Closing For A Query Letter

I have my example of a query letter in a sticky at the top- I used Sincerely

I've used sincerely, regards, thank you for your time, and best wishes. It all depends on the tone of the query and if the agent has expressed any preferences on thier blogs or websites. I don't think it matter unless you're unprofessional, too cutsey or too familar. It's a professional letter, so anything that falls under that style works.

I don't think it matter unless you're unprofessional, too cutsey or too familar.

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Yeah, I strongly recommend against, "Dude!" or "Love always," or "Your future client." Any agent that would get their panties in a twist over "Regards," vs. "Sincerely," vs. "Sincerely yours," has a real problem.

For the record, I always use "Sincerely," in all my business correspondence.

Sometimes I liked to shake things up by signing "Yours Sincerely" but I'm a bit of a wild one!

I use Best Wishes.

I generally use, "Best Regards," but I'd rather use, "Eternally Yours."

I'd go for yours sincerely, because sincerely yours sounds like the ending of a formal love letter. You wouldn't want to scare the agent.

I personally like:

pleasegodpleasegodpleaseohpleaseohpleasegodpleasegodplease

worked for me...

ExposingCorruption said:

Can I please get everyone's opinion on a closing for a query letter?

Should I close with "Sincerely," or should I close with "Sincerely Yours," or does anyone have any other suggestions?

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Don't sweat the small stuff. Seriously.

- Victoria

You can never go wrong with "Sincerely," and if I recall correctly, that's what I used in my round of querying. (Then again, that was a smashing failure.)

I do like "Best regards," though, as "Sincerely" is a little generic. In my professional life, I use "Best regards" for e-mail or if I want to establish a more collegial relationship than usual.

If I ever query again (even odds), I think I'll probably use "Best regards,". (Note: You don't capitalize the second word of your closing.)

If I have to start querying again I'm going to sign them all "Love you Madly!" and "Hugs and Kisses"
Just to see if that helps...

I use Sincerely for the initial query, and Warm regards for e-mails post-request.

ORION said:

If I have to start querying again I'm going to sign them all "Love you Madly!" and "Hugs and Kisses"
Just to see if that helps...

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Three words seems a bit wordy to me. I was thinking about some one word ones like "Yay!" or "Snuggles".

Working up to "Yours desperately" if the cuddly approach fails.

Honestly I would never even notice the difference between Sincerely or Sincerely Yours. Don't sweat this kind of thing.

Nathan Bransford said:

Honestly I would never even notice the difference between Sincerely or Sincerely Yours. Don't sweat this kind of thing.

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But how would you feel about "snuggles!"?

twnkltoz said:

But how would you feel about "snuggles!"?

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Haha -- I might notice that one.

I'm totally going to query you that way.

I use Cordially. I don't know, but I just don't think I'm so sincere, but I'm certainly friendly toward any agent who'd like to take a look at my stuff.

I uses Sincerely, but I'm considering going with "Warm Smushy Kisses" so it adds the right amount of stalkerish desperation.

ExposingCorruption said:

Can I please get everyone's opinion on a closing for a query letter?

Should I close with "Sincerely," or should I close with "Sincerely Yours," or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

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I just close with "Thank you" or "With thanks,"

ORION said:

If I have to start querying again I'm going to sign them all "Love you Madly!" and "Hugs and Kisses"
Just to see if that helps...

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Laughing...if your novel has been flying off the shelves, you can sign them "Yours in Lucifer" if you want and no one will blink; they'll just chalk it up to those eccentricities successful authors are more or less permitted, like dressing weird at parties and drinking to excess.

ha ha ha ha ha