There are four standard parts to a query letter, and messing up any of the four can reduce your chances of finding a publisher. 

Optional  component: an evaluation of your query letter. 

Greg Ioannou has been named APL’s first Editor-in-Residence for Spring 2021. Greg has been editing books since 1977 and is a founding member of the Editors’ Association of Canada. He owns and runs Colborne Communications and is the president at Iguana Books. Over his career, Greg has edited more than 3,000 books, including writing by Margaret Atwood, Peter Gzowski, Robertson Davies, and (posthumously), Lester Pearson.