No Query Letter?

[MightyScribbler]

Hi all. This was probably covered before but I couldn't find it. A few questions:

A couple of agencies I'm interested in do not mention a Query Letter in their submission guidelines. Is this because they don't want you to send one or is it so standard that they don't even bother mentioning it, but they do expect it? When looking for a job many companies will mention nothing about a cover letter, though I believe it's understood that you should still send one. Don't know if the same rule applies here.

If the agency says "Cover Letter" but not query letter, will the query letter count as the cover letter?

If the ageny asks for a short synopsis and pages, but they do not ask for a query letter, would you send one in this case?

[IrishScribbler]

Being new to all this, I would look to others for a "real" answer, but my gut says to include a query letter. I would take "cover letter" to mean query letter.

I'll be watching this thread, though, to see how others respond!

[J.S Greer]

I would send whatever they ask for, and nothing more. Then again, I could be wrong :)

[kristie911]

I would always include a query letter, even if you're sending a synopsis and pages.

[J.S Greer]

I would always include a query letter, even if you're sending a synopsis and pages.

See, I told you I could be wrong!

[MightyScribbler]

Additional question: Uncle Jim recommends Courier for manuscripts. Does that apply to Query Letters?

[DeadlyAccurate]

You're going to do your query letter single-spaced, and Courier looks odd when it's single-space. Times New Roman is a good default font. Then again, I can't imagine any agent would care what font you use, so long as it's a) readable, b) not Comic Sans (or any other goofy font).

[roach]

I use Times New Roman for my query letters and Courier for my manuscript. The different font just helps to keep the query letter seperate from the manuscript. (At least in my own mind.)

[JMJCarla]

Sound advice!
My hubby found a book on the "take a book-take a book" table at his work called Writers Market. Its the size of the Gutman Bible and it concurs with the Courier New for munuscript and Times New Roman for all else.
It also says send no and No less than exactly what they ask for. It could be wrong - just cause it looks like a bible doesn't mean its right huh.

[Sage]

Then again, I can't imagine any agent would care what font you use, so long as it's a) readable, b) not Comic Sans (or any other goofy font).What? No Fioles Girls? Beat My Guest?

[Pamster]

Sound advice!
My hubby found a book on the "take a book-take a book" table at his work called Writers Market. Its the size of the Gutman Bible and it concurs with the Courier New for munuscript and Times New Roman for all else.
It also says send no and No less than exactly what they ask for. It could be wrong - just cause it looks like a bible doesn't mean its right huh.

Welcome to the board JMJCarla! I think many of us know the book of which you speak and I think it's a good reference guide. Glad you joined us. Welcome to the Cooler! :D

[MightyScribbler]

Got it, Courier for MS, Times for Query. Yes, I remember that tidbit from Writers Market (WM). A must-have guide for sure, but when I noticed that the requirements in their book for particular agents sometimes differed from what the agent posted on their agency's website, I questioned the accuracy, though I know the info could have changed since WM went to print. I guess it's confusing because a query letter is so standard that if they don't want one I would almost think they would specifically point this out, for they know they are differing from the norm. But perhaps the agency is testing me - by including a query when they didn't say to, I'm exposing myself as unprofessional, or by not including a query, even if they didn't say to, I'm exposing myself as unprofessional.

[triceretops]

Well, when they ask for a synopsis plus three, they ARE getting a longer version of the query. Understand? The synopsis should contain everything, and more, that the query does. So the synopsis and three submission technically doesn't require a query. They're just eliminating one stage of the submission process.

Tri

[Saundra Julian]

Tor does not want a query. The say, on their web site, they cannot tell anything about a book from a query. They ask for chapters and a synopsis...

[MightyScribbler]

Well, when they ask for a synopsis plus three, they ARE getting a longer version of the query. Understand? The synopsis should contain everything, and more, that the query does. So the synopsis and three submission technically doesn't require a query. They're just eliminating one stage of the submission process.

Tri

What about synopsis + cover letter? I noticed that when I saw the term "cover letter" it oftened accompanied synopsis, but I don't think I've seen cover letter when all they want first is the letter, in that case they used "Query Letter".

[triceretops]

I've always assumed a cover letter to mean an introduction and bio/credits.
But...I incorporate the bio and credits at the last part of the query and the synopsis. I very seldom write any kind of an intro like "Hi, I'm so and so and I've written Major Novel and I'm looking forward to blah..blah..so on. My first pragraph will usually comment on their website, mission statement, or a familiar book or contact of theirs.

Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Email Adress

Genre
Words
Pages
TITLE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Body of query or synopsis

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Credits and Sales

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Short Biography/education Interests

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I've used this format and never had any trouble. It's easy to tell at a glance what kind of book it is and how long it is, right from the gate. Your milage may very.

Tri

[Imelda]

Well, when they ask for a synopsis plus three, they ARE getting a longer version of the query. Understand? The synopsis should contain everything, and more, that the query does. So the synopsis and three submission technically doesn't require a query. They're just eliminating one stage of the submission process.

Tri

Exactly. That seems to be the standard way they do it in the UK.

[HorrorWriter]

Mighty,
If you're referring to literary agents only, ALWAYS send a query. If they only ask for a cover letter, then they are referring to a query unless you are mailing back a requested full, then you would send the original query and a cover letter reminding them of the fact that they asked for your full, etc.
If you are querying the publishers themselves, they have their own guidelines for you to follow. Hope that helps. You've gotten some good advice already from some of the others in here.:D

[Imelda]

Mighty,
If you're referring to literary agents only, ALWAYS send a query. If they only ask for a cover letter, then they are referring to a query unless you are mailing back a requested full, then you would send the original query and a cover letter reminding them of the fact that they asked for your full, etc.


What's the point in a query if you're sending off a synopsis and sample chapters? I've seen many people request a cover letter with these. Why on earth would they want a query letter, when they have the first part of it in front of them, which will represent the work better because it *is* the work?

[johnzakour]

If the agency says "Cover Letter" but not query letter, will the query letter count as the cover letter?

If the ageny asks for a short synopsis and pages, but they do not ask for a query letter, would you send one in this case?

I would send a cover letter, which would be a lot like a query letter, except instead of asking, "Would you be interested in seeing..." I would say, "Enclosed please find...."

[kristie911]

I would send a cover letter, which would be a lot like a query letter, except instead of asking, "Would you be interested in seeing..." I would say, "Enclosed please find...."

Exactly. Personally, I would never just throw a synopsis and 3 chapters (or whatever) in an envelope. There should be SOME kind of letter on the front of the submission. Whether you call it a query letter or a cover letter, there should be something. A query and a cover letter would be quite similiar.