Do Literary agents think it’s unprofessional for a query letter to be printed on a letterhead with a logo?
I read in Jeff Herman’s Guide (a supposedly reputable source) that if you want your query letters to look professional, you should use your own personal letterhead with a logo to show you’re serious about the business. However, I just read in Miss Snark’s blog (also a supposedly really reliable source, a lot of people say) that having a logo makes you look really dumb and unprofessional and pretty much guarantees that your writing is bad and is a one-way-ticket to a rejection (that’s me paraphrasing.) Here’s what she really said:
“5. Pictographs on your query letter- aka inkwells, pens, tablets, open books, or dog forbid, the authoress herself looking pensive –this is a 100% reliable indicator of bad writing. Why? Cause the writer is so busy announcing “I’m a writer” they forget the words are what count.”
SO, agents, editors, or successful authors in the business:
could someone please clue me in as to whether it looks more professional to use a logo-letterhead or not???
I’m a freelance writer for radio and also magazines; I have to say that I agree with Miss Snark…there’s no need to put letterheads or any frou-frou bits and pieces on your enquiry letters.
One glance at your resume will tell them how much experience you’ve had and if it’s none then you’ll look pretentious. It’s the sample work that matters.
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