A good Query Letter expands opportunities!

Query Letters are an essential element within your tools of screenwriting. It is an integral part of the screenplay marketing process. A good one expands opportunities by increasing a screenwriter's contacts.

By definition a query is to ask or to inquire. The screenwriter is asking screenwriting agents, producers, or talent if they would be interested in reading their script by giving them brief yet descriptive information about themselves and their script.

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Many times screenwriters including myself agonize more over a one page Query Letter than over four pages of dialogue. We know what we are trying to say within the script but have trouble putting together the proper description of our screenplay in just a few short paragraphs. I mean, how do you condense a hundred pages into a couple of paragraphs?

Just like in screenwriting there are classes and seminars that provide guidance. The bottom line is to entice the reader. Make them want to know more about your script and you.

Writing a good Query Letter takes time and patience. Give just enough information about yourself and your script. It's a perfect place and time to include any awards you or your script have received. Remember, this is the first time they have seen any of your writing. So it must stand on its own.

Make sure you have done your research determining who would most likely want to read your script. Simply put, if your script is a romantic comedy, why contact a producer with only sci/fi credits?

Finally, and this is very difficult to determine. Try to contact decision makers. Yes, you guessed it, we are back to contacts. Distinguish yourself from the other screenwriters.

Never forget, no matter how good your script is, if it isn't seen by the right person at the right time, it may end up in the "to read later" pile of scripts that clutter most agents' and producers' floor.

So if you plan to present your script to screenwriting agents, producers, talent or even distributors, make sure your first contact peaks their interest about you and your script.

From Query Letter to Selling Your Script