Sample childrens book queries

In other words, i didnt just read more than 60,000 queries during the time i was a literary agent, i also wrote my fair share. The best inside information and resources for writers of any genre and readers of young adult fiction, including secrets from popular authors, tips, howto advice, and indepth articles, plus giveaways, contests, literary agent and editor insight and much more. Theres a picture book query question that comes up a lot. These pages are an extremely important part of the querying process. All of your picture book query questions answered here, so you can write great children s books for these kiddos. If the query letter stands alone, its your only chance to sell the editor on your book.

Emma walton hamilton and i were working on adding concept book books where the focus is on a concept such as abcs or counting rather than a narrative arc examples to the hookpitch unit in the complete picture book submissions system. A query is a business letter asking permission to send the project described. Picture book format and how to format your manuscript kidlit. I am a member of scbwi and the author of a children s picture book. Or perhaps to a site with some good andor successful examples. So, your book is finished and you need to get the word out. This article is part of a series called successful queries. Jan 15, 20 successful query letters and winning examples the goal of query letter is to elicit an invitation from an agent or editor to send in sample chapters or the whole manuscript. As a picture book editor, i work with writers on all aspects of the picture book craft, from creating a compelling childrens book manuscript in proper picture book format, of course. Of the responses, 26 were negative and 20 were positive. The first few times i wrote query letters my stomachache did a fandango. Successful query letters and winning examples writing and.

I originally posted this example of a good query letter back when i was a literary agent, and the lessons still apply today. Manuscript formatting writing picture books for children. It features actual query letter examples to literary agents that were successful for authors. Marlo garner writes, illustrates, and edits childrens books and teaches writing and revision workshops. Jul 22, 2015 for authorillustrators, agents need to see your art. A proper query letter will provide a synopsis of your book, will give a bit of information about the author, and will hopefully pique the interest of agents or publishers enough that theyll want to read more. Email query letter format what do you need to know about submitting query letters to literary agents by email. Query letters for childrens book fiction musings archive for april 2003.

By the way, be sure to subscribe for a darn good query letter template to go along with this post. A somewhat longer, 12 paragraph, introduction to the book. A cover letter accompanies your proposal and briefly describes your proposal. Her debut book, a smidgen of sky, went on to sell to harcourt and hits shelves this fall. Since many childrens publishers only accept from agents, this list should save you hundreds of hours combing through the submission guidelines of every childrens publisher on earth.

Lisa rojany buccieri has written and ghostwritten more than 100 children s and grownups books, both fiction and nonfiction, including board books, picture books, and young adult series. In my role as coadmin for the query critique forum on 12 x 12, i recently wrote a post on writing a picture book query. So true what great advice, and what a fabulous graphic you provided. The dilemma i frequent quite a few agent and writing blogs and have collected a plethora of information on querying, however now i am faced with writing a query for a picture book ive found all my previous research on queries, which has primarily focused on querying novels, is not quite adequate for writing a pb. All of your picture book query questions answered here, so you can write great childrens books for these kiddos. If you read the sample query below, and check out the information sources offered in this article, you will realize there are many different ways to write a successful query letter.

Follow this by describing what your book is about and your particular slant on the topic. Query letter sample literary agents and literary agencies. This article is part of a series called get a literary agent. Picture books queries are a different animal from mid grade and ya. The process of concocting a query is not nearly as difficult when you know the right formula. But were forced to inhabit the real world, where youve got about 10 seconds to hook an editor before she decides to continue reading or reach for her form rejection slip. Mar 05, 2016 how to write a picture book query the basics the layout of a picture book query.

Make sure you specifically address the agent you are querying use mr. Simple rules for writing an effective query letter, and a basic blueprint. Query letter basics for the childrens book market book. Basictodetailed advice from writing professionals revised april, 2020 do you really need comp titles. Email query letter format how to write an agent query. Query letter basics for the childrens book market book editing.

She specializes in all things childrens publishing and aims to represent projects in the categories of juvenile fiction, childrens books, picture books middle grade, and young adult fiction. But i think good query letters share a lot in common, whatever type of book theyre for. The first thing an editor wants to know is whether its the kind of book they can sell. Some of these agents are closed and are not open to unsolicited queries.

