| |
| |
| Introduction: Up for the Challenge? | |
| |
| |
| What's a Query Anyway? | |
| |
| |
| Why Use a Query Letter? | |
| |
| |
| Who Writes Queries? | |
| |
| |
| Knowing When You're Ready | |
| |
| |
| The Ever-Evolving Query Letter | |
| |
| |
| Computers | |
| |
| |
| The Web | |
| |
| |
| E-mail | |
| |
| |
| Increased Foreign Correspondence | |
| |
| |
| Keeping Track Of Submissions | |
| |
| |
| |
| Query Basics | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Look Professional | |
| |
| |
| Include an SASE (If You're Querying by Snail Mail) | |
| |
| |
| Address Your Query to the Right Editor or Agent, With the Right Title | |
| |
| |
| Format Your Query According to Industry Standards | |
| |
| |
| Spell the Magazine, Agency, or Publishing House Correctly and Get Its Address Right | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Pitch a Great Lead | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Tailor Your Query to the Magazine | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Offer a Fresh Idea | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Be Creative in Your Presentation | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Tighten Your Query Angle | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Sweeten the Pot | |
| |
| |
| Photos, Graphics, Illustrations, or Renderings | |
| |
| |
| Sidebars and Sidelights | |
| |
| |
| The Giveaway | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Not Propose the Impossible | |
| |
| |
| Failure to Deliver | |
| |
| |
| Short Turnarounds | |
| |
| |
| Impossible Word Counts | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Show Credentials | |
| |
| |
| |
| Thou Shalt Have Fun | |
| |
| |
| |
| Article Queries | |
| |
| |
| Components Of A Query | |
| |
| |
| The Opening Hook | |
| |
| |
| The Supporting Details | |
| |
| |
| Your Qualifications | |
| |
| |
| The Thank-You | |
| |
| |
| Identifying Your Market | |
| |
| |
| Decoding Writer's Guidelines | |
| |
| |
| Whom to Contact | |
| |
| |
| How to Contact | |
| |
| |
| Web Site | |
| |
| |
| Preferred Word Count | |
| |
| |
| Types of Material Accepted | |
| |
| |
| Percent of Freelance Material Accepted | |
| |
| |
| Publication Frequency | |
| |
| |
| Circulation | |
| |
| |
| Founding Date | |
| |
| |
| Pay Rates | |
| |
| |
| Payment Terms | |
| |
| |
| Number of Manuscripts Purchased Each Year | |
| |
| |
| Information on Photo Submissions | |
| |
| |
| If the Magazine Has Online Versions | |
| |
| |
| Rights Purchased | |
| |
| |
| Columns/Departments | |
| |
| |
| Notes From the Editor | |
| |
| |
| General Information About the Magazine | |
| |
| |
| If Byline/Bio Is Given | |
| |
| |
| Lead Time | |
| |
| |
| If Simultaneous Submissions Are Accepted | |
| |
| |
| How to Receive a Sample Copy | |
| |
| |
| Kill Fee | |
| |
| |
| Visits Per Month | |
| |
| |
| Special Issues | |
| |
| |
| Response Time | |
| |
| |
| If Reprints Are Accepted | |
| |
| |
| Famous People Who Have Contributed | |
| |
| |
| If the Publication Pays for Writer's Expenses | |
| |
| |
| Other Market Resources | |
| |
| |
| Knowing What Editors Want | |
| |
| |
| Impress an Editor With ... | |
| |
| |
| Depress an Editor With ... | |
| |
| |
| |
| Nonfiction Book Queries | |
| |
| |
| Query vs. Proposal | |
| |
| |
| The Opening Hook | |
| |
| |
| The Supporting Details | |
| |
| |
| Your Qualifications | |
| |
| |
| The Summary | |
| |
| |
| The Thank-You and Request to Send the Proposal | |
| |
| |
| Book Proposals | |
| |
| |
| Key Components of a Nonfiction Book Proposal | |
| |
| |
| Choosing a Publisher | |
| |
| |
| Catch a Book Editor's Eye With ... | |
| |
| |
| Ensure an Editor Will Overlook You By ... | |
| |
| |
| Special Nonfiction Book Considerations | |
| |
| |
| |
| Novel Queries | |
| |
| |
| Understanding the Fiction Query | |
| |
| |
| The Credentials Question | |
| |
| |
| Common Novel Query Mistakes | |
| |
| |
| Components of a Novel Synopsis | |
| |
| |
| Romance | |
| |
| |
| Literary | |
| |
| |
| Mystery | |
| |
| |
| Thriller/Suspense | |
| |
| |
| Speculative | |
| |
| |
| Children's | |
| |
| |
| Cross-Genre | |
| |
| |
| |
| Agent Queries | |
| |
| |
| Components of an Agent Query Letter | |
| |
| |
| Landing Agent Representation | |
| |
| |
| Approach With Caution | |
| |
| |
| Choosing Wisely | |
| |
| |
| Becoming the Model Client | |
| |
| |
| Have a Platform | |
| |
| |
| Understand the Business and Its Processes | |
| |
| |
| Be Willing to Rewrite | |
| |
| |
| Respect Your Agent's Opinions | |
| |
| |
| Have a Book Deal With a Publisher | |
| |
| |
| Have Incredible Talent (Without the Ego) | |
| |
| |
| Have Patience | |
| |
| |
| Strive for More Than One Book | |
| |
| |
| Be Careful With Referrals | |
| |
| |
| A Client Only a Mother Could Love | |
| |
| |
| Sending Unfocused Queries | |
| |
| |
| Not Following Through on Deadlines | |
| |
| |
| Including Irrelevant Information in Your Query | |
| |
| |
| Lying/Exaggerating | |
| |
| |
| Nagging | |
| |
| |
| Pushing for Too Much Control | |
| |
| |
| Expectating an Unrealistic Advance and Royalties | |
| |
| |
| |
| Following Up | |
| |
| |
| Magazine Article Queries | |
| |
| |
| Queries to Agents | |
| |
| |
| Queries to Book Publishers | |
| |
| |
| Interpreting Rejection Letters (And the Coded Phrases Within Them) | |
| |
| |
| Responding to an Acceptance or Rejection | |
| |
| |
| |
| Other Forms of Correspondence | |
| |
| |
| Cover Letters | |
| |
| |
| Thank-You Notes | |
| |
| |
| Turning Down an Assignment | |
| |
| |
| Pulling an Article Submission | |
| |
| |
| Requesting Information From a Source | |
| |
| |
| Complaining to an Editor | |
| |
| |
| Following Up on a "Maybe" | |
| |
| |
| Following Up on Payment | |
| |
| |
| Some Parting Words | |
| |
| |
| |
| Resources | |
| |
| |
| Glossary of Terms | |
| |
| |
| For Further Study | |
| |
| |
| Trade Magazines | |
| |
| |
| Books and Reference Guides | |
| |
| |
| Web Sites | |
| |
| |
| E-Zines | |
| |
| |
| Organizations and Genre Groups | |
| |
| |
| Online Writing Courses | |
| |
| |
| Index | |