Query Letters

The Way to Get Noticed and Your Book Published

Why Bother?

Agents take queries very seriously and really do read them

Agents actually respond to ones that spark their interest

What is it?

A single page cover letter, introducing you and your book

Has three paragraphs: Hook, Synopsis, Bio

The Heading

Your Name (Maybe a picture of your book)

Your Address / Your Number / Your Email

The Date

The Attention: Name of Agent

Position in Company

Company Name

Address

Dear ________:

The Hook

One sentence introduction to your book

Should include: Title

Word-count

Genre

Examples: House of Sand and Fog: When Massoud Amir

Behrani, a former colonel in the Iranian military, sinks his remaining funds into a house he buys at auction, he unwittingly puts himself and his family on a trajectory to disaster; the house once belonged to Kathy Nicolo, a self-destructive alcoholic, who engages in legal, then personal confrontation to get it back. 

The Da Vinci Code: A murder in the silent after-hour halls of the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Christ.

The Mini-Synopsis

One paragraph summary of your book

You can refer to: Book flaps in your favorite books

Blurbs on the back of books

Your own blurb

The Bio

All about you!

Only information about writing career.

Agents don’t care where you work

Awards

Publications

Degrees

Current writings

Closing

Thank the agent for their time and consideration.

Nonfiction: tell them that you’ve included an outline, table of contents, and sample chapters for their review.

Fiction: alert the agent that the full manuscript is available upon request.

Don’t query agents until you’ve finished your full fiction manuscript. 

Agents will want to read the whole novel before they offer representation to you and your book.

Be sure to include a SASE with your letter

Do’s and Don’ts

DO

Address specifically to an agent

State the title of your book

Mention word-count and genre

Mention why you came to that particular agent: do RESEARCH

The style should match the book’s tone

Keep the letter to ONE PAGE

Format snail-mail to business alignment and heading

Have someone proofread

DON’T

Start by saying, "I am querying you because I found your name in 'such and such' writing guide or internet agent database“

Compare your book to other books

Send gifts or bribes

Use colored paper

Shrink your font

FedEx your query

Apologize for being a newbie writer

Include sample chapters

Forget to include your contact info and SASE

Useful Additions

Synopsis No more than three pages

Summarizes your ENTIRE book

Describe events that happen to the main character, don’t include subplots

Vitae Relevant education (not high school)

Awards

Writing Experience

Publications

Organization memberships