The Old-School Query Letter and Its Modern-Day Equivalent
You pour your whole soul into writing the book of your dreams. That is probably the most creatively rewarding part of the entire process. However, you cannot ignore the practicalities of the publishing and marketing side of things. This might not come to authors naturally, but it is still crucial to advocate for yourself as a writer. That is where the traditional query letter would come in use.
Authors write query letters to send to industry professionals to advocate for themselves and their book. In particular, a query letter was a traditional first step in getting a new author’s book published. In short, it introduces you, your work, and why they should publish your work. Query letters, however, have become somewhat outdated in the age of social media and online publishing.
Even though query letters can be outdated, there is still value in learning about them. This article will explore the historical and modern role of query letters in the publishing world.
What Goes Into a Query Letter
Before understanding the modern equivalent, it is important to know what goes into a regular query letter. As with nearly everything you write, there is not a single formula for writing a query letter. However, there are some standard pieces of information that are typically included in them.
Introducing Yourself to the Reader
The first step in writing a query letter is to understand the audience you are writing to. The potential audience for a query letter can be a publisher, editor, agent, etc. This can dictate the style or tone you approach the letter with.
When introducing yourself, you want to lay the groundwork for the rest of the letter. You do not need to get into the specifics of your life or work yet, just the basics. Let the reader get a sense of why you are writing to them. More details will come later in the letter.
Basic Details of Your Manuscript or Book
After introducing yourself, you should tell the reader of the letter about your book. This is a majorly important section because it tells the reader why they should invest their time in this book. For most people in the industry, the work speaks for itself, so make sure you sell it well.
You do not have to give too much away or get into too many details — just provide a basic summary. This will be similar to a future blurb or other marketing material. Make sure your synopsis is compelling, accurate, and impactful. You want to compel the reader to read the whole thing and help you ultimately publish your book.
More About Yourself
Now that you summarized the book at hand, it is time to talk more about yourself. This is where you can let your individualities as an author and person shine. Similar to what will be in your eventual About the Author, you should mention your basic background.
Your education, work history, or notable personal achievements are a great place to start. Feel free to include anything that makes you stand out from other writers. Sharing your background lends more credibility and context to your work. Depending on the type of book you are sharing, your background can be especially important.
Writing Samples, Excerpts, and Previous Work
Finally, you want to end your letter with some sample of your writing. If you are writing a query letter, you likely have a manuscript drafted, or at least outlined. It is great to include this relevant material to give the reader a sense of your actual writing. If you do not have that yet, you can include past writing. Make sure what you submit reflects your style and the ultimate quality of your writing.
Bringing the Query Letter Into the 21st Century
With that in mind, it is time to delve into what makes a query letter so outdated. In the modern age, technology and social media have made the query letter somewhat obsolete. They still have their place, especially with old-school publishers, but there are more ways to share content than ever before.
Some of the most influential and popular modern-day authors achieved their success by starting out without traditional publishers. Getting your work published through legacy companies is no longer the only path to success. You can self-publish, work with smaller, independent companies, or any mix of the two.
Working with Cloverly, we provide you with all the resources you need to successfully self-publish your book or audiobook. No query letter is required or accepted at Cloverly. Instead, once you request your free production kit, our team will be in touch about directly submitting your manuscript. Once approved, you will be able to begin your journey to becoming a published author. Our team will guide you through the process from proofreading to cover art and beyond.
