Non-Fiction Writers Workshop

Non-Fiction Writers Workshop
by Carolyn Dekat

Query Letters, 3

So you have that enticing lead that hooks the editor's interest in your proposed article. So how do you create the desire to buy?

The summary segment of your query letter will do this job. It consists of a tight, enticing description of the major parts of your piece. It should be succinct, clear and provide an editor with the following information:

What the article will contain. This includes how the topic will be developed. (Will the core be an in-depth interview, question and answer, a series of short interviews approaching the theme from different angles, presentation of little-known facts?)

What the tone of the article will be. If the article is to be humorous, then the summary should contain the same degree of humor you plan to use in the final article. Also in the case of a humorous piece, you might also want to mention directly that the article will be humorous so that the editor is well aware that the humor in the query is intentional. On the flip side of the coin, if your article is to be straightforward, it would be inappropriate to use humor to sell the idea to the editor.

Why the readers would be interested in the piece. Sometimes this is abundantly obvious and does not need to be stated in the query. Other times, the tie-in is a bit more subtle, and you may actually have information that the editor is not aware of. In such cases, you will need to demonstrate how the article would affect the readers of the publication.

How is this accomplished? Here are some things to include:

Statement of purpose: "This article will focus on. . ." Make sure the subject and slant is crystal clear in the editor's mind. This step may have been accomplished in your lead, in which case it does not need to be repeated.

Outline: The editor will want to know how you plan to cover the topic. Choose each main point you'll be discussing and devote a few sentences to each. Notice that this "outline" is not the Roman-numeral and capital letter kind. A bulleted list like this one will work.

Facts & Figures: Prove you have a good story by using facts or statistics as evidence. This may require a bit of research on your part, but editors are put off by vague generalities which come across as laziness in the author. Specifics show the editor that you've already done some homework, and have sources to turn to flesh out the article. If you need just one or two facts, a quick call to the reference desk at the library may be all you need to make for the time being. Or you can consider a call (or e-mail) to a foundation or association who may be able to give you statistics that will fit your article.

Sources: If you are an inexperienced writer, your biggest hurdle is establishing your credibility with editors. You can overcome this by mentioning the names of respected experts you plan to interview for the article. And if you haven't yet locked in an expert by name, you can discuss the type of expert you'll be talking with. It is best, though, if you can come up with at least one expert by name.

Your summary might also include:

Case histories to illustrate key points
Quotes, if you've already interviewed one or more of your experts or are doing a profile piece
Tie-ins to upcoming event anniversaries or current events (Remember, event anniversaries should allo for six to 12 months lead time between submitting and publication.)
Nuts and bolts information: proposed length to the nearest 500 words, the amount of time you feel you need to complete the piece, intended format, if photos are available, if you'll have extras available such as sidebars or quizzes.

Homework

Don't worry if your first query draft comes out too long. Just like any other piece of writing, the summary part of your query letter should be edited and re-written. Queries should be no longer than two single-spaced pages. One page is even better.

Use these tips to edit:

Eliminate peripheral points and details. If you can leave it out and not lessen the impact, DO IT!
Use up to six strong summary points maximum. Quality is more important than quantity.
Edit the best material to eliminate wordy phrasing, awkward construction, and cliches. It is extremely important to make each word count. This calls for strong verbs and vivid nouns, adverbs and adjectives only when necessary to make the thought clear.