Pitch and Query Letters

[Iesha (In east shade house at...)]

How do tackle writing a pitch or query letter for a short story or short story collection? What do agencies look for in this pitches and letters? Any advice on writing them (format, style, language, etc.)? I want to write one, but the task seems so intimidating to me.

[Rob]

I have never written a pitch letter for short stories, whether they be for a magazine or anthology. Normally they let people know when they ar eopen for submissions and I send a story with a very short letter/email - 'Please find attached MY STORY, for consideration in WHATEVER IT@S CALLLED. Thanks for your time. Best Rob Rowntree.

If you are pitching a short story collection to a publisher or agent this is a good link:

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-e...

I don't know the author of the piece but it covers most of the angles.

There are a load of examples of pitches to find on the web and if you have the time to search I'm sure you'll find what you need. There might even be something here at GRs.