How to Write a 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.
If you’re wondering how to write a query letter, you’ve come to the right place. Writing a query letter is one of the most important steps that you can take when submitting your work for publication. A query letter serves as an introduction to the project, your take on your intended audience, and you as a creator. It’s a way for you to get the attention of a literary agent or publishing and stand out in the slush pile. Here’s what you need to know about how to write a query letter.
How to Write a Query Letter: Query Ingredients
The body of your query letter should include some significant parts: the personalization, hook or logline, the project description, and an author biography. After that, there’s just a breezy sign-off and thank the agent or publisher for their time and attention. Below everything, include your name and any social media or web presence.
The hook is where you get creative in how to write a query letter—it’s where you capture the reader’s attention with something unique and compelling about your project. It’s best to keep this premise statement short and sweet—no more than two sentences—and aim for something memorable that will stay with the gatekeeper once they finish reading your letter. Make sure to include the manuscript logistics: title, word count, genre, target audience, and any potential comp titles. Many writers wondering how to write a query letter tend to forget these very important details.
The project description is where you provide all the relevant details about your book, including character arcs and plot arcs. If you’re writing fantasy or science fiction, make sure to include a sense of your worldbuilding. This section needs to flow smoothly so that readers can easily grasp what the book is about without getting lost in too many extraneous details. Finally, close with a professional sign-off. All told, your query letter should be 250 to 400 words.
How to Write a Query Letter: Tips and Tricks
When crafting your query letter, keep in mind that you need to catch attention right away. Focus on quality over quantity—use language that is clear and concise, and avoid ascribing adjectives to your own work. Of course you think it’s wonderful, you wrote it. If you’re wondering how to write a query letter, stay down to earth and send the message that you’d be pleasant to work with. You don’t want to send the impression that you have unrealistic expectations.
Most of the mistakes writers make on submission happen during the literary agent research phase. You really need to spend time figuring out who might be best suited for publishing your project (e.g., genre-specific agents and publishers). Finally, tune your query letter to your target and make your personal appeal specific and genuine.
Crafting an effective query letter is key if you want to stand out among other submissions vying for attention from literary agents and publishers alike. By researching how to write a query letter, you are putting yourself far ahead of your competition in the slush pile.
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Click here to purchase Successful 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.