Sometimes Its What NOT to Say
Secrets of writing a good query letter

What you should not do in your query letter
§ Do not mention who has rejected the piece before.
§ Do not include other people’s statements about your article.
§ Do not tell the editor how long and hard you have been working on this article.
§ Do not mention the assistance of others.
§ Do not tell them that the piece still needs work.
§ Do not request advice, comments, criticism or analysis.
§ Do not talk about how thrilling it would be to be published.
§ Do not include inappropriate or off-subject information about yourself.
§ Do not discuss the rights you wish to sell.
§ Do not discuss price or payment.
§ Do not give your social security number.
§ Do not give or discuss copyright information.
§ Do not wear out your welcome by writing too much or failing to get to the point.
§ Do not query without studying the publication enough to know whether your idea is appropriate.
§ Do not waste your time querying an unreceptive editor over and over again.
§ Do not present ideas for several different articles in the same letter. This can be done once you have established a rapport with an editor, but should not be done in a blind query.
§ Do not use obscenities or inappropriate content.
§ Do not send inappropriate, off-subject samples.