How to write irresistible query letters

by Lisa Collier Cool

This popular book shows writers how to increase their chances of a sale by preselling the idea via a query letter.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

136 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Lisa Collier Cool is an award-winning freelance journalist and author specializing in health journalism. An alumna of Chicago's Shimer College and New York's Columbia University, she has served as president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and has received 19 awards for her journalistic work as of 2012. Among her numerous books, she ghostwrote the 2001 bestseller Beware the Night: A New York City Cop Investigates the Supernatural. (from Shimer College Wiki)

Reviews

[Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

There may be some valuable instruction here, but I was thoroughly distracted by the time machine.

"Check if your typewriter keys need cleaning--editors dislike smudgy copy. Computer-printed submissions are now quite acceptable, but be sure the printer you select prints with the quality of a typewriter." (p. 67)

"For your cover letter, however, always type an individual letter for each editor you are submitting to. Do not try to save time by photocopying the text of the letter and adding the heading and salutation in the same type. Editors have eagle eyes for this trick and dislike the impersonality of such correspondence." (p. 100)

"Many libraries now offer free telephone reference service. Librarians prefer that you ask just one or two very concise questions: 'What's the average age for first marriages in the U.S.?' or 'How many homers did Babe Ruth hit in his career?'" (p. 56)

"Is there a computer in your future?" (p. 44)

"It is approximately 110,000 words long and is stored on seven computer diskettes." (p. 115)

[Jared Gillins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, while full of helpful tips about composing and formatting query letters, is woefully out of date when it comes to technology and how correspondence is handled these days. It's quite apparent that the book was published in 1987. Ms. Cool gives advice as archaic as making sure you have a fresh ribbon in your typewriter. She notes that this new Internet thingy can be accessed through some libraries for a small fee. And you can use this Internet to subscribe to informational databases. Yikes.

Update this with assumptions that people are drafting queries on computers and that everyone is on the World Wide Web. Include information about formatting email queries. That would give me much more confidence that the rest of the advice I read is still current and sound.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely outdated but I think a lot of the advice in this book is still very good for writing query letters and I found myself underlining a ton of pages.

I think the fact that a literary agent recommended this book just a few months ago at a book fair is a great reason to read this book if you are a writer. Especially if you write non-fiction and are a journalist.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a good book for someone who has never read a book about queries. If you have then a lot of the information was repetitive. This book is also dated--when she mentioned how you might have a modem I had to check the copyright which was 1987. And then there was the statement about sending letters and waiting 8 weeks for a response. I've been writing for three years and all my submissions are by email and normally I hear within a week or less.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sort of book that appeals to a particular type of writer, namely the writer looking to turn their writing into a business. The fact that so many such books exist [1] suggest that there are many people who have at least a bit of curiosity in monetizing their writing habits. This makes sense for at least several different groups of people--there are people who already write to such an extent that it makes sense that they would want to figure out ways to make it pay, and there are others who see other people making money as writers and therefore curious in doing the same for themselves. This book is admittedly a bit out of date, as it was written in the age before the world wide web and before home computers became ubiquitous. As a result, the advice in this book isn't particularly timely, nor is it likely as helpful as it would have been thirty years ago when the book was written. That said, where this book is still useful is the fact that it discusses an approach to monetizing one's writing that is likely generally applicable to the creative arts as a whole.

This book is made of 12 short chapters that are around 135 pages total, and it is pretty clear that this book is written for people who want to get solid and practice advice without wasting a lot of time. Topics covered in this book include ideas that sell, slanting one's pitch to have greater focus, hooking the editor with good leads, using tantalizing descriptions, selling yourself through your bio, using shortcuts for research and interviewing, including self-addressed stamped envelopes with queries, querying agents and book publishers, avoiding certain downfalls and mistakes, using strategic submissions, learning from the anatomy of a winner, and power querying in order to develop a solid reputation. This is a book written by someone who clearly has done a good job at writing for money and has worked as an agent and an editor as well. This is a book that is focused on the business side of writing, not on the creative or artistic side. Indeed, the author expects that writers will be able to command inspiration by keeping up their writing and by working to develop a certain niche as a writer, with the goal of building networks with those who can help a writer not have to write queries but rather receive them.

This is the sort of book that appeals to a writer with commercial interests. If you happen to have them, this is a worthwhile book. Obviously, the publishing business has changed a lot in the last three decades since this book was published. The fads that the author attempts to ride are in some ways still in evidence in our own age concerning technology and love and relationships and health concerns and so on. The real question is whether the author's model for the author is still a viable one. The decline of so many magazines and newspapers makes the author's advice for writers to make money on editorials and other features a bit more dubious. It is of little surprise that contemporary writers looking to encourage people to make money on writing either focus on writing newsletters for business or trying to monetize blogs or videos. Nevertheless, even though the specific advice of the author isn't really on point, the approach of the author is something that is of interest to me as a writer. If one is compelled to write and writes for hours a day, why not try to make money off of it? That's a sentiment I can definitely get behind.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

[Jimmy Blakemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How to Write Irresistible Query Letters" by Lisa Collier Cool is an excellent resource for writers looking to take the next step in their careers. The book provides a clear and concise overview of the query letter writing process, including tips on how to structure a letter, what to include (and what to leave out), and how to make your letter stand out from the crowd.

One of the things that sets "How to Write Irresistible Query Letters" apart is its focus on practical strategies. Cool provides concrete examples of successful query letters and breaks down the key elements that made them successful. This makes it easy for writers to understand the principles behind crafting a winning letter and apply them to their own writing.

Another strength of the book is its emphasis on the importance of personalization. Cool stresses the need to tailor your letter to the specific needs and interests of the agent or editor you are querying, which is essential for building a successful working relationship.

Overall, "How to Write Irresistible Query Letters" is a valuable resource for writers looking to take their careers to the next level. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to write a winning query letter.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dated in 2013 - you can basically ignore whole chapters on research methods - but still offers handy tips and interesting examples of query letters. The book is geared almost completely towards magazine articles, and not books. Most, if not all, of the information here can be found online by doing a quick search, and will be more up-to-date and useful, too.

For a quick skim, this book was OK. For a freelance magazine writer, I can see how it would be a valuable edition to have on your shelf.