A query letter is your foot in the door so make sure the rest of your body follows with a snappy, direct and well informed letter. With a little perseverance it will surely ink your name in the latest issue of just about any periodical you choose in no time.

Don't worry that there are millions of others out there tapping away at their laptops, you are different. If you thought about all the nuts driving on the road today, you'd never get into your car. But you do leave the driveway everyday without a thought. Writing should be the same. Just do it and you'll be driving all over the magazine marketplace before you can buckle a seat belt. Alright that's a bit optimistic just remember patience is key if you are going to make it free-lancing.

A non-fiction query letter has to be accurate as well as interesting to someone that not only is on their game but is looking to poke holes in whatever you have to say. To them you are just another hack, make it clear you are different. The letter has to be simple and your topic obvious and well written. If your writing is sloppy and there's more than a spelling error, off to the dumpster your query will go. I've already said it but be accurate and be interesting. If you bore them at any time in your letter you're a goner. Less is best here, but make sure there is enough to hook them and want more.

A sample query letter I wrote is below, follow its basic format and chances are very good you land a positive response, eventually. Don't worry about rejection, it happens to everyone. Even the best writers often are passed over, what makes them great is a good writing craft mated to a willingness to use rejection to keep them going. Have faith in yourself, if you get rejected blame it on an idiot editor (though they are not) and move on.

Your query should be informative but don't be stiff or cramp your style, write it so that they have an idea of how you write.

Know your contact at the magazine, if you address it to Floyd Jones, Editor but Floyd is sipping margaritas in Cabo after leaving with the company secretary and an undisclosed amount of the company cash reserves, don't think your query will be forwarded to the new editor. Double check before you send that the editor is properly addressed and pray there are no changes before your query is delivered.

If you have special credentials, know a contact or have access to a high profile expert that will contribute immensely to an article use it. But don't boast.

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