The Query Letter: Submit it 100 Times

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

An online devotional for writers

A Word From The Word

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7, NLT)

A Word For Writers

You’ve sent out a query letter. Or two. Or twenty – for the same article or book idea.

And now with plenty of rejections lining your walls or crickets in your inbox, you may be tempted to give up. 

Don’t! 

“If you are serious about getting published,” says Chuck Sambuchino, best-selling author and editor, “Then don’t even think about giving up until you’ve queried at least one hundred agents.”

Reasons your query may get the thumbs down? The publication just printed an article on the same topic. The agent just signed three writers. The magazine just changed editors and direction. Or a host of other reasons.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged listeners to persist. “Keep on asking,” He said. “Keep on seeking. Keep on knocking.” Jesus goes on to explain that parents want to give good gifts to their children, and so does God.

And so do editors and agents.

They’re in the business of finding writers who can share God’s message with a hurting world.

So when your query letter is rejected over and over, study the feedback and make adjustments. And do what Jesus commanded.

Persist. Keep sending it out.

A Wise Word

Persist in sending out query letters.

A Word To Pray

Loving Father,

I confess to you that I can get discouraged when rejection letters keep coming my way. Yet You tell me to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. Help me to keep improving my query letter and keep persisting.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

---

More Devotionals for Writers

The Cold Call: Have Success with Just a 2% Response Rate ...

The Qualified Lead: How Paul Connected With Prospects ...

The Cover Letter: Keep the Reader Reading ...

The Slush Pile: How to Rise to the Top ...

The Letter Closing: Paul Used It to Reinforce His Message ...

The Salutation: Make It As Personal As Possible ...

The Elevator Pitch: Sell Your Book in 60 Seconds or Less ...

The Writing Clip: It's Proof That You Can Do the Job ...

The Referral: How Do I Get More Freelance Copywriting Jobs?

The Freelance Client: Be True to His Voice (Like Mark with Peter) ...

The Rejection Letter: It's an Open Door in Disguise ...

The Prospect: Does She Know That She Needs a Freelance Copywriter?

More Devotionals for Writers on our Pinterest board ...

Wise Words: Devotionals for Writers ...

Join other Christian Writers in the Writing for Ministries Community ...

Get more devotionals for writers delivered to your inbox each week.

Return from The Query Letter to Nonprofit Copywriter home

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Powered by SBI! Learn more here.