Babe, you made it. You’ve done all the things you needed to do. You’ve written and rewritten and cried weepy, snot-tears all over your keyboard because you never thought you’d actually finish, but you did. And now you’re ready to query.
I’m so proud of you!
Here I’ll take you through a high level review of the query letter format. Then I have tips and tricks to keep in mind, plus ways to find an agent and ideas to keep you organized.
Writing A Query Letter
There are a million templates and instructions on how to write a query letter online. My colleague, Sara Wigal, even has a free template you can download from her website (find it here). The basics are below.
Introduction - If you can, make this personal. If you’ve met the agent in person, this is the place to mention it. But you can also reference things they’ve called out on their bio or website. Do they live in your city? Do you have a shared favorite book? Why are you querying them in particular?
Crucial Info - Book title, word count, genre, and any comparative titles. Don’t forget comps can be used to establish the overall vibe, not just plot. And TV and movie comps are great!
Book Synopsis - What is your book about? This is where you have to sell me on it. This should be short and sweet and designed to catch my interest. There is no strict character limit (don’t be bamboozled by people that tell you it has to be a certain word count), but you should keep your synopsis around 100-200 words ideally. Short and sweet, babe.
Author Bio - Give me an idea of who you are! If you have credentials great, but if you don’t that’s fine, too. I personally love when authors add details like, “I live with my partner and two, too-fat puggles that have my whole heart”, etc. I’ve even received restaurant recommendations in a query before!
Tips, Tricks, and Etiquette
Stick to the form - The form exists for a reason. It gives me all the information I’m looking for and breaking the mold typically just annoys me.
No flowery language - Your query should make me excited to read the sample, or better yet, the full manuscript. You do not need to display your writing prowess in your query. Remember, short and sweet, babe.
Be consistent - Your genre, comps, and synopsis should all match. More than that, your sample should match all of the above. Make sure the story you’re pitching is exactly the story the agent is going to read. When I open the sample chapters, I should already have a clear idea of what kind of story I’m reading. Unmet expectations are an easy way to get rejected. (Hint: Have someone who’s read your book help you with your query! You can even pay to have your query reviewed by an editor or agent who provides that service).
One Agent per Agency - You can only query one agent per agency. Agenting is a commission-based business. If you query more than one agent, you’re creating internal competition and unnecessary friction. Follow the rules, pick one agent and shoot your shot.
Another Offer of Rep? - If you receive another offer of representation and you haven’t heard back from the other agents you queried, it is appropriate to follow up with the other agents to let them know. The offering agent will typically give you a few weeks to see if anyone else offers.
Finding Agents
Books - The best and easiest way to find an agent is in the acknowledgements of books like yours. Not only is this easy (it’s likely that you read and write similar content), but it also “requires” a trip to the book store. What a hardship!
QueryTracker - This is a website where you can not only find an agent, but also build a querying list and keep track of queries. It’s mostly free, but you can pay for a subscription that comes with more bells and whistles. Something to keep in mind, not every agent is going to be on it.
Manuscript Wishlist - This is free website where agents list the genres they are interested in and what they’re actively looking for. You’ll typically also find query instructions and email addresses, etc. Similar to QueryTracker, not every agent is on the website, so be sure you’re expanding your search.
In Person - Meeting an agent in person is always a good idea if you have the ability. Going to conferences, attending courses that have a “pitch an agent” component, not only are they a great place to meet agents and practice your sales pitch, but they are also great places to expand your author network.
Online - Most (if not all) agencies will have agent profiles on their websites so you can get a sense of what the agent represents and whether or not they are accepting queries. A lot of agents are also present on social media and discuss what they are looking for.
Strategies For Querying - Stay Organized
As we’ve established, finding an agent takes time, so keeping yourself organized is important. You don’t want to go querying the same agent twice! My best advice is to keep a spreadsheet. (Sexy I know!) Below is some information you want to make sure you’re including.
Agent Info - You’ll want the agent name and agent email (duh!). You can add their page on the agency website or even their social media if you’d like to get fancy.
Agency Info - Get the agency name and also the agency website for good measure.
Query Requirements - This is a super important column! Every agency does it differently. How many pages/chapters do they take with their sample? Are you submitting to an email (what’s the email address?) or are you filling out a form on their website (include the link)?
Follow Up - Agencies will probably have statements on their website telling you when (if ever) it’s appropriate to follow up on your query. If they don’t, it’s good practice to leave an agent to consider it for 90 days. Some agencies will also have a statement telling you that if you haven’t heard back within X months, then it’s a pass. Keep track of those numbers so you know where you are in the process.
Another Offer of Rep? - An agency will typically have an email address or a way to contact them if you’ve received an offer of representation from another agency.
Dates - The final thing to keep track of is the dates! When did you send the query out? When did you follow up, etc.? It might feel like it’s been forever, but then you check your handy-dandy spreadsheet and it hasn’t been long at all.
Now you know the basics, you’re all set to get started. So go get ‘em, tiger! Just remember that it can take a long time to find an agent, and don’t be discouraged if (when!) you get a lot of rejections. This is a subjective business and not every agent is going to be the right fit. It doesn’t mean your book isn’t worthy or that it will never get published, it just means that one agent wasn’t the right person. Keep going and you’ll find your partner.
