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Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 597
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 07:57 am: | 
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Any writers here willing to post samples of their query letters that landed them a literary agent or a publisher? Feel free to remove personal information and titles if you don't want the sample to give away your identity. I think it will be good for the writing community because many writers don't even know what a query letter looks like. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2338
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 08:17 am: |
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I may publish portions of mine later.
Hey Emanuel,
Can you please post that link that you posted before that listed all of the libraries nationwide? |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 599
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 09:47 am: |
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That would be cool.
To find a listing of all the public libraries nationwide, go to www.publiclibraries.com/.
To find out which libraries have your book in stock, go to: www.worldcat.org/. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 7164
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 10:50 am: |
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Bad idea.
One should not approach the query letter as though it is some sort of form letter.
It should be different, even if you are querying the same book, story, article or what have you, for each person you send it to.
A query to an agent, an editor, a publisher will all be different.
The only "magic" is that the query produced a reply--who can really tell what it was? The letter itself? The type of book. The digestions or mood of the recipient?
Basically if should be free of typos, neat, and impart some of your enthusiasm.
Basicallly they should all be one page. They should start out with a socko first sentence, maybe posed as question. Have one or two very short quotes from the book. Contain something relevant about the item queried, and some relevant information about you.
Writer's digest has a good form. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 7165
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 10:51 am: |
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•••• all this query letter, over the transom bullshit.
If you want somebody to buy your book you ought to make some sort of personal contact. |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 603
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 05:17 pm: |
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In that case, I have a question for the traditionally published novelists out there. What do you do when you have TWO manuscripts you're trying to sell? When you query literary agents and publishers that accepted unagented queries, do you mention both manuscripts? Do you query one at a time at different publishing companies? |
Afrika
Veteran Poster
Username: Afrika
Post Number: 129
Registered: 06-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 05:52 pm: |
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Greetings,
You should write your inquiry letter to each publisher addressing the various manuscripts that you have published. An inquiry letter should be on the same contents of press releases.
Your Contact Information
Date
Publisher/Agents Contact Information
Dear Ms. Williams, (Do not put to whom it may concern try to get the publishers name)
Intro: Who you are and what your essential needs are.
Middle Section: What the book is about and sample if possible.
Last Paragraph: Your experience and interest in receiving their support.
Final paragraph: Should you something on a personal touch that will make them contact you.
Hope that helps. I am very careful about submitting my samples of letters that I have written and I do provide this type of service which falls under my freelance writing services as a consultant.
I believe thay you google search on inquiry letters to publishers you will find some samples there.
Here is a link that demonstrates a sample that highlights some of the elements that I mentioned. See it at the following link: http://www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/pubquery.htm
Good luck!
AIM FOR THE STARS!
Peace and Blessings,
Afrika Midnight Asha Abney |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2351
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 06:12 pm: |
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Hi Afrika,
The correct term is "query letter" not inquiry letter.  |
Afrika
Veteran Poster
Username: Afrika
Post Number: 130
Registered: 06-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 06:22 pm: |
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Greetings,
A_Woman and everyone else. I am a professional writing. I know all the terms, may I suggest that you refrain from trying to make any personal attacks. I am merely responding to Emanuels inquiry.
I write both for all of who have never dealt with me or have the pleasure to know me and what I am capable of doing. Please at least check out the members profile or sites and get to know your fellow members.
One site you can check out is www.blackauthors.ning.com and I am a member of the site and many others such as www.authorsden.com
Emanuel, much luck to you on project!
Peace
Afrika Midnight Asha Abney |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2352
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 06:29 pm: |
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Hey Afrika,
You should chill. My post was not a "Personal attack" as they smiley face after my comment should have let you know I wasn't attacking you.
This really isn't about you and your credentials it's about new writers coming here and being able to find accurate information.
My post stands and I'm sorry that you chose to go on the defensive because of it!
PEACE! |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2353
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 06:30 pm: |
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"the" smiley face, of course. |
Afrika
Veteran Poster
Username: Afrika
Post Number: 131
Registered: 06-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 06:35 pm: |
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Greetings Emanuel,
Check out these links when you get some spare time.
Preparing Effective Query Letters (book) by George Sheldon on ...Preparing Effective Query Letters, This is a complete book that teaches you how to become a published writer in magazines or how to get a literary agent or ...
www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?id=9634
The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward--Winner 3 Awards ...Your editing starts with the first query letter or proposal you send out. .... You will find samples and links such as the query letters mentioned above, ...
https://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?AuthorID=1713&id=19439
Investigations In: Query Letters and Novel Synopsis (article) by ...Investigations In: Query Letters and Novel Synopsis, Type or Paste your work here... You've prepared your manuscript to the best it possibly is. You've had.
www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=11869
The Right Angle (book) by Jaisal Sonale on AuthorsDenThe Right Angle provides you with the tools to becoming a published freelance writer--from finding your voice to writing query letters. ...
https://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?AuthorID=23010
Writer's Need Not Cringe Over Query Letters (article) by Carol ...Writer's Need Not Cringe Over Query Letters, A query is a sales pitch in the form of a letter, or E-mail, to an agent or editor with the hope of gaining ...
www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=11349
An Agent's Point of View (book) by Sheri Williams on AuthorsDenAnnotated samples from actual query letters demonstrate how to write desirable, professional queries, and Williams instructs writers on how to write a ...
https://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?id=12141
How To Wow 'Em: Dazzling Query Letters (news) with Valorie M ...How To Wow 'Em: Dazzling Query Letters, Education/Training news with Valorie M Taylor.
www.authorsden.com/visit/viewnews.asp?id=3486&AuthorID=3271
Killer submission letters to agents and publishers (article) by ...Make sure your query Letter has all the information asked for in the submission guidelines. USE SPELL CHECK. A sloppy, poorly written query letter will ...
www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=24720
The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward--Winner 3 Awards ...Your editing starts with the first query letter or proposal you send out. ... She stresses it's imperative to carefully edit query letters, cover letters ...
www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?authorid=1713
Five Keys To Writing a Successful Query Letter (article) by Kristi ...ePub/Publishing, Five, Keys, To, Writing, a, Successful, Query, Letter, query letters, queries, Kristi Sayles, how to write a query letter.
www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=10517&authorid=150
If you enter in the google search box at www.authorsden.com and enter the query letters, I believe you will find more. These are just a few that I found for you.
Peace
Afrika Midnight Asha Abney |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 606
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 08:05 pm: |
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Thanks Afrika. I'm aware of the format of query letters. I've got all kinds of books at home on the subject plus articles in The Writer, to which I subscribe. I was just hoping someone could show us an example of one that ACTUALLY got a deal and not the gazillion samples you find in books. It was more for public consumption, and not necesarrily for my personal use. But thanks for the replies and the links. |
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