I forgot about the promised query letter post. So here goes. This information was taken from the writers festival, where I furiously scribbled down the points. -Furiously scribbled, because I want to get it right. I’m just learning about this stuff as are many other writers. Today, I’m passing on what I heard from Sylvia Taylor.
-And what I heard produced some anxiety in my novice heart. If the letter doesn’t follow the instructions below, it’s tossed without even reading it. Sylvia began by sharing what it’s like for publishers receiving query letters. “Please don’t send scented query letters. No pink paper or butterflies in the margin. You would be amazed at what arrives in the mail”.
Okay that won’t be a problem. I’m not the pink paper butterfly kind of writer, I thought.
“Here’s what publishers are looking for.”
- Times New Roman Font
- 12 pt
- Double spaced
- A killer opening
- No more than a single page
- Make your pitch in four paragraphs.
You can’t just rattle off a query letter. It takes time and effort to grab a publisher’s attention. Sylvia suggested that you do some research about the publisher before sending your query letter. If you are pitching a fantasy novel and they only publish non-fiction, you’ll be wasting your time.
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