How to write irresistible query letters (Writer's basic bookshelf)

This is the very first free-lance writing book I read--and one of the few I have read cover to cover. It's an easy read with great examples and essential information. I referred to it when writing my first query; incidentally, I sold my first article with that first query and have been writing for the same magazine for several years now. A must-read for all free-lance magazine writer wannabes.

.... with instruction and a different slant for so many different mediums. The beginning of the book serves up a valuable lesson on how to develop an idea that may sell, how to slant for different markets, hooking the editor and selling yourself. Then there is a short section on research and interviews. This dynamite little book not only tells you how to write and slant your query to different markets, but give concrete examples by using sample letters. This is a nice little introductory book with a concrete process that'll help you write a great query letter.

When I began my writing career fourteen years ago, I needed to know the basics. Thanks to this book, I learned how to write a focused, relevant query letter. Lisa Collier Cool's writing and examples do more than show you an effective way of writing the query letter--they show you how to develop a confident way of presenting your ideas.

For those who found no value in the book, I'm shocked. Thanks to Ms. Cool's no-nonsense approach, I became a successful published author hundreds of times over. If you're just starting out, get this book. While it could be updated to include Internet-based querying, it's a terrific primer just the way it is.

So it's old. So it's a little smarmy. So there are sample pitch letters about how "by 1990, it's believed that many Americans will have computers." So a lot of people have moved on to selling stories with sloppy little e-mail notes. So what.

Lisa Collier Cool teaches you to cross all the 'T's to give your pitch letter unstoppable propulsion. You might read her method and say, 'that's overkill.' But unless you've got a better idea (such as phoning up your old Ivy League buddies for an assignment) this is what you want for breaking in to a magazine on the strength of raw ideas, not schmoozy contacts.

If it wasn't for this book I'd probably be in law school right now.

I can state with authority that this one produces RESULTS - due mainly to the encouragement and easy to follow tips inside, I was able to become a successful freelance writer, publishing both locally and nationally and going on to win awards for my writing. This book is one I've recommended time and time again to my writing students whenever I've taught nonfiction writing courses. At the time I bought this book, many years ago, Lisa Collier Cool's name appeared on many of the magazine and other articles I read - proving that she knows her business. This one focuses on everything from finding ideas that sell to hooking the editor with an effective query letter to selling yourself as the writer. This is the ONE book every freelance writer should have!