How do you write a query letter for a short story collection?

flowerburgers

New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
442
Reaction score
40
Location
San Francisco
I know these are hard to sell, but I'm giving it a go...first trying an agent who has already expressed interest, but if she doesn't bite, I'll have to move onto others. Do I pick a single story to focus on in the query or just present the collection in more general terms and let them know where the stories have been published?

I sent the manuscript to the interested agent about half an hour ago, and it's my first finished manuscript and my first time sending anything to an agent. If all goes well, I'll never have to write a query! Wish me luck! I've been trying to finish something for her for over two years.
 

whirlaway

Registered
Joined
Aug 16, 2011
Messages
49
Reaction score
8
Location
N/A
Hi Flowerburgers,

I sold my short story collection to a small press publisher a few years ago. I already knew the editor, as I had worked on a revision of a short story for him when he was working as an assistant editor at a magazine, so that probably helped me.

Here's what I said:

Dear [editor's name],

[introductory paragraph to remind him who I was and why I was querying him].

My collection, [Title of Collection], is [wordcount] and comprises [# of stories] of [genre]. The publication and award histories of the stories are detailed below. [I pasted a list of each story, its wordcount, where and when it had been published, if it had not been published before, and whether it had won or been nominated for an award.]

[I also made a suggestion of someone [a well-known short story author/editor who had bought a few stories from me in the past] we could ask to write the introduction for the collection].

You might also mention if your stories have a certain theme (e.g. redemption, revenge, etc.). I didn't do that, but the theme of my collection was pretty obvious from the title of the collection and of most of the stories.

I hope that helps.
Good luck with the agent!

-Whirly
 

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
16,768
Reaction score
4,663
Location
Scotland
Hi, Flowerburgers,

Glad you got a helpful response there.

At the bottom left of this, and every page, is a site specific Google Custom Search Box.

Enter - Query Letter for short story collection - (or whatever phrase you choose) in there and you'll find you get a list of links to threads that have either dealt with or touched upon that topic. Higher the reference number - more recent the thread.

Good luck.
 
Last edited:

Maryn

Sees All
Staff member
Super Moderator
Moderator
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
55,447
Reaction score
25,470
Location
Snow Cave
Aw, Bufty's giving away all those insider secrets! (And good for him.)

In my experience, when I have a specific question, nearly always it's been asked before if I use the Google site search box. I read previous replies, then either form my new question in light of what I learned or settle back to work because it's been fully answered already.

Maryn, old dog, new tricks
 

flowerburgers

New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
442
Reaction score
40
Location
San Francisco
I got a variety of answers on Google and I wanted to see the consensus here...no need to condescend...whirlaway, thanks, that's great, congrats on your collection.
 

Thedrellum

Grr. Argh.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
852
Reaction score
57
Location
Houston, Texas
Website
www.patreon.com
flowerburgers, Maryn and Bufty weren't being condescending. And they weren't suggesting using Google itself, but the Google search box specific to Absolute Write at the bottom of the page which will bring up all of the threads at Absolute Write that might have to do with your question.