Query, What's a Query?

When I asked Marla for permission to post this exchange as an example of querying, she generously agreed and added that this might not be the best example, explaining she’s “a lot more informal than other editors.”

My thinking on this is that we’re building relationships and sometimes a more personal approach can be a good beginning. BA

For anyone who finds the query challenge daunting, I thought I'd share the query dance I did with the editor of ConsciousChoice magazine:

Hi, (there wasn't a name I could zero in on)

I've been reading your publication (on the website) and am delighted by the quality of writing as well as the broad range of topics. I appreciate the big picture perspective and find your magazine very informative as well as being a good read. I'm offering this essay (which I included in the body of the email and as an attachment) for your consideration for your BackWords section.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. I'll happily do whatever I can to meet your needs.

Thanks for your time.

Blessings,

Becky Allen

She came back with:

Thanks for the kind words. You hit my soft spot with this piece, animals. (Although I’m partial to love-slug black or orange/buff male cats, I somehow end up with a challenging female tabby in the bargain, due to the pairs thing that I know you know.)  More importantly your essay is nicely done, so if it hasn’t appeared anywhere else yet and the sum of $150 (which is the standard rate for BackWords submissions) is agreeable with you, I’ll send you a contract and plan to run it sometime in the upcoming months. I would need your address and/or fax to send the contract. Out of curiosity I looked up the 540 area code and I’m wondering how you found us all the way in

Vt.

? Also if you have a photo of your kitties that we could use that would be great also. I can return photos or if you can send thru email that’s even better. By the way, it would help to know the age of the cats, Sophie when she passed and Celia now. (My last pair passed at the age of 21. Now I have a second pair.) But I digress again.  Pls. let me know, and thanks for reading and sending this for consideration.

Marla Donato
Editor
Conscious Choice

www.consciouschoice.com

And then I said:

Hi, Marla,

Thank you so much for your prompt and positive response. I'm just thrilled! I have a fax machine but have yet to figure out how to get it to understand the difference between a call for me and a call for it. Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it? The best option is to mail it to me at:
****

I have things in boxes from a recent move but am fairly certain I can lay hands on a picture of the girls. I'll scan it in (my scanner has a better grasp on its purpose) and email it.

I belong to a writing team called "Visionary Writers On Purpose" (www.visionarywritersonpurpose.com <http://www.visionarywritersonpurpose.com> ) and a fellow team member sent us your information. We're always looking for publications that are aligned with our individual and team commitment to expressing a more unified, larger context for our lives. And to that end, I'm grateful for your work, along with the rest of your staff and all your contributors.

So, thanks again, Marla. I look forward to receiving the contract and will send the photo. Sophie was three when she left and Celia is now five (by the way, Sophie left her the brain, but that's another story...) And thanks for caring about my girls.

I look forward to working with you again.

All the best,

Becky

And then she said:

See if you can scan the photo, that would be great. Since your kitty was so young—three--I’m thinking the story might want to mention why she died so young. Do you know? I took a quick look at the writers’ group website, it looks interesting. Good luck with unpacking and thanks for the info.

Take Care,

Marla

Doesn't get much easier than that, eh?

Beck