The Writers Digest Guide To Query Letters

A much-needed guide for a crucial aspect authors need to know about

Writing a novel is only part of the road authors face toward publication. Marketing one's writing -- and doing it well -- is crucial. It can literally be the difference between "submission approved" and "submission rejected." Painstaking work beautifying one's article/novel/short story is all for naught if the publisher first requests only a query letter to decide whether to even look at one's work - and the author doesn't provide the same care to that all-important marketing document.

Enter Wendy Burt-Thomas. With her guide's chapters drilling down to the specific issues impacting query letters, which vary for the type of publication targeted, she provides clear advice and real examples.

Some chapters in other books offer only a brief blurb on query letters for novels. But this book provides entire chapters for novels, non-fiction books, articles, agent queries, and more, including cover letters, thank you notes, and payment follow-up. To top it off, I found her writing style easily accessible. As I turned the pages, it seemed she really wanted me to make the most of my own query. By following her help, I've already begun to receive praises on my revised query for my novel. This one's a keeper on my bookshelf.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great for pro and novice writers

Funny yet clear, instructive, worth twice the price. Many great examples of good and bad quesries. Stimulates the idea process.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not real great for the Novel Query

This was more directed toward the magazine industry. Now, if you're trying to break into the magazine market, this is a GREAT book for you. However, the same rules do not always apply to the fiction novel writing world.

I found that a lot of the information given contradicted what I've learned over the past several years from others in this industry - published novelists, agents, editors, editors assistants, etc.

There's good information in this book, but if you're a newbie novelist trying to break into the traditional fiction market, this book could lead you astray.

Query Letter Samples

I was looking for a series of query letters so that I could get a feel as to what is expected. There are plenty in this book, along with other ideas to go with it. But quite a few of the queries had been written by authors who already had published works. If I am buying this book, chances are that I am a new author, so those letters were not relevant to my needs. But it still gave me good structure for the letters.

This book is a must have for aspiring authors

Who would have thought that a book could be so helpful in the art of letter writing? This is one how-to buok that every author should invest in.

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