How to Write a Query Letter

Becoming a travel writer involves much more than just traveling and writing. Besides the travel writing, a travel writer must also be a sales person. Before any travel writing publication will buy your travel writing, you first need to tell them why they should buy your travel writing. In other words, you need to sell them your travel writing idea. This is done through the query letter. Thus, one essential step to becoming a travel writer is to master the art of the query letter. A query letter can be a lot of things. But, on a fundamental level, it consists of six basic parts:

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Pen
• Paper
• Writers Market
• A Good Idea
• Computer
• Internet and Email

1. The Hook. The hook, or the lead, is the opening paragraph of your travel writing query letter. Its purpose is to grab the reader’s attention using a punch line that lets it stand out from the mass of letters that barrage an editor’s inbox.
2. The Summary. This is where you tell the editor why you want to write your travel writing piece. This paragraph should provide a well-organized and to the point summary of your idea.
3. The Why. Here is where you tell the editor why they should commission your idea. This paragraph should focus on the publication’s audience or market, stating why a reader would want to read your article.
4. The Details. This is where you put the technical information, including estimated length, availability of photographs, and time for completion.
5. Why you. So the editor likes your travel writing idea, but why should they assign it to you? The query letter not only needs to sell your travel writing idea, but it also needs to sell the travel writer.This is where you tell them about your travel writing experience.
6. Wrap it Up. The closing of the query should be simple, as in nothing more than “I look forward to hearing from you” or “Thank you for taking the time to read my idea”. Follow this with your salutation.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep trying, rejection is just part of the process.
• Start with small publications, even local souces that don't pay. This way you can build up some clips in your portfolio.
• Always spell the editor's name right. If you don't know, simply address it to "Editor".
• Check the publication's submission guidlines before contacting.