Mar 02, 2015 a funny thing happened the other day seriously, it is funny, and it did just happen the other day. How to format an email query for literary agents this article reveals seven tips to help you get your email query read quickly. A funny thing happened the other day seriously, it is funny, and it did just happen the other day. Childrens book publishers how to wow them with a perfect query letter. If you can write a novel, you can write that letter. If you are submitting electronically, follow any guidelines given by the publisher. Following is a successful query for a middlegrade novel that led to me first requesting this full manuscript and later signing on to represent the author, dianna dorisi winget.

How i personally feel about comp titles in query letters with the caveat that not all agents feel this way from literary agent tracy marchini. She is the publisher of the hot sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named publishing commentator of the year by digital book world in 2019. Some represent picture books exclusively and some represent other genres. When i get stuck revising a picture book manuscript, the best tool i found to give me a fresh look at the story is a dummy. Successful query letters and winning examples writing.

So, the query letter template im about to share with you works. Heres a helpful template to help boil down your plot. Read more than 60 examples of successful query letters to learn what worked, and hear from literary agents about why they cut through the slush pile. From looking like a heel to a picture book deal all. I dont know anyone who really likes writing queries, and most agree.

This letter should do more than pique an editors interest. Sep 27, 2010 thanks, mary, for focusing on picture book queries today. Example of a successful query letter society of childrens book. A proper query letter will provide a synopsis of your book, will give a bit. Peter economy is a bestselling author, coauthor, and ghostwriter of more than 55 books, including several for dummies titles. Picture book submissions the great cover letter almost. Its part of our free 15part guidelines on how to write a query letter by mark malatesta, a former literary agent and former marketing. Use 12point times new roman or arial font unless the publishers submission guidelines indicate otherwise. I have a query letter for picture book question about the slush piles. You also have your picture book query letter, and, well, the most important thing. And it will keep your prospective agents finger off the delete button. How i do publisher research and submit my childrens.

How much should you personalize a query letter from columnist, professor, and blogger jane. She is the publisher of the hot sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named publishing commentator of the year by digital book world in 2019 in addition to being a columnist for publishers weekly. Successful query letters and winning examples the goal of query letter is to elicit an invitation from an agent or editor to send in sample chapters or the whole manuscript. A query letter is an appeal to publishers or agents in an effort to get them interested in something youve written, usually a book. In a perfect world, youd be able to pitch your manuscript. So let me dissect this really good query letter and extoll its virtues. Sample query letter the query letter sample below will help you create a successful query letter of your own, so you can get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. Nov 26, 2018 as a picture book editor, i work with writers on all aspects of the picture book craft, from creating a compelling childrens book manuscript in proper picture book format, of course. Query letters that worked a childrens book editors. The form itself was printed out on my letterhead, with the title picture book texts available. In authorillustrator if you want a picture book deal, write picture books, not for magazines in picture books comments feed for this article. A query letter is meant to elicit an invitation to send sample chapters or even the whole manuscript to the agent.

The query letter has one purpose, and one purpose only. Samples of query letters that work writers residence blog. Query letters for childrens book fiction harold underdown. All of your query letter for picture book questions, answered here. Scroll down and click on the arrow at the bottom of the title page to see the second page with header. If you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, a query letter is your first and often, your only chance to get an agent interested in. How to format your childrens book manuscript dummies. Knowing your audience is essential when youre writing your book and crucial when youre selling it. Wow children book publishers with perfect query letters. Publishing agents have to write query letters, too. In a picture book query you should aim to tell your story in a nutshell. I often find it helpful to imagine that i am writing the copy for a catalogue synopsis or the back cover or jacket flap. Let us all learn from emily conrad, who was both gracious enough to send me a good query letter and generous enough to let me use her as a guinea pig.

So i made another mailing list and began sending queries to editors. Hello employer, i have worked on many childrens book. How to format an email query for literary agents and literary. Not a fullscale plot summary, thats for the synopsis. One of the easiest ways to learn what makes a good, standard query letter is simply to see an example of one that does its job well. Elana roth parker is a literary agent with laura dail literary agency, inc ldla. How to write a picture book query letter in 6 simple steps. Picture books are about spare text, scene changes, a turning point, and page turners. Each story was described in two to four lines, with a place for a checkmark beside it. It is hard to write a good query letter, especially when youre starting out. Sample query letters meredith sue willis how to write a query letter judith kelmans writers room a query letter by karen macinerney bookends, llc more examples of query letters for book queries can be found in the sellyournovel toolkit by elizabeth lyon. Max pixel there are dozens of childrens book publishers that do not require an agent, which means childrens book authors generally find it easier to break into publishing than those who write adult fiction and nonfiction. Both may be the only item an editor reads, unless its good. From looking like a heel to a picture book deal all about.

Aug 18, 2018 the process of concocting a query is not nearly as difficult when you know the right formula. Query letter sample below reveals how you can double your chances of getting the attention of book agents and publishers. How to write the perfect query letter writers digest. Theres a very specific standard for query letters that you should not deviate from, when possible. Read a sample literary agent query letter with hints. Here is a sample of what your title page and header should look like. And ive written a lot more during my time as a book publishing coach, since i retired from being a literary agent. Most agencies restrict attachments in query letters, so linking to sample art or an online portfolio is your best bet. 10 things not to say in your query advice from a childrens publisher. Aug 22, 2011 children s book coach and bestselling authoreditor emma walton hamilton gives a stepbystep lesson in how to write a pitchperfect query letter. Childrens book coach and bestselling authoreditor emma walton hamilton gives a stepbystep lesson in how to write a pitchperfect query letter. Simple query letter for picture book tips and a sample so you can publish a. Turn off the function that takes an entire paragraph at the bottom of the page to the following page if the paragraph is split between two pages. Before i share the ideal structure for book queries with you, i need to make sure you understand something.

If they would like to receive the book, send it to them promptly. How to write the perfect query letter query letter. How to write a picture book query the basics the layout of a picture book query. Homing in on your books target audience will also help demonstrate your understanding of the publishing business, which is something most editors want in a collaborator. In nonfiction queries to childrens book publishers, begin by stating an interesting fact about your topic that helps establish a market for your book did you know jello, in its many shapes and forms, is eaten by 3 million people a day. The picture book query submitting childrens books, stories. When writing a query letter for a picture book you will basically have three main paragraphs, plus your signoff.

Query letters are your introduction and a tease of your book. Sep 30, 2015 a query letter is a single letter asking for permission to submit your full proposal. Within half a year, i sent 56 queries to editors at 40 major u. Query letters for children s book fiction musings archive for april 2003. How to write a darn good query letter ny book editors. Know where your picture book belongs in the market. An atrophied manuscript is far, far worse than a rejection. I have also had stories published in children s magazines. Contact me for personal, actionable advice on your project. All it requires is a firm grasp of your story premise. In a perfect world, youd be able to pitch your manuscript to an editor over a leisurely cup of coffee. Give a very brief 1sentence summary of the book and your purpose in writing it.

This article is part of a 17part series called get a literary agent for your fiction, nonfiction, or childrens book. Example of a good query letter writing, book editing. Query letters that worked a childrens book editors site. Jan 17, 2020 the query letter has one purpose, and one purpose only. It should reflect your great writing skills and make them. The 30 childrens book publishers below all have one important thing in common. Every picture book author should make a storyboard plus a giveaway. Picture book agents the following is an alphabetical list of agents that accept picture books. There are a lot of picture books out there, and there are many more picture book writers trying to break into the market.

How to format an email query for literary agents and. If you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, a query letter is your first and often, your only chance to get an agent interested in reading and, with hope, signing your work. Remember that picture book format is just one small component of a successful children s book submission. Mar 21, 2016 one of the easiest ways to learn what makes a good, standard query letter is simply to see an example of one that does its job well.

Marlo garner writes, illustrates, and edits children s books and teaches writing and revision workshops. Same with agent sharlene martins book, publish your nonfiction book. A query letter is a one page letter with three concise paragraphs. Format with your address at the top of the page, right justified. Double check you have spelled their name correctly. Picture book submissions the great cover letter almost an.

Luckily, this post is full of tips from the top childrens book editors in the industry and will help you make the most of your query efforts. Friends of mine, old hands at the writing game, admit to still feeling a twinge of anxiety when they have to write a query. The query letter is so much of a sales piece that its quite possible to write one without having written a word of the manuscript. Smith, i am writing in regards to my 2,000word manuscript, tentatively titled, sophias cooking class. It is either sent without an accompanying manuscript, or with two or three sample chapters the publishers guidelines will state which form the query should take.