In every movie or TV show that centers around an author, they have an agent helping them write their books and get a book deal. But have you ever wondered how one gets a literary agent? The answer is the secret sauce of publishing: query letters. But what does that even mean? I'm sure some of you have never ever heard of a query letter before, so here we'll go over all the basic questions:
What is a query letter?
Why do you need a query letter in the first place?
When do you start querying?
And most importantly...
How do you write one?
So, What Is a Query Letter Exactly?
A query letter is your formal introduction to an agent and a request that they take a look at (and hopefully decide to take on) your book. It's basically a cover letter for authors in the publishing industry. Your standard query letter will introduce you, the writer, what your book is about, and why the agent you are querying is the right agent for you.
Don't know anything about agents or which one you should send your query to? Check out this article we wrote about everything literary agent!
What Is The Purpose of Sending a Letter to a Literary Agent?
This one is simple, but multi-faceted. Literary agents get writers sending them their unsolicited pages all the time. They may even get hundreds of them a month, if not week if they're really popular, so a query letter lets them know a writer is actually serious and intentional in sending them their pages.
Why? Because many writers have no idea about the proper etiquette in sending their book to an agent. They may just send their pages haphazardly everywhere to anyone they stumble across, without any proper research or regard for the agent's time.
A well-written query explaining why this writer thinks this agent is the right person to represent them allows them to take the pages sent along more seriously. Without one, your pages may be never read or go straight in the trash!
When Do You Start Querying?
You send a query letter out when you are done writing your book, and only when you're done writing your book. I cannot stress this point enough!
If you begin sending out queries before you're even remotely close to finishing your book, you will ruin your chances with any agent who has taken an interest in your writing. When your query does well, an agent asks for more pages and that "more" will likely be your full manuscript. If you can't send that along, not only will you not get picked up by this agency, but you may have just burned the bridge.
So when you are confident that you have finished your book, and your pages have been sufficiently edited so there are no obvious or blatant mistakes, start sending out queries.
Finding Your Agent
There are a few things you have to check before writing or sending out any letters, the first of which is deciding who you are sending one to. If you need help with that, see How To Find A Literary Agent. We go in-depth for everything you need to know about them and some tactics to find the best one for you!
Being that you are an aspiring author or a self-published author, making a good first impression is key. Like we just established, you do NOT want to just send out your book to a publisher without a relationship (or an agent without querying!), that is a guaranteed way of getting your pages thrown to the wayside.
A Bonus Tip on Agents
We mention in our article about agents that the website Publishers Marketplace is a treasure trove on information for your agent search, but there's something else we didn't mention: profiles!
Pretty much every person in the publishing world has a profile on Publishers Marketplace, including agents. Some will even put in their profile a manuscript wishlist, which is exactly what it sounds like. They compile a list of books on the market they would have loved to represent themselves, so writers like you know what exactly they're looking for when being queried.
Setting The Foundation For Successful Query Letters
Now that you’ve decided on an agent, look at their literary agency website for any submission instructions on how they would like to be queried. Each agency will usually have guidelines laid out on the page they direct you to when asking about querying, which every writer should definitely check.
Just like your pages being pushed to side if not accompanied by a query letter, any query letter that doesn't follow the clearly laid out guidelines will have the same effect. For instance, if the agency wants all queries sent to them through QueryManager and you send them email queries, your query letter may just be ignored.
What Are Some Common Submission Guidelines For a Query Letter?
Many agents have similar things they look for in a query. The two components most commonly asked for: a query letter and pages. There are some agencies that break the mold and ask for you to fill out a survey of sorts, but in my experience that's less common.
As for pages, some would like the first 10-20 pages of your manuscript, others would like a chapter, some might not even want a sample as of yet. The amount of pages will change from agency to agency, so really make sure to double check the amount they want before submitting your query letter.
Speaking of the query letter, most will tell you the query letter should be no longer than a page, anything longer and you might have them lose interest. Why?
Agents, and publishers for the matter, get thousands of queries and unsolicited pages, so the process is very much like an interview — just like we said, your query is your cover letter and the pages are your resume. Your resume could be any length really, but a super long cover letter does nothing to help your prospects.
And just like interviews, response time varies from agency to agency, so make sure you check to see how long they say it will take for them on average to get back to you.
What Should Your Query Letter Contain?
Writing a query letter is a pretty straightforward process, as the body of it is made up of four simple components: why you think this agent would be the best fit for the manuscript you’ve written; a short, pithy synopsis of your book; why this book would intrigue readers in the market and why you're the person who should tell it; and your contact information (this may change depending on where you send your query from).
The query itself should be formatted as, well, a letter; starting with "Dear ____" and ending with you signing your name. You can choose to use the agent's first name or "Ms/Mr/Mrs/Mx ____" but I would suggest using their full name to not seem overly familiar or risk offending if using the wrong title.
As for signing off the letter, you can choose to have a valediction such as "sincerely" or "regards", or simply choose to omit it. If you do use one, try to use ones that would be used in business settings, like the one's above. As for the actual content and format of the letter...
Picking Your Query Letter Template
The way your query letter should read changes depending on how the query letter is being sent. Here are a few examples:
Snail Mail Query Letter
This is a simple query letter example drafted up about a book where a young boy finds his father after his mother dies, and it's formatted for a snail mail exchange.
You see the top of the page where you're prompted to put down addresses and ZIP codes for both you and the agency? These are only really needed when sending a query through the mail. This isn't a very popular way of receiving queries anymore, nor will most agencies request your query through the mail, so this format is less...needed.
Here's our second query letter example:
Attachment Formatted Query Letter
The subject matter is the same, but instead only our name, email address, phone number and date are listed at the top. Why? Because this is for an attachment style query letter.
If you are instructed to send your query in an attachment, whether in email or through a website like QueryManager or QueryTracker, this is how it should look. You always want to make sure the agency knows how to contact you, should they be interested in getting your book published for you.
That's why in the snail mail example your address is listed, it's so the agency could send you a letter through the mail to respond.
Here's our last format query letter example:
Email Body Formatted Query Letter
This last format is for email queries, specifically when the query is meant to be sent in the body of an email. The reason this one doesn't need a date, your email address, or anything else at the top is
Because sending the email will give them your contact information and the time it was sent and
Because it's meant to be formatted like an email, which doesn't necessitate it being formatted like a formal letter
This also means that any extra info you would like them to know can go in your sign off. Note how this query letter has "Author of [Previous Book Name]" under the [Your Name]. Info about you that is relevant can go at the end of an email. It's the same reason why business emails sometimes sign off with that person's job title and the company they work at.
So if you're a bestselling author, add that in. If you have written a self published book, put that in. Any necessary details about your experience in writing books or publishing can possibly get you a bit further ahead.
Most Popular Formats
The two most common formats will be the attachment style and the email style, so try to keep those in mind when writing your query letter.
How To Write A Query Letter
There are a few components your query letter should have, and we'll break it down with our previous example.
The Word Count
A typical starting phrase for a query letter is usually a short, pithy sentence that includes the full word count for the book, the age range for the audience of your book, and the genre or any tropes your book falls into. Here we have highlighted this sentence in this letter:
Some things here aren't completely vital, for instance the agent you're querying won't absolutely die if you leave out the word count, but it's standard practice to add in these details right off the bat so they know what kind of book they're dealing with.
The "Review"
Then comes explanation of the themes of your book and your book title. Every part of a query letter is important, but if we're ranking importance, this comes in tied for 2nd. This is where you give a brief hook for the agent on your concept and get them interested in reading your manuscript. See how this section is written in the sample letter:
There's a sentence-long description of the book's plot: a young boy's journey to find his estranged father after the untimely death of his mother; a list of themes for the story: themes of loss, family, and the resilience of the human spirit; and a few adjectives for the tone of the story: a poignant and hopeful story.
It should read almost like a review beta readers or book critics would give as an endorsement of a book that's coming out soon. Try to really capture the feeling of what's meant to be like when readers actually get to read your book.
The Blurb
Here is where we introduce your main character (or main characters!) and give brief explanation of your plot. ONLY the exposition, rising action, and climax, do not go further! The synopsis of your book should be akin to a blurb. A good blurb gets you interested in the book without giving it away, which is exactly what your query should do.
Here is what that should look like:
This explanation of the book should be a bit more detailed than before. For instance, in this letter the inciting incident is recognized: whose world is turned upside down when his mother passes away unexpectedly; and the rising action: With no other family to turn to, and armed only with a few clues from his mother's old letters, [Protagonist’s Name] embarks on a courageous quest to locate the father he's never known.
Like I said before, try not to give too much away. If you have a great story that will shine through even with the ending not being given away.
The Comp Titles
A comp title is simply editorial speak for a book that is similar to your book. It could be similar in the type of readers it would bring in, in trope, in genre, or in general plot.
Adding this title will do two things: show the agent that you are familiar with your readers, AND give them a general idea of how your book will fit into their list, ie. how they will need to market you, if your book has potential, etc.
Bonus points if you choose a comp title from their list. MAKE SURE that this title is a true comp title, do not just pick a book from their website at random. If you have time and this is an agent you would really like to pick up your work, it would be beneficial to read some of their books to get a feel for the right title.
Here is how it should look in your query letter:
If you can connect the comp titles you pick to better illustrate what your book is like, that's even better. Like "The Hunger Games meets A Court of Thorns And Roses" or, like the example says blends the emotional depth of [Comparable Title 1] and the heartwarming adventure of [Comparable Title 2].
Try to aim for at least 1-2 comp titles for your query letter. But don't overdo it, having too many comp titles can make you query letter look sloppy or like you're not exactly sure what your novel is about. Cap it at about 3 comps if you can.
The Ending
Your last paragraph should just be explaining where to find your pages and any additional information you think the agent should know about your novel.
Here's an example of what that should look like:
The Mistake of The Query Letter Example
There is a reason why we gave this specific example for a query letter, because it does some things right...and wrong. So here are thing you can do better than our sample.
The Market Value
This is where you expand on who you think will read your novel, ie. a fan base you already have, people who like the type of story you came up with, people who can relate to the themes of your novel, etc.
If your book idea/pages is having a market boom right now this is also where you would add that information. Like how dystopian YA novels were huge in the 2010s, or how fairytale retellings are having a huge moment now in the 2020s.
Adding this information will give the agent reasons to think your manuscript would succeed that they don't have to think of on their own. Taking the burden off of them gives you a better chance, because like stated earlier, agents get so many submissions regularly. The less they have to do, the better you look.
What Would This Look Like?
Let's take our sample and write something that would fit this book idea. Maybe something like "middle grade coming-of-age stories are becoming more popular, especially with the rise of the Percy Jackson series and its spin offs" or "middle grade fiction is often about kids growing up and facing challenges on their own, which is reflective of the market with books like Wonder continuing to top bestsellers lists".
Tropes and Genres
When first introducing your novel to an agent, there are a few phrases you can use to give them a better picture of your novel — like genres and tropes.
Our sample only told the agent about the age group and word count, but some more information writers could give about this particular novel is "coming-of-age" and "realistic fiction". This would help the agent place the novel better in terms of expectations.
Don't Forget About Who You're Writing To!
Lastly, write out your reasoning for why these agents you query should take you on as a client. They want to know you're not just sending out a generic query to every slightly reputable person you find. This is the part that takes your query letter from cookie cutter to genuine.
We said there was something "more" important than writing a juicy explanation of your story, and this is it: personalizing your letter.
Just like in cover letters, if there's any part of your query that you are going to change for every agent you send them to, it's this part. This should be highly tailored to this agent's list of clients or books. Showing them that you are familiar with their work and skills gives you a better chance of standing out from the stack of query letters they have, so make sure to be as authentic as possible and skip the generic talk.
Talk about any personal connections you have to their work, their stellar record when it comes to new authors (if they have that!), the emphasis they've chosen (on women's lit, or POC authors, or genre fiction as a few examples) and why that is relevant to your book — things that are specific to them that make you a good fit.
Because our letter didn't do this, this query is less impactful and persuasive than it could be, and that could affect its successfulness.
That’s it! But there are a few tips and tricks of the trade!
How To Get An Agent Interested
Be Specific
Agents are looking for query letters to be fairly short, but that also means you should be to the point and brief in a way that showcases your story instead of bogging it down. Many writers think to be descriptive you have to be long-winded or writing flowery 1000 word passages — this isn't the case.
Do not go into unnecessary details about character motivation or backstories or flesh out the middle chapters. But do be specific about the workings of the plot. Go into detail about the turning points of the rising action and climax, and make sure each character you introduce them to is clearly defined.
Your explanation of your book should be the longest part o your letter, so you have some wiggle room to really engage the agent, but make sure everything in that passage is relevant to that goal.
Polish, Polish, Polish!
Most agents will ask for pages, so make sure the pages shine! The rest of manuscript can be a bit rough around the edges (agents expect that, it is a first draft after all) but if you really want to hook an agent you have to make sure the first few pages of your manuscript have a real hook to them.
It has to be something that draws the reader in, whether that be your unique author’s voice, an intriguing start, or something a bit fast paced. Decide what’s best for your particular story and what you would like to showcase to the agent. The more polished that first reading of your story is, the more likely you will hear back.
Have a Few First Picks
Just like with job interviews, you don’t want to hinge all of your hopes on one prospect. Find a few agents you like and send them all query letters (not all at once of course, see our article about agents to know why that's a bad idea), using all the tips and tricks.
Like stated before, there are hundreds of writers just like you trying to get a shot, and only so much time each agent has to spare from their already expansive lists, it may take some time to hear back from agents — and that’s okay! It doesn’t mean your novel is bad, keep putting yourself out there.
Last Thoughts & The End Goal
Know this, if you're at the point of your writer's journey where writing a query letter is your next step, be PROUD. Finishing a draft of your first novel is a big deal, some don't even get that far no matter how much they want to. Don't let anyone's negative comments get you down or persuade you into not taking this next step, if you want to get a publishing deal and eventually get published, keep going and don't lose hope!
But if you take nothing else from this article, keep this in mind: get feedback. I know editors and writers always seem diametrically opposed, but we need each other. Without feedback on how your novel reads or your query sounds, you may just be submitting a suboptimal piece of work. Given that some agencies do not allow you to query twice, this is serious business!
If your book is rejected, sometimes you will not hear back at all or you might receive a rejection letter. DO NOT PANIC! This is part of the process. If you're a first time author, it can be scary to keep getting ghosted or rejected, but when you are trying to break out with a debut novel, it takes some time for things to fall into place. Nothing in life worth working for is easy!
If your query letter is successful, the agent will get back to you and ask for your full manuscript, and if they like what they see, they’ll pick you up as a client! After that, you’ll get all the benefits of having an agent. What are these benefits? Well getting published is one of them! See How To Find A Literary Agent for more information. If you’re more of a visual learner, check out our query template here.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE… There’s one last trick for aspiring authors sending out query letters that might actually help you kill two birds with one stone! If you want to learn this trick, join our paid newsletter!
Comentarios