Formatting Your Fiction Query Letter
Simple Tips to Get Your Book into the Hands a Literary Agent
Dedicated writers often overlook the query letter, but that might the primary reason agents and publishers are not calling. Query letters may be the most important piece of writing a writer ever pens. Agents see thousands of query letters each year and a writer seeking publication – even a writer with an exceptional book – has to pen an outstanding query letter. Agents look for signs of weakness and are willing to reject an author for the smallest reason. Bad paper, improper formatting and even ink quality can send your letter, and your book, to the slush pile.
The Red Flags of Formatting – Paper
According to Noah Lukeman, president of Lukeman Literary Management, and author of How to Write a Great Query Letter, the type of paper you use to write your query is extremely important. Paper should be white, or off-white, and 8 ½ x 11. Moreover, the paper shouldn’t be too thin, covered in designs, ripped, torn or stained; those are all signs of a nonprofessional writer, and an agent might be less willing to take a chance on your writing.
"This sounds obvious, but I've received letters like this," Lukeman said. Also, though typical printer paper is acceptable, Lukeman suggests buying quality paper.
Use Good Ink and Fonts When Printing Your Query Letter
Writers need to use good, readable ink or they will send the signal that they do not know what they are doing. Use black ink, no colors, and try to make sure your printer is of fine quality. Lukeman says query letters should be typed and not handwritten, and the font should be simple and standard like Times or Garamond.
“Some writers use a strange or quirky font, presumably to stand out, but this only stigmatizes you,” he wrote, while fonts such as Courier might make a writer look “cheap.” In addition, stay away from odd-sized fonts. Stick with the tried and true standard 12-point.
Margin and Spacing Add Value to a Query Letter
A good query letter must appeal to the reader’s eye. There should be plenty of white space, indented paragraphs, and ample margins – typically one inch around. Justified margins are harder to read and should be avoided, and the body of the letter should be single spaced with no paragraph line breaks. Anything other than this might signal an amateur.
The All Caps Book Title Rule
Typically, book titles are italicized, but Lukeman warns of a publishing industry convention that states an author's own book title should be in all capitol letters. This simple fact makes a writer look more like a pro. Someone who knows the industry will use this rule, while others will over look it. The writer of the query letter should put the name of his or her book in all caps, while the titles of other people’s book and literary journals are usually put in italics.
Getting into Print
Following these simple rules may go a long way toward a writer gaining representation from a literary agent and, ultimately, being published. Certainly, these tips will make an author's work more professional. Remember to write the letter on quality, white paper, lose the gimmicks, make sure the printer's ink is new and easy to read, and that the query offers plenty of white space.
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