The Essential Guide to the Dreaded Query Letter
Plus Over 15 Insider Tips You Need To Know Before Pressing Send
Part of the How To Series where we’ll investigate the query process, scrivener, writing, publishing, and all the fun things.
Queries are the foot in the door for writers. Most queries are considered cold, meaning there were no prerequisite requests for this email or form. Unless an agent or an author friend or publishing buddy etc. asks or refers you, it’s a cold query.
Let me be clear… cold queries are usually perfectly fine. Most literary agents accept as much. But to be sure, always check out there requirements. At the end of the day, at the end of this advice, you have to do the research for each specific agent. If they don’t accept cold queries and work on referral only, then don’t send them your cold query. At best, you’ll receive silence. At worst, you’ll be blacklisted.
So assuming you’ve done your research, let’s dive right into the query trenches.
How to structure the query:
While some people refuse to submit to any formula for fear of being “too normal” or “not creative enough”, remember formulas were created for a reason — they work. At the very least, try out the formula, then, if you must add flare, make small variations/creative tweaks till it suits you best.
1.
There are two trains of thought, both of which vary by agent and by writer, so choose whichever you prefer.
- Start with why you chose that agent. Personalize each query. Don’t just say “Dear agent” *Cue eye roll and almost immediate pass* I usually say something to the effect of “I truly enjoyed your client’s book…. because….” or “I liked your response in an interview….” or even “I noticed on Publisher’s Marketplace you are seeking representation for books in BLANK (YA, romcom, fantasy, etc).” Obviously these are very bland at the moment and you’d do well to write the sentences more eloquently, but you get my point.
- OR Start with your pitch. Some agents prefer this, some writers prefer this. If you think your hook is super strong then do it. Jump right in — sink or swim style. Either way is fine.
2.
Assuming you started with personalization, then the next step is an elevator pitch. Some writers have great hooks while others struggle to put their 80,000 word manuscript into an eloquent one-liner or few sentences. That’s okay. Just take a step back and try again. As Jerry Jenkins often says, if you met an agent in an elevator what could you say in that ten seconds to get them interested. This equals your elevator pitch or hook. Please check out Jerry’s guide to query letters for more. It’s an excellent wealth of information.
Remember, your hook should showcase conflict and uniqueness while of course, hooking those literary agents to read more. Also, be wary of sounding repetitive when you lead into your pitch. Make sure each sounds different. If you still can’t figure out your elevator pitch then just jump into the pitch.
For a more information on short elevator pitches, see this article. Preparing for a #Pitmad contest on Twitter is one of the best ways to discover your hook.
3.
The Pitch!!!!!!
The pitch is where you get a chance to dish on the goods. It’s not a complete synopsis, but it’s similar. It’s a short paragraph telling the overall gist of your story while keeping the agent wanting more. If you give it all, the agent may not be interested. On the same token, if you don’t give enough, the agent might not be interested. It’s a very fine line.
*If you started with your pitch and not personalization, you can add the personalization after your pitch or even below your credentials. But be sure to mention why you’ve selected this agent. Everyone likes validation and to be wanted for more than what they can do for you. Remember, this is a relationship you’re trying to build.
4.
Your credentials are a good way to wrap it all up. If you have a website, mention it. If you have previous published works, mention them. If you’ve won awards or participated in mentor programs, please for the love of God, mention it. Don’t be shy — this isn’t the time or the place to be humble. This is the time for you to shine bright and stand out.
If you’re like many writers out there and have no outstanding awards or mind-boggling writer-creds, then mention what’s relevant. For example, I mention my years spent teaching English to my target audience (7th graders).
All of this, whether you’re starting out straight novice or master supreme of the social world, showcases your willingness to put yourself out there, to be a self-advocate and create platforms for your success as a writer. Hint: this is like the interview portion of the query so talk yourself up and be professional.
5.
Next, sign your name. Don’t add a cute tagline. This is a chance to end on a professional note. After all, this is a professional business. Personally, I sign with my name, email, twitter handle, phone number (ready for that call), and my website. They have full access to me should they need it. And it’s my job to make it easier for them. If you’re not into all that goodness, then simply sign with a cordial close like “Sincerely” or “Thank you for your time and consideration” and your name.
6.
Add the required/requested material. Some literary agents prefer the first ten pages or maybe the first three chapters. Several even ask for a synopsis or a brief summary (shorter than the typical synopsis). While others want nothing. Guidelines can usually be found on Publisher’s Marketplace for free. If not there, try Manuscript Wishlist, query tracker, the agency website for that particular agent, or even twitter. But please, research before you send. And note, agents requests can vary slightly from the agency standard.
Query Tips:
- Personalize to each agent/research appropriately
- Always follow guidelines even if you disagree
- Be specific a.k.a. no cliches etc. Some mystery is fine but if the agent can’t connect you’ll lose them.
- Send in batches of 10-15 (usually). This gives you more leverage if multiple people are interested as well as insight for the next round should you need it — what’s working, what isn’t.
- Always include your genre, target audience and word-count (ex: My YA fantasy novel BLANK is complete at 80,000 words…)
- Keep it short – typically 200-350 words is enough.
- Write your pitch in 3rd person even if the book is in first.
- DO NO WRITE YOUR QUERY AS IF YOU WERE THE CHARACTER…I’ve read about so many literary agents who’ve hated it. Though it’s worked on occasion, I’d say it’s far less likely to work than a standard query.
- Spell check. Spell check. Spell check. Spell check. Spell check. Apparently people misspell names, common words, etc. It’s almost an immediate pass. And I’d say this goes without saying, but….spell the agent’s name correctly.
- Grammar like an English Major! It’s not enough to spell correctly. Make sure you have complete sentences truly representative of your work.
- Don’t editorialize your own work — no need to explain themes or why your book is so awesome. Let the writing speak for itself.
- Let your query carry a similar tone to your manuscript. Don’t be hilarious in your query if your manuscript is all death and revenge.
- If you can find someone to proof your query, or even better, critique it, then do it!
- Write then rewrite then edit then revise your pitch until it’s perfect. This is the one shot you get so the query must be perfect.
- DO NOT QUERY unless your manuscript is not only finished, but edited and revised enough the words shine when you read them.
- Take rejections with grace.
- Take requests with grace.
- Post-query, be patient. Don’t send check-up emails unless the agent has passed the date for reply written on their website. But be aware, many agents never reply at all.
Query Breakdown Example:
This query example letter is thanks to a Writer’s Digest guest post by Mary Kole. See full article here. I’ve added notes in red to identify the parts of the query we’ve discussed.
Added note to section 6 from website original post where agent explains why this is a faux pas. “[6] This is a bit of self-analysis that I wish writers wouldn’t indulge in when writing queries. Dianna could’ve easily left this paragraph out (especially the vague “since middle-graders care deeply about things and people”) and let the strength of the story speak for itself. Of course you think the book is thematically resonant and that readers will love it—you wrote it! So refrain from editorializing. That said, this still makes this letter a great example to show here—because it’s proof that even a query faux pas won’t result in an instant rejection. If you sell your story well enough, literary agents will overlook small missteps.”
Alright, so there you have it. Queries are hard. Writers often say the query and the synopsis are two of the worst things to write. But they are necessary evils. I hope you’ve found some glimmer of information worth while in this post. Remember, I’m not a professional agent or editor. These are my humble opinions after lots of research, podcasts, blogs, friends, examples, etc. You get it.
Please feel free to post comments, advice, questions, successes, or even failures in the comments. We’re here to encourage one another.
Best of luck my friends.
2 Comments
Michelle
If my novel is already self-published, is it a good idea to try for an agent?
Taylor Winn Gilbert
Hey Michelle,
Great question! You can try, but it is doesn’t usually work out well in the industry. Some agents are willing to take the risk but it greatly depends on how it’s been self-published and if they can see any type of potential in sales. For example, if you can pull the book from self-publishing and it hasn’t sold much then it’s probably fine, though you would need to disclose it if you receive that glorious agent phone call (sometimes agents request that info in the query as well). If you have lots of sales, some publishers will pick it up to reach a higher market, but that, again, is unusual. Or, if you’ve published on those free sites where lots of people have access to it, then it’s already in the public domain and almost impossible to sale at that point.
I would keep researching since this can be a completely subjective answer. I find I get the best answers when I attend seminars with agents, most of which can be found online. My favorite is Manuscript Academy. They often have live Q&As with literary agents and authors.
Keep writing and best of luck,
Taylor Winn Gilbert