How to Write a Query Letter

You have spent months, maybe years creating your novel and now you are ready to pitch it to a literary agent. You will need to write a query letter capturing your entire book in a 1-page letter. Agents are extremely busy and the average agency receives up to 100 queries a day. A well-written query will get the attention of the agent over the hundreds of others.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A pad of paper
• A good pen or pencil
• A computer
• A word processor program

1. Write a short 2 paragraph summary of your novel’s storyline. Make every word count and remember the entire query letter should be 1 page. Write what your book is about--the main point of your plot or characters. Your description is really a hook--an idea, a plot or a character so interesting that the agent must see your manuscript.

2. To get an idea of how to write your book’s description, read the book cover flap on several novels similar in genre to yours, such as literary, romance or thriller. Read the advertising copy found in bookstores or bookstore websites describing a particular book that is similar to yours.

3. Write the next paragraph about how your book is similar to bestselling books and authors. If your book is about religion and high tech, you might say "My book is like Dan Browne and Michael Crichton teamed up to write a thriller."

4. Write about the market for your book. Do a little research on the Internet on who would buy your book based on what is selling now.

5. Write a sentence or two on your writing background, what you have published or if you worked for a publication, school newspaper, magazine or even if you wrote newsletters for an organization. Don’t fret if you have never published anything. You can write about your work background and why you are qualified to write your novel. Also, include the genre of your book if it is romance, literary fiction, a thriller or women’s fiction.

6. Tell the agent where you found out about them and why you think they would be interested in your book.

7. Ask the agent if they would be interested in seeing a few chapters or the entire manuscript. Include the number of words of your book and that you would be happy to send it to them.

8. Always include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your letter so that the agent can respond to you one way or the other.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a simple font like Arial, Times Roman or Courier.
• Keep the font at 12 point--agents have tired eyes and making it easier for them will help your chances of being considered.
• Print with black ink on standard white paper.
• Your novel should be completed. Agents will not consider a book if it is not finished.
• Research the agent at their website. Make sure the agent represents your genre. Don’t send a romance novel to an agent who handles only literary fiction and Young Adult.
• Never send the entire manuscript--wait until the agent asks to see it.
• Always send a clean, proofread copy. Never correct a misspelling by writing on the letter. Rewrite the letter and print a fresh copy.
• Be professional and remember getting published is a business and agents and publishers want to make money with your work.

Resources

• Comprehensive Listing of Literary Agents
• PubRants--solid advice to writers from a literary agent
• Writer Unboxed--a useful blog by published authors
• The Writer's Edge--a helpful site about the craft of writing