THE ABC’S OF WRITING A QUERY LETTER

The ABCs of Writing a Query Letter for Your Book

Chances are, if you are reading this, you have a book that you’d like to get in front of a publisher, or an agent (or both!). But there are some tried-and-true processes for doing that. Try to skip them and you almost guarantee your book will never make it past the mail room.

Use this step-by-step tutorial for crafting your own query letter and get one step closer to representation and publication.

What’s a Query Letter Anyway?

A query letter serves as a concise sales pitch to a literary agent, now typically sent via email rather than traditional mail. The letter should be brief, ideally no longer than one single-spaced page in Times New Roman, 12-point font, which equates to approximately 500 words. Its primary objective is to captivate the agent’s interest, encouraging them to request your manuscript.

While it’s possible to draft a query letter without your book being finished, ensure your manuscript is complete before querying—unless you’re proposing a nonfiction book, which often only requires a book proposal.

Quality trumps quantity. Literary agents often favor succinct, well-crafted pitches over lengthy ones. A concise query that effectively highlights your main character, the stakes, your unique plot, and any unique skills or experiences you bring to the table, can make a stronger impression. Avoid overexplaining; your story’s key elements should shine without excessive detail.

Always Use a Hook in the First Paragraph

The first few sentences of your query letter are critical. Start with a strong hook that grabs the agent’s attention. This could be a compelling aspect of your story, an intriguing character detail, or a unique plot twist. The goal is to make the agent want to read more. Here’s a good example:

I’m seeking representation for The Skinny Girl Diet, a 100-page self-help book for real women. I see from your website that you represent nonfiction and self-help, and I wