The Query

First of all, congratulations! Most people never get to this stage, where you've finished your novel and are ready to submit to publishers. Remember how awesome you are, no matter what happens.
 I haven't included anything about writing a novel, because I think that is something only you can figure out how to do. There aren't any rules. If you find that it makes sense, is gripping and interesting, and is worthy of being published, then that's all the confirmation you need. I'm just going to remind you of one thing:
                                     
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It sounds harsh, but trust me, nobody writes a masterpiece on their first try. So before you even consider submitting your work, listen to Ernest Hemingway and edit. Try to get multiple opinions too, since it's amazing how many obvious mistakes you'll miss. Then, when you're absolutely certain there's nothing more you can do, make a decision: am I going to try for an agent, or do this myself? There are huge differences. If you want to be the next J K Rowling and net a contract with lots of zeros from Random House, then you will of course need an agent. That being said, you can still be successful without one. You just need to target a different set of publishers (I'll give you a list on my next post). Keep in mind that agents only take on a couple of clients per year, but may get hundreds of queries a week. The entire publishing world is full of terrifying statistics, but remember: If you have an interesting, well-written, and unique book, you will be published. 

Since this is the path I took, let's assume you're going unagented. The query letter is the first thing your prospective publisher will see, and therefore you need to pour nearly as much effort into it as you did your manuscript. It doesn't matter if you've created a work of genius -if the query letter sucks, then your inbox will be full of rejections. Here's a sample:

(Insert Name Here),
Run, run, as fast as you can! This isn't about winning anymore -it's about survival!
In a bizarre twist of fate, a baker found his gingerbread man had taken on a life of its own, and the consequences will draw animals of all backgrounds together in an epic contest of wit and deception.
My name is Jane Smith, and I've written The Gingerbread Man, an 6,000 word children's novel. I've geared it towards the 2-6 age range, since I think they'll find the humor and colorful characters amusing. It's comparable to books like Jack and the Beanstalk, since it has a moral and a simple plot that can be retold throughout generations.
This is my first novel, but with a 5,000-visits-per-day blog and an extensive Twitter following, I'll be more than able to market my book to the public. I've won several national short-story contests.
If you're interested, I'd be delighted to send a full or partial manuscript?
Hope to hear from you soon!
Jane Smith (Insert Contact Info Here)

Ta-da! Obviously, you'll want to add a bit more meat to that when you do it for real, but it shows the basic outline. Start off by grabbing their attention, then give a brief hook of the plot so they get the gist of your story. Make sure you include a little bit about yourself (If you want my advice, especially if you're a teen, don't mention your age until later. That way they're not biased when reading your submission), the word count, genre, target audience, short marketing pitch, credentials, and significant awards. Hint: high school prizes don't count. Remember, they will be comparing this to a huge selection of similar pieces; what will make yours stand out?
Most publishers will be very specific about what they want. Many will ask to see a synopsis, so have a 1-2 page summary ready, and probably a couple of sample chapters too.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to leave a comment! I hope this helps!