Results

I.

Criteria Chart: A criteria chart in Table 1 was created to better determine which genre of
writing out of the two would be beneficial for creative writing students. The chart follows
a point system in which the study with the most points would be viewed as the winner.
Table 1. Criteria chart listing two writing genres and criteria necessary for
inclusion into curriculum at CSUF.

Writing
Genre

Will it help
students
get
published?

Future
lifelong
needs

Book
Proposal
Query
Letter

7
9

II.

Will it help
to get
current
work
published?

Will it lead to
future career
opportunities?

Is it common in
Will it
the school
help
Department/Field? students
advance
in the
writing
industry?
1
8

10

10

Conventions of Genres: In an article published on agentquery.com titled How to Write a

Query Letter query letters are described as being composed of four main parts. The first
paragraph is what introduces the reader to the subject or general idea of the manuscript or
piece the writer is attempting to have published. The second paragraph provides details of
the works plot and structure. The third paragraph notes the authors experience and
credentials. Lastly, the closing section is a brief request for a response to the query.

III.

Professional Interviews: The response from all of the professors contacted was nearly
unanimous, as they all agreed that the implementation of a Query Letter writing into a
students curriculum was important. CSUF Professor, Sarah Kelman, stated in an email

that query letter writing is a vital skill that can also be seen as great preparation for the
GRE Subject Test in Literature in English. When asked about her opinion on the
importance of integrating query letter writing into the curriculum for creative writing
students, CSUF Professor Nicole Seymour said that obviously creative-writing students
also need to work with publishers, editors, etc. to get their stuff out there, to figure out
which venues are most appropriate for them, etc. So I think this genre deserves to be
taught.
IV.

Online Research: According to author and freelance writer, Ronnie Dauber, A query
letter is the initial and most crucial contact that an author will have with an agent or an
editor when they are ready to publish their work. Query letters not only introduce the
writer, but the authors piece to potential editors as well. Dauber says that the letter is
meant to offer a short synopsis in order to gain more attention from potential publishing
agencies. On her website, Wendy Burt-Thomas, a writer with over 1,000 published
pieces, says that query letters are stepping stones that lead to the production of proposals.
She states that if an editor is satisfied by the initial query letter, they will request either a
full manuscript, proposal, or samples of the writers work for further publication
consideration.

Works Cited
Dauber, Ronnie. "The Importance of Query Letters." Ronnie Dauber Author. N.p., 24 Jan. 2012.
Web. 19 Nov. 2014.
Lofland, Lee. "Wendy Burt-Thomas: The Importance of Query Letters." The Graveyard Shift
RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.
Seymour, Nicole. Email Interview. 29 October 2014.
Kelman, Sarah. Email interview. 29 October 2014.
"How to Write a Query Letter." Agent Query. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.