginning of last year was one a day. I soon had so many assignments, that I have not written a query in several weeks. But when it slows down, I'll start again because they work. : ) Anne, I stuffed a lot of information in this one workshop but do we have time for a couple of questions? Anne McDonald: yes, Suzy, you can take as much time as you like. Suzanne Eller: Lera? Lera: Hi Suzy, do we write our query as if the article is written already? Suzanne Eller: Writing a good query is a great form of prewriting. You don't actually have the article written, but when you get a letter of interest you have so much of the article skeleton fleshed out, you can easily write it. It's not pretending that we have an article written, but rather presenting an idea in such a way that the editor knows you have enough information to present the article. Jill: How much research to you have to do for your articles? Suzanne Eller: Depends upon the magazine and the idea. When I write about my life, I don't have to research much at all. I write a lot for Parenting Today's Teen. I have three teens--17, 17, and 18. All the research is under my roof eating my food. : ) But recently I wrote a cover story about Katherine Kuhlman for Dunamis Life . I spent hours, but that was an assigned writing job. I didn't get that from a query. Jill: Thanks. I just sometimes feel like if I don't write the article first, I won't be able to do it well. So I usually query after. But I don't work on articles that often. I prefer fiction. Suzanne Eller: How many articles do you sell that way? My acceptances went from 1 in 12 to 1 in 4 and is probably less than that now. You spend so much time on an article and it might be written in such a way that an editor has to turn it down, but a query is a skeleton. The editor can pick a slant and even give you a nudge in the direction he or she hopes to see the article develop. That's how it worked with the TCW article. Jill: Not many! I sold one several years ago that actually paid. Everything else I've written has not been paid, but it's been stories or local stuff. I guess I feel so inadequate because of all the rejections that I think I can't do it. Suzanne Eller: That's a whole other workshop. : ) I give a Rejection: The Silver Lining workshop and it is so fun. Rejections are usually invitations, but most writers don't know that. Anne McDonald: We'll have to have you back for that, Suzy. Suzanne Eller: That would be great. That is a fun one. : ) cathy: When will you be doing this class on rejection? :o) Suzanne Eller: When Anne invites me back. Anne McDonald: You wanna come back in Oct? Suzanne Eller: Sure. Anne McDonald: we'll talk date after, ok Suzanne Eller: Great. You guys have been a pleasure. I hope I didn't cram too much in one space. Brain cramps are never fun. Lera: Thank-you for being her Suzy, you have given me a lot of work to do. Suzanne Eller: You are so welcome. Carmen: You did a fantastic job, Suzy. Wanna query me to write an article for my e-zine? Suzanne Eller: Absolutely. Anne McDonald: Can you stay to do one-on-one with a couple of people, Suzy Suzanne Eller: Sure. Can I leave my URL for anyone who is interested? Anne McDonald: Sure. Suzanne Eller: You can look at my smiling mug. http://www.intellex.com/~eller/tseller.html Longest URL in the world. Dancing Word Chats Is A Production Of Dancing Word Writers Network
|
Suzanne Eller
Click cover to purchase book |
