Everything you need to craft a great query letter is in this post. Whether you\u2019re selling your first novel or you have decades of writing experience, this guide will help you avoid the slush pile and secure a bona fide literary agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n\n
- Why a query letter is important<\/li>\n\n
- 5 steps on how to write a query letter<\/li>\n\n
- Dos and don\u2019ts of query letter writing<\/li>\n\n
- Sample query letter outline<\/li>\n\n
- Tips on how to ready your manuscript for agents<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Table of contents<\/h2>
- What is a query letter?<\/a><\/li>
- What To Include In Your Query Letter<\/a><\/li>
- Crafting Your Query Letter In 5 Steps<\/a><\/li>
- Dos and Don\u2019ts of Query Letters for a Literary Agent<\/a><\/li>
- Sample Query Letter Outline<\/a><\/li>
- What To Do After You've Submitted Your Query<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Links in this article may earn me a small commission if you use them to purchase a product or service \u2014 at no extra cost to you. This has not affected my opinion. However, it helps me continue to write these awesome articles that anyone can read for free!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is a query letter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s answer the first question. What is a query letter?<\/strong> A query letter is a concise one-page letter that authors send to prospective literary agents in order to secure their representation. Authors almost always need a literary agent to land a traditional book deal<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Essentially, a query is like a business letter between writers and agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Query letters are different from book proposals<\/a>. When you find the right agent\u2019s attention, they should help you create and send a 20- to 50-page book proposal to traditional publishing houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before that happens, you have to send a successful query letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>If you want to send a book proposal to a publisher, you have to start with a query letter. \/ @DaveChesson<\/span>Click To Tweet<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\nFirst off, self-publishing is more legitimate than ever. Don\u2019t feel like you have to land a book deal with a traditional publisher to be a real author. (In fact, some self-publishers make more<\/em> money publishing their own work on Amazon.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secondly, securing a prospective agent is incredibly difficult. If you have a larger platform, and you can guarantee 20k pre-sales just on your platform alone, you\u2019ll probably find an agent within your first 50 query letters sent.If you don\u2019t have a major platform, you could send 1,000,000 query letters and only receive rejection and empty silence in return. It\u2019s fair to say your odds of landing an agent are 1 in 6,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-maker-5.gif\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWith that in mind, you can decide if you need<\/em> to write a query letter. If you\u2019re still looking to go with traditional publishing, you need to write a stellar query letter to snag an agent. Representation by an agent is critical to securing a book deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re fine with self-publishing, you will likely never have to worry about query letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why are query letters important?<\/strong> Query letters are important because authors use these letters to show literary agents that an aspiring writer is talented and has a story worth telling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Query letters can also demonstrate that the author has a platform with which they can use to sell more books and can follow directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What To Include In Your Query Letter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Every literary agent accepting manuscript submissions has submission guidelines that every submitting author must follow. You need to include everything they ask for and a little extra spice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What should be included in a query letter? <\/strong>A query letter should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Author name<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Title of book<\/strong><\/a> and subtitle<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Agent\u2019s name<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The word \u201cquery\u201d in the subject line<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Brief introduction<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Whether your book is part of a series<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Size of your platform (social media<\/a>, WordPress, YouTube<\/strong><\/a>, previous sales, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Publishing history (only if it includes anything successful or prestigious)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Short story summary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Long summary (if they require it in their submission guidelines)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Chapter sample (whatever they require in their submission guidelines)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A gracious outro<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Your phone number, email address, etc. in the email signature<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Each agent has slightly different submission guidelines. Your query letters will look similar to one another, but with slight differences in layout every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, one agent may ask for a 2-sentence bio and the first 5 chapters of your manuscript. Another agent might ask for a 3- to 5-sentence bio and the first 2,000 words of your manuscript.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Occasionally, an agent might not request \u201cquery\u201d in the email\u2019s subject line, but I recommend you always include this word in the email header.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m convinced that literary agents are just trying to confuse new authors with unnecessarily complicated guidelines, hoping to arbitrarily weed out less experienced authors and favor writers who can hire a professional ghostwriter<\/strong><\/a> to craft their query letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Literary agents, unfortunately, serve as a medium between authors and traditional publishers \u2014 a remnant of legacy media\u2019s heyday. Some might argue that agents are no longer needed, nor even traditional publishing companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Traditional media certainly haven\u2019t adapted or evolved with the changing times. Why should<\/em> they remain relevant? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crafting Your Query Letter In 5 Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When crafting your perfect query letter, you always need to remember that each agent has slightly different submission guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you write a query letter?<\/strong> You write a query letter by following the submission guidelines, presenting yourself as a marketable author, and connecting with the agent through personalization and a compelling hook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below are 5 clear, actionable steps that you should take to craft your query letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Creatively Connect With the Agent<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You need to connect with the agent in a great query letter. Agents\u2019 eyes have been trained to spot red flags, incorrect names, robotic query letter template fodder, and overall bullcrap. Break through their thick skin with some personalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Refer to each specific agent by their name. If you copy and paste sections from another query letter, you may want to add a layer of protection by searching for other agents\u2019 names and replacing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tell the agent why<\/em> you\u2019re contacting them. Don\u2019t say they were on a long list of prospects in the science fiction genre<\/a> or employ another generic statement that doesn\u2019t cultivate connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, mention if you had a referral, or if you love the authors this agent already represents, or if you found their personal bio inspiring. (Don\u2019t lie, obviously.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- What To Include In Your Query Letter<\/a><\/li>
- What is a query letter?<\/a><\/li>