This sounds familiar, doesn't it? "You're in line at the grocery store, waiting to check out, when it hits you. It's a fantastic idea for an article. It seems like it came out of nowhere, but you know the idea is perfect. You quickly begin brainstorming possible leads, and as soon as you get out to the car, you start scribbling your thoughts on the back of your grocery receipt.

On the way home, the idea turns over and over in your head, and you get more and more excited about it. No sooner have you turned off the ignition than you rush upstairs to your computer (hey, don't forget to unload the groceries from the trunk!) and start typing. In a few minutes, you have a query letter pounded out."

But hold on just a second. Before excitement gets the better of you, this article has tips on how to perfect your query before you send it out.