Everything You Need to Know About Query Letters

In the last blog post, we talked about the basics of everything you need to begin querying your novel. If you missed that post, you can read it here.

This post is all about query letters! We brushed on the basics a bit in the previous post, but we’re going to go much more in-depth now.

As I’ve said before, queries are about charming the agent into reading the synopsis and the manuscript excerpt. As with any skill, technique is required but also style. Technique tells the agent you know how to write a query letter and understand what the industry standard is for that. Style makes you and your work stand out from the rest of the crowd, and may convince the agent about opening up the synopsis and manuscript. 

I’m going to go over the outline I mentioned in the previous post with more details. So if it looks familiar, don’t skim!

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Query Letter Outline:

• SALUTATION (Dear [agent’s name])

Typically you address the agent as Mr. or Ms. followed by their last name, unless otherwise specified. Do not address the agent by their first name unless you know them personally.

• PERSONALIZATION (a sentence showing a connection to the agent and why they’d be a good fit)

You can use more than one sentence, but you generally want to keep this short and sweet. For my latest querying project, I used the following sentence, to give an example:

“I noticed on your website that you are accepting young adult fiction, especially featuring [redacted] and themes of [redacted], therefore I am querying you with my manuscript, [TITLE].”

I’ve seen it recommended (and will do this myself in future) to open up with a more exciting beginning, such as “I’m excited to present”, “It’s my pleasure”, instead of the opening I had been using (which was recommended by numerous agents, for those wondering). Any of these work, and a common one is also “I’m seeking representation for…”, but these are just a few more options to keep in mind.

• WHAT YOU’RE OFFERING (title, word count, genre/category, 1-2 comp titles)

This is where you introduce your manuscript. The more thoughtful this section is, the better. This is typically in the same paragraph as the personalization line, though you can keep it separate. Some people list the book, the genre (and any other relevant information such as if it’s a retelling, etc.), and the word count, followed by a sentence listing comparison titles. Others go into much greater detail and list specifically why the comp titles are similar to their work. How you do this is entirely up to you and your preferences, though greater detail with the comp titles shows how much thought you’ve put into this and an understanding of your market, which could be more beneficial than a simple list.

Comp titles are another place that proves whether the author truly understands their genre or not.

Here are some tips when considering comp titles:

DON’T use super well-known books or authors (such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling). This should go without saying, but using authors this well-known is a mark of immaturity in the author. Your book is not going to be the next Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter or Star Wars, as much as you might hope it will. There is a reason those books (or films) are classics. Claiming your unpublished work can stand next to those greats is very prideful and carries a tone most agents don’t want to deal with. I can’t stress this enough.

DO put thought into it. Use 1-2 comps at least, but no more than 5. Include recent titles (last 5 years’ publication) that are well known and very similar to your story, but not the top NYT releases. They have to match your story and the agent has to see the connection, as well as be able to make their own judgment whether your story will sell.

The whole point of comp titles is to show that your story will sell based on other similar stories that are doing well in the publishing world. Understanding your story and stories like it will help you greatly in this regard. You’re not trying to convince the agent ONLY to read your story, you’re trying to sell it to them. Knowing your market therefore is crucial.

• COMPELLING PREMISE (a short, usually one-paragraph pitch about your book, similar to a back cover blurb)

This is the part where authors struggle the most. Too often, the problem is that authors focus too much on the plot and not enough on the characters (or vice versa), or spend too much time using flowery language to actually develop the conflict at all.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

– while it’s recommended to keep it to one paragraph, you can use more if necessary. Keep it between 100-200 words; brevity is your friend! If they want more details, they can read the synopsis.

– do talk about the protagonists/antagonists and conflict, don’t waste time talking about plot twists or turns, that’s not the purpose of the pitch paragraph

Consider the following when writing your pitch paragraph:

– what does the MC want and why, and what keeps them from getting it

– state name, brief description if necessary, and what conflict they must face and what choices must be made (and what consequences they might face)

Remember, you are trying to sell the story concept with the pitch paragraph. If the agent wants more details about the story, they will open up the synopsis. Your goal here is to hook them into opening up that synopsis and story excerpt.

• BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE (who you are as the author)

Keep this 50-100 words. If you’re unsure whether to include a fact, then skip it. This is your chance to describe who you are as a person, so be interesting! What makes you “you” and how does that relate to your writing? What hobbies do you have outside of writing? Do you have any writing experience (in a professional sense!) worth mentioning?

• CLOSING (thank the agent for their time, mention whether it’s under consideration by other agents, and then “Sincerely, YOUR NAME”)

Here is an example of text you can include (as is relevant) at the end of your query:

Thank you for your consideration of YOUR MANUSCRIPT TITLE! As requested, I have attached [the first three chapters and the synopsis]. I appreciate any feedback you may have, and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME
YOUR EMAIL

While in the past, it was common to mention whether your query was simultaneous (or sent to multiple agents), this is now a given fact and is no longer necessary to mention in your query. Instead, it is recommended to mention only whether your manuscript is under consideration by other agents (as in, they have requested the full manuscript or even made an offer).

There are a variety of ways you can tweak this to suit your style best in your query, but this is the most common outline and what agents recommend.

If you’re interested in a query letter breakdown, I recommend this one by agented author Alex Morán, which you can read here. (Shared with permission)

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Here are some other querying tips to keep in mind:

It’s typically recommended to send out queries in batches of 5-6 at a time, though you can always send out more!

If you receive no responses, check your materials again. Consider whether your query letter, synopsis, or even your manuscript needs more work, and don’t hesitate to get a second (or third) opinion from a fellow writer friend.

If you receive a partial or full manuscript request, ask the agent when you’re expected to hear back, and send a follow-up email within a week of that date.

If you receive no response within 2-4 weeks after the stated response time or even a couple of months later, send a follow-up email. Many times, agents are too busy to respond and forget. Being polite and professional can go a long way. If you receive no reply after that nudging, then assume it’s a rejection and move on.

The more you see rejection as a business response and not an attack on you as a writer, the better of a mindset you’ll have for the querying process. When an agent says “no”, they’re not rejecting you or your story. Your manuscript should not dictate your worth as a person, ever. An agent is saying no because they are not the best fit for your story. You want someone who is the best fit, and who will champion you and your story to publication and beyond. There will likely be only ONE person like that, so it’s understandable that most agents will tell you no.

Don’t settle for the first agent who shows you interest. Chances are that they are the right fit, but many times, aspiring published authors find a better fit with the second or third agent who offered representation. Do what is best for you and your story in the long run; it will be worth it!

When researching agents and publishers, keep these three things in mind:

• Are they actively considering new work?
• Are they a good fit for your work?
• What materials do they require for your work to be considered?

Also, when researching agents and publishers, scour online databases and don’t hesitate to dig deep into potential fits for your work. Jane Friedman in her The Business of Being a Writer recommends organizing potential agents/publishers into three categories prior to sending your query letters: “my dream”, “good fit”, and “maybe”. Query agents accordingly; it will be a much better use of your time than contacting every potential agent in your relative genre.

Lastly, a common question authors have is whether your social media platform has an impact on your value to an agent or publisher. While having a good presence and professional side will certainly benefit you, it only matters in extremely rare cases to influence an agent or publisher to sign with you.

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Conclusion

This was another lengthy but I hope helpful post! I’ve tried to talk about everything I’ve learned during my querying days in the past as well as knowledge I’ve gained since in hopes that it helps other aspiring published authors. Many of the original posts I read back in the day when I first began querying no longer exist on the internet, but I recommend (as said in the last post) to check out The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman.

I also offer a number of querying services, including query letter critiques. If interested in having me look over your query materials, check out that page here.

Lastly, if you’re facing discouragement in the querying trenches, here is a post I wrote years ago when querying my debut novel: Self-Evaluation of Writing. I hope it helps. Querying is a difficult journey, so hang in there! The world needs your stories!

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Questions? Concerns? Any advice you’d like to add? Let me know in the comments!