The Anatomy of an
Agent Query Letter
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
An agent query letter is the first step in many writers’ submission journeys. It’s your chance to make a good impression and showcase your writing skills in front of a literary agent or a publishing house that accepts submissions directly, so it's important that you get it right. Writing an effective agent query letter can be intimidating for writers who are new to the process, but with a bit of knowledge and practice, anyone can write a winning agent query.
What is an Agent Query Letter?
An agent query letter is a one-page (single-spaced) letter of about 250 to 400 words that introduces your manuscript to literary agents or publishers. The primary focus is on an overview of the book you are querying—including the target audience, genre, comparative titles, and word count—and why this book might be appealing to agents and/or publishers. You might want to start with a logline or elevator pitch as well.
It should also include some basic author biography information, such as your name, contact information, and writing credentials (if you have any), though this should not be the primary focus (unless you’re writing an author platform-driven nonfiction project or memoir.)
Parts of an Agent Query Letter
You might want to start out with some query personalization that details your literary agent research and shows the recipient that you’ve taken the time to learn the market and are being intentional in your submission. At its core, a query letter has three essential components: the book hook, the mini-synopsis, and the author bio. The hook is designed to grab the agent’s attention by introducing the main character(s) and providing an exciting summary of what the novel is about.
The mini-synopsis goes into more detail about the plot—and I do make an argument for revealing the ending, especially if you’re writing mystery/thriller/suspense. Overall, this “query meat” portion provides a few paragraphs that detail your character arcs and major plot points. If you have publishing credits, make sure to note the title, publisher, and year.
You can follow it all with the following breezy sign-off:
Per your guidelines, the first XYZ chapters/pages are enclosed. Please note that this is a simultaneous submission. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Obviously, you’ll need to customize this to that particular agent or publisher’s submission guidelines. (Most will ask for the first ten pages or first three chapters, that’s why the above is worded in such a way.)
Tips for Writing Effective Agent Query Letters
When writing your agent query letter, keep in mind that agents and publishers (those that open themselves up to unagented submissions, anyway) receive hundreds of queries every single day. Some agents report getting upwards of 30,000 (or more!) per year. You want yours to stand out, but this prospect can be the most daunting part of submission!
Make sure that you don't skimp on research—look up which agents/publishers handle books in your category and genre before submitting. You don’t want to waste your time or theirs. Additionally, take time to carefully craft each element of your query letter—focus on making sure each section flows together well but also stands out on its own. If you’re open to writing feedback, show the letter to someone who is not familiar with your story at all. See if they’re able to make sense of your characters and plot and especially worldbuilding, if you’re writing fantasy or science fiction. If not, it might be time to go back to the drawing board or hire a query letter editor.
Finally, avoid using jargon, smart words, or overly flowery language—stick with straightforward descriptions that communicate exactly what makes your story unique. You don’t want to send the message that you’re trying too hard or compensating. Remember, an agent query can also show the literary agent or publisher that you’re a professional worth working with—or someone with unreasonable expectations to avoid at all costs. (Oddly the comp title section is important in this regard.)
An effective agent query letter requires careful thought and research if you want to stand out in the slush pile and avoid literary rejections! With hard work and dedication, anyone can create an impressive agent query letter, all you need to do is take some of the overwhelm and intimidation out of it.
Click here to purchase Irresistible Query Letters, my book on query letters, including over forty examples with comprehensive notes on each one. There’s a ton of submission advice, best practices, and insider information in these pages, and you’ll really enjoy seeing what other writers are doing in the slush.