We’ve talked a little about what querying is, but one of the most important parts of querying is crafting the perfect query letter. Query letters need to be written for each individual agent and typically consist of four parts:
1) A personalized intro for the individual agent. Make sure you address it to the specific agent (no “Dear Agent”) and spell their name correctly. Your opening paragraph should be about why you’ve chosen to query them. What specifically do you like about this agent? Is there a book they represent that you admire? How did you find out about them? This doesn’t have to be long (a sentence or two will suffice), but it’s important that you establish a relationship with the agent you’re querying. Agents get hundreds of query letters. Let them know why you think you’d be a good fit to work with them. (Pro tip: double check that you are using correct pronouns, or, better yet, entitle it to the agent’s name instead of using Mr./Mrs./Ms./Mx. to avoid any mistakes.)
2) Your book information. By this, I mean your title, word count, genre, and age range. Comp titles are also important to include and show that you know what’s trending in the publishing world right now. (Pro tip: try to use comp titles that have been published in the last 10 years; the more recent, the better.)
3) A pitch for your book. What is your book about? Try to avoid the overused questions such as “will our character achieve this goal?” Tell is who the main character is, what they’re going after, and what is at stake if they can’t achieve their goal. If you are querying a novel, many agents will also have you include a synopsis that will have all the spoilers for your book anyways, so don’t be worried about laying out the plot in your letter. (Pro tip: avoid just telling us your main character’s name. If you tell me “Margaret” is the main character, I know nothing about her. I know a lot more if you introduce your main character as “Margaret, a 12-year-old mermaid”, etc.)
4) Your bio and background. This doesn’t need to be long either, but let the agent know something about you and/or why you’re the one qualified to write the book you’ve written. Include any publishing credentials you might have. If you don’t have any, include information about yourself that may connect you to the story. A bio is generally 1-3 sentences. (Pro tip: don’t be afraid to show your personality here. Agents want to get to know you. Don’t be afraid to include a sentence about who you are, what you like to do for fun, etc.)
Make sure to thank the agent and then include your name, contact information, and social media presence at the bottom of your query letter. And there you have it! A well crafted query letter.
Do you have any questions or suggestions of what worked for you? Let me know in the comments!
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