On Query Letters - Updated September 2024
How to Write a Query Letter That Gets You Noticed (and Signed)
Six tips for writing a successful query letter
by Matt Siegel
1. Make every word count. The first rule of writing a query letter is less is more. Literary agents receive a ton of queries, so your job is to stand out and hook them from beginning to end—which makes it important to “cut the fat,” avoid fluff, and make sure that every word and every sentence of your letter is deliberate and effective.
2. Don’t be afraid to brag. Your query letter isn’t the place to be shy or humble. You want to explain to agents why your book needs to be written—and, crucially, why you’re the one who needs to write it—as strongly as possible without sounding cocky or overconfident. That said, plenty of authors (and many of the best) have made it without classical training or so-called “credentials,” so don’t panic if you don’t have a Pulitzer or MFA.
3. Do your homework. Nothing kills a query letter like lack of research and personalization (e.g., beginning your query with “dear agent” or “to whom it may concern”). Your prospective agent wants to know why you’re interested in them specifically and why it makes sense for you to work together, so do your research and show you’ve done your research by personalizing your queries for each agent. See: how to find the right literary agent.
4. Stick to what works. There’s a time-tested format for writing query letters that’s well-established because it works. Straying from these standards can signal a lack of experience and industry knowledge, so stick to professional, readable fonts (e.g., no comic sans) and lose the emojis. Instead, make sure to include a pithy hook to grab an agent’s attention right off the bat; a brief summary of your book that hits the main points; a bio that explains who you are, your “credentials,” and why you’re the perfect person to capture the zeitgeist with your story and resonate with readers; and a list of comparable titles to show you’ve done your research and understand the market.
5. Know your market. Literary agents aren’t just looking for a great story. They’re looking for a great story they can sell. Demonstrating awareness of where your book fits in the current market by including comparable titles will help prove the market for your book and showcase your ability to think and write commercially.
6. Show your craft. Don’t put any less effort into your query letter than you put into your polished manuscript or book proposal. If you’re treating your query letter like a chore rather than a passion project, it’s going to read that way to agents—so don’t hold back or call it in with your prose. This is your opportunity to sell your voice, your tone, your craft, your research, etc.
Query Letter FAQs
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A query letter is a short introduction authors send to literary agents to pitch their books. It’s essentially a sales letter designed to spark interest in a manuscript and convince the agent to request more materials (usually the first few chapters or the full manuscript).
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Agents receive a ton of query letters and aren’t likely to read more than a page, so keep your query letter concise and to the point, in the range of 250-400 words.
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The industry standard is six to eight weeks, and many agents will only respond if they’re interested. (I know, it’s a bummer, which is why you should take your time to ensure your query letter is ready before submitting it.)
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Yes. It’s standard to query multiple agents simultaneously, though not more than one agent per agency.
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Once you’ve waited at least eight weeks, it’s acceptable to send a polite follow-up email—and, at that point, it’s worth a shot.
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My first book, The Secret History of Food, sold to HarperCollins/Ecco Books in a multiple-six-figure preempt less than twenty-four hours after submitting it to publishers; went on to become an internationally translated bestseller, #1 Amazon Bestseller, and Amazon Editor’s Pick in two categories; and has been recommended by publications including USA Today (“books not to miss”), Food and Wine (“most-anticipated food books”), and Good Housekeeping (“best nonfiction books of all time”). My second book, yet to be announced, is due out next year from a big-five publisher.
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