In traditional publishing, your query letter is your first—and sometimes only—chance to make a lasting impression on a literary agent. For fiction authors, mastering how to write a query letter can be the difference between landing a book deal and sinking in the dreaded slush pile. A well-written query letter introduces your novel and convinces an agent that your story is worth their time and effort.
But what does it take to write a query letter that gets read rather than overlooked? This post will guide you through the process, offering practical tips and strategies to make certain your query letter stands out in a crowded inbox.
Whether you’re a first-time novelist or a seasoned writer, this post will teach you how to write a query letter that gets read and gets results.
What Is a Query Letter?
A query letter is a one-page pitch introducing your novel to a literary agent. It typically includes a brief synopsis of your story, a gripping hook, and a few sentences about you as the author. The goal is to grab the agent’s attention and persuade them to request your full manuscript for consideration. In traditional publishing, the query letter is often the first step you need to take to get represented by an agent.
The Role of a Query Letter in the Traditional Publishing Process
In traditional publishing, literary agents act as gatekeepers, connecting authors with publishers. Before an agent agrees to represent you, they need to be convinced that your book has marketable potential. The query letter is your tool to make that case. It’s your opportunity to show off your writing skills, communicate that you understand how the market works, and prove that your novel is a good fit for the agent’s list.
The Stakes: Why a Well-Written Query Letter Matters
The stakes are high when it comes to query letters. Agents receive hundreds, if not thousands, of queries each month. With such a high volume of submissions, many agents will only read the first few sentences before deciding whether to continue. If your query letter fails to capture their interest quickly, it’s likely to end up in the slush pile—a virtual graveyard for overlooked submissions.
A well-written query letter, however, can lead to requests for partial or full manuscripts, setting you on the path to securing an agent and, hopefully, a publishing contract. In short, your query letter can make or break your chances of breaking into the traditional publishing world.
How to Write a Query Letter That Gets Read
Step 1: Research Literary Agents
Before you start writing your query letter, you need to research literary agents who are right for your book and for you. It’s important to find agents who represent your genre and are open to submissions.
Here are a few tips on how to find the right agent(s):
- Know your book’s genre so you’ll know which agents to research.
- Check the submission guidelines for each agent.
- Evaluate the agent’s track record.
- Find and read interviews done by the agent so you can get a feel for who they really are.
- Read agent profiles to learn more about their personalities.
- Network with other authors in your genre to see who they recommend.
How to Find a Literary Agent That’s Perfect for You and Your Book
Personalization
Once you have found an agent (or agents) that you want to send a query letter to, you can personalize it to each agent. This shows that you’ve done your homework and sincerely believe your book aligns with their interests. Agents look for authors who understand their specific tastes and preferences, and a personalized query letter proves that you’ve taken the time to research their client list and submission guidelines. This extra effort will increase the chances of your query being read. It also communicates professionalism and respect for the agent’s time. And it sets you apart from general submissions.
Following Submission Guidelines
Agents usually have their submission guidelines on their websites or platforms like QueryTracker and Publishers Marketplace. Each agent typically lists their submission preferences, including the genres they represent and the format they prefer for query letters, synopses, and sample chapters. If you don’t follow their instructions exactly, your query letter will be either ignored or rejected.
Step 2: Start your letter with a strong hook.
A hook is a brief, attention-grabbing statement at the beginning of your query letter, designed to pique a literary agent’s interest. It gathers the heart of your story into one or two gripping sentences, pointing out its most intriguing or unique pieces.
The hook serves as a teaser that makes the agent want to read further, successfully setting the tone for the rest of your query. A strong hook often introduces the main conflict, stakes, or a unique element of your plot that sets your novel apart from others in the genre.
A strong hook consists of these qualities:
- Concise and clear
- Unique and compelling
- High stake
- Emotionally resonant
- Genre-appropriate
How to Write an Attention-Grabbing Hook for Your Query Letter
Step 3: Write a concise and engaging synopsis.
A synopsis is a summary of your book that lets the literary agent or publisher understand what your book is about. It overviews the key elements and main points, such as setting, characters, and stakes.
Think of a synopsis as a screening process for manuscripts. Agents don’t have time to read an entire manuscript so the synopsis lets them know what the book is about quickly. It should cover all the main points of a book from beginning to end in the right order.
When writing a book synopsis to send to a literary agent, it’s important to organize your content in a clear, concise, and engaging way. Remember, your synopsis should include three main points: the setup, major developments, and the resolution.
Novels generally have a similar structure:
- Exciting beginning
- Inciting incident
- Crises
- Climax
- Satisfying ending
How to Write a Synopsis That Makes Agents Request Your Manuscript
Step 4: Highlight your author credentials.
In a short paragraph, at the end of your query letter before you thank the agent for their time, sum up your professional writing credentials. You can include any courses you’ve taken, workshops you’ve attended, awards you’ve received, books you’ve published previously, and any other literary achievements you feel are necessary.
What to Put in Your Query Letter Bio
Step 5: Close the letter with a simple ending.
There’s no reason to tell agents why you’re writing the letter or what you’re looking for. They already know. Keep the ending simple and to the point. Just end it! Something like this would be just fine:
“Thank you for your time and consideration.”
Step 6: Add your signature.
After saying thank you, add your signature, including your full name, company name if applicable, address, phone number, email address, and website URL.
Agents need every piece of information you have to be able to get in touch with you easily.
How to Format Your Query Letter
Most agents like for your query letter to be formatted a certain way. It makes it simple and easy for them to scan through since that’s what they usually do anyway. Here are some formatting tips to follow when writing your query letter.
*I’m only including tips for sending queries through email. If you plan to send your query through postal mail, Mark Malatesta has a great article on how to do that. Be sure to check the agent’s submission guidelines to see if they prefer to receive your query letter through email, postal mail, or an online submission form.
- Put the word “query” in the email subject line followed by the title of your book and your book’s genre
- Query – Title of Book – Genre
- Use Times New Roman 12-point font (Do not use colored font. Do not use background images or stationary.)
- Use a formal greeting, address the agent personally, and use a colon after their name
- Dear Mrs. Miller:
- Left justify the body of text
- Single space everything
- Double-space between paragraphs
- Close your letter with something simple
- Thank you for your consideration.
- Add your name and complete contact information in your signature
- First and Last Name
- Company Name (if applicable)
- Street Address
- City, State, Zip Code
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Website URL
*PROFESSIONAL TIP*
Proofread your query letter! A query letter with errors gets rejected immediately. It needs to look professional and be error-free. Before you hit send, have your letter professionally proofread. Click here to get started working with me on removing the typos!
Conclusion
Writing a query letter that captures a literary agent’s attention is both an art and a science. By following the steps outlined in this post on how to write a query letter—researching the right agents, personalizing your letter, following submission guidelines, starting with a strong hook, writing a concise synopsis, and highlighting your author credentials—you’ll be well on your way to creating a query letter that stands out.
Remember, your query letter is often your first and only chance to make a lasting impression. Invest the time and effort to get it right, and you’ll significantly increase your chances of getting read and securing the representation you need to bring your novel to the world.
More articles on query letters:
How to Write a Query Letter That Wows Literary Agents + Template by Tiffany Hawk
Example of a Good Query Letter by Nathan Bransford
Examples of Successful Query Letters by Ellen Brock
