Expert Query Letter Editing & Feedback Services
Crafting a compelling story is one thing—convincing an agent, publisher, manager or producer to read it is another. You need a team of smart, market-focused professionals who can ensure every detail of your query letter excels in getting your manuscript the attention it deserves.
Our expert editors:
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Possess 50+ years’ combined fiction, nonfiction and screenplay editing experience
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Boast editing expertise across the full range of genres and subgenres
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Are full-time employees of DLA (no freelancers)
Want an outstanding query letter?
DLA Editors & Proofers provided a tremendous service to me as an author and as a client. Between the personal phone calls and the editor comments I received, I really felt they cared.
Michael M., Rockwall, TX
We love hearing your stories.
Query Letter Editing & Feedback
This exceptionally valuable service sets us apart. It includes all Query Letter Editing and Query Letter Proofreading services and adds detailed, objective feedback that address:
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Consistency, Engagement and Clarity of Ideas
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Narrative Voice and Style
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Structure and Organization
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Pacing and Flow
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Genre- and Subgenre-Specific Recommendations
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Explanations of Suggested Edits
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Points of Confusion
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Missing Information
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Overall Strengths and Weaknesses
Query Letter Editing
DLA’s proprietary version of “copyediting,” this service includes all Query Letter Proofreading. With it, we will also make or indicate the specific corrections to be made relating to:
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Consistency, Engagement and Clarity of Narrative Style and Tone
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Consistency, Engagement and Clarity of Voice
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Conciseness, Flow and Transitions
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Paragraph and Sentence Structure
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Repetition/Redundancy
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Advanced Word Choice (Connotation and Rhythm)
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Passive Voice
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Genre- and Subgenre-Specific Editing
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Adherence to AP, APA, Chicago, MLA, Turabian or Publisher-Specific Guidelines
Query Letter Proofreading
With this service, we identify and correct mistakes in basic English usage. It covers:
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Punctuation
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Grammar
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Singular vs Plural
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Subject-Verb Agreement
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Typographical Errors
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Spelling Errors (Non-Subject-Specific)
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Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
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Verb Tense
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Basic Word Choice (Denotation)
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET AN AGENT'S ATTENTION WITH MY QUERY LETTER?
Taking a focused, professional approach with your query letter is the best way to get an agent's attention. First, ensure you are targeting the right agent with your query letter. Have they represented scripts similar to yours? If so, can you name them specifically, along with how your script is similar to them, as well as what makes your script stand apart?
Second, make sure to provide all the requested details. Check the agent's website for the information they want to see communicated in the query letter, and make sure to include it. At a minimum, include the title, word count, brief synopsis of main characters and plot points, comp titles, and relevant author bio.
Lastly, write your letter in the same writing style you used for writing the script for which you seek representation. If you've written your script in a quirky writing style, use the same for your query letter.
CAN YOU HELP ME FIND A SCREENWRITING AGENT OR LITERARY AGENT?
Through our editing services for your query letter and other documents related to the query process, including your manuscript, we will do everything we can to help ensure your success in finding a screenwriting agent or literary agent.
Want an outstanding query letter?
CAN YOU HELP ME WITH EDITING MY BOOK OR SCREENPLAY AS WELL?
Absolutely, and this is a great way to get the most out of what we can do for you. From manuscript evaluation to proofreading, we offer a full range of book editing and screenplay editing across all fiction, nonfiction and screenwriting genres.
WHAT IS THE TURNAROUND TIME OF YOUR QUERY LETTER EDITING SERVICES?
We offer Normal Delivery, Express Delivery and Rush Delivery delivery options to meet your query letter editing needs. Our turnaround can be as quick as the same business day. The specific turnaround time for editing your query letter will depend on the query letter editing service you select and the delivery option you choose.
Get Started to see the specific turnaround time for editing your query letter.
DO YOU GUARANTEE YOUR EDITING?
Yes! We guarantee that we will provide you with high-quality, affordable screenplay editing and proofreading services, and that we will finish our work by the due date and time we've promised.
See our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for additional details.
Want an outstanding query letter?
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
We've been in business since 2008.
The Editing Process: How Our Service Works
Step 1: Get Started
Whether you’re just looking for a free instant quote or are ready to purchase our services, start with Get Started, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
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Under Select Your Category, choose Writers.
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Next, select your project type (Query Letter), project category (Fiction or Nonfiction), genre (and sub-genre, if any) and service (e.g., Query Letter Editing & Feedback).
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Now upload your file to be edited or, if you would like only a quote, select the number of query letters you would like to have edited. Our quotes for fee and turnaround time are calculated based on the number of query letters you would like to have edited.
To purchase a service, upload your file to be edited, if you have not already done so. We accept MS Word files only for query letters to be edited.
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To finalize your quote, select from Normal Delivery, Express Delivery and Rush Delivery.
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Confirm your quote. To order the service, ensure you have uploaded a file to be edited, add any comments, enter a project nickname and click Add to Cart.
Step 2: Check out
Once you have added your service to the cart in Step 1, proceed with clicking Checkout.
In the checkout process, you will:
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Log in to your account or create an account if you do not already have one.
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Enter your goals for the service.
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Verify the delivery dates for the service.
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Complete your payment for the deposit or total order amount. We accept credit/debit cards and PayPal.
Step 3: Track Your Order in My Account
As soon as we receive your deposit, we will start working on your order. While we are working on your order, the status will display as In Progress in My Account.
Step 4: Receive Your Edited Query Letter
As soon as we have completed our editing, you will receive an email notification, and the status of your service will be updated in My Account. If there is a remainder due, your next step will be to pay it to receive your edited Query Letter.
Edited documents are released once the total fee for the service(s) in your order has been paid. Edited documents are sent by email and made available for download directly from My Account.
The email containing your Query Letter will provide the name and contact information of the editor who completed the service for you. It will provide a link to instructions on how to review our edits, including how to accept and reject track changes and to remove sidebar comments..
The email will also provide a link for submitting your edited Query Letter for a discounted second edit, should you desire.
Editor name and contact information along with the second edit link will also be posted in My Account.
Step 5: Follow up With Any Questions
If after reviewing the edits made to your Query Letter you have questions about our recommendations, please contact your editor directly by email. You may expect to receive a response to your email within 1 business day.
If after following up with your editor, you still have questions your editor is unable to answer, feel free to email our editor in chief, David Lombardino.
Step 6: Leave Us a Review
We are passionate about helping you achieve your goals, and hope through our editing and answering any follow-up questions we will have helped you get one more step closer to doing so. We are proud of the work we do and would love it if you shared your honest experiences, positive or negative, for future clients to see.
We partner with TrustPilot, a third-party review service that sends email invitations to leave a review to all verified customers a few days following completion of the service. We hope that if you have any concern remaining when you receive this invitation, you reach out to us first so we can address your concern, prior to leaving a review.
Our goal is a five-star experience for every customer, and we look forward to achieving this for you.
Tips for an Outstanding Query Letter
Taking a serious, professional approach to writing your query letter communicates to the agent, publisher, manager or producer that your manuscript is worth their time and consideration.
View more content like this on YouTube.From the style and tone of your query letter to both following and bending the rules of compelling letter writing, we know what it takes to get the details right—and your query letter ready to get you noticed.
Still have questions? See a list of our frequently asked questions or give us a call at 877-454-4957.