query letters

I mentioned on my last blog that Moira Allen had a book about queries; well, she also has a free email newsletter that is very helpful, full of good info in many articles. One of the articles is about query letters--my "beast" of the moment. Anyway her advice was to include 1) the hook, to grab attention; 2) the pitch-what you are offering like a 2000 page article on how to raise kids; 3) the body, details about the piece of work; 4) the credentials--why you are good person to write this piece; and 5) the close.

So, back to the drawing board for me. I actually (surprise!!) had most of the elements although in a different order, and I find her order makes more sense to me as I rewrite my query according to her advice.

If you're interested in her email newsletter the address is: http://www.writing-world.com

I'd like to get my query out this week as I am going away next week and so won't worry about some agent reading it and maybe I will have a response by the time I get back. It's more realistic to expect a response in 6 to 8 weeks, but maybe I'll get lucky and get one sooner. Whatever, at least I will feel that I have something in the works even though I'm vacationing.