A query is a method of inquiry. It is usually presented as a query letter, a short letter that introduces yourself, tells what your work is about, and asks if the recipient would like to read/review it.
A short letter does not mean multiple pages, or one page crammed to the edges. A good query letter should have only three short paragraphs and should not take up more than half of the page.
You should allow for a minimum of 1" margins on top, each side, and bottom.
Paragraph one: It never hurts to pay a compliment and this is the place to do so. This paragraph should also introduce your work, e.g. title, genre, length, etc.
Paragraph two: Should be a short (3-4 sentences) synopsis or summary of the story.
Paragraph three: Should list any credits you have or background as to your qualifications as a writer, and should contain a closing thank you.
Always be respectful, polite and courteous, considerate, and cooperative.
Don’t start inquiring about the query letter right away. It may be several days (rarely) to several weeks, or several months before you hear back. Often, hearing back means receiving a rejection letter, and below are some of the main reasons why you got the rejection.
Rejections:
Hey, they aren’t the end of the world, and they don’t necessarily mean your work is bad. You need to remember that the editor probably received hundreds of letters per week/month, and will get to your work as soon as possible. A long wait for response could also mean that the editor is interested in your work and is checking to see if the publisher (or someone else in the organization who also has a busy schedule) would be interested too.
If/when you do get a rejection, remember that there are many reasons why work gets rejected, and only a very few of them are because your work is bad. Primary reasons for rejection can be:
(Please note: the following reasons are NOT in any specific order, including order of importance.)
a) your work is not the type of material they are looking for
b) your material may need more work than the editor has time to give to it
c) you did not follow submission guidelines
d) the publisher/producer is not accepting ANY work right now
e) your query letter did not garner enough interest
f) the publisher/producer may only accept work from published authors, which you aren’t yet
Assuming that you were rejected because your work isn’t good enough is an error. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to recheck your work. Your query letter may need improvement, and it wouldn’t hurt to check your script to make sure it is the best it can be.
