The Basics
What is a Query Letter?
A query letter is an email introducing yourself to an agent, editor, or publisher. If they like your pitch, they’ll ask to see more. You can check their website and see if they want you to attach a sample of your writing.
How Long Should a Query Letter Be?
KEEP IT SHORT!
Agents receive hundreds of queries, phone calls, emails per day. Your query should be a short, quick, extremely impactful audition.
Word count = 300 words, maximum.
- Do an internet search for different agents and see which ones accept the genre’ in which you write. Don’t send your query to anyone you find.
- Check the agent’s website to learn how they want submissions to appear (font, postal address, subject line, and the way to word the query). 50-100 words per paragraph.
What Should a Query Letter Contain?
- A hook
- Introduction
- Genre’
- Word count
Show that you know EXACTLY what they’re looking for.
Next, Summarize Your Story
This is where you use the narrative voice of your story and discuss what’s at stake for your main character (their biggest conflict). End on a question, so they want to know more.
- Keep it to 4 or 5 lines maximum with short sentences. Don’t give away the ending. Leave them knowing the central theme of your story, but not the ending.
Next, is the Bio Section
Write things that intrigue them. Include awards or anything that will wow them.
Tip:
Every agent has their own way of working. Don’t make your query seem as if you’ve sent 100 copies of that letter to every agent you found. Tweak each query letter you write to meet the style and submission requests of the agent.
Show them you care by doing your research.
Finish by saying whether you have a full proposal ready or the full manuscript.
Every agent asks for something different. Check their submission rules carefully before sending anything.
Good Luck!
Happy Writing, Gina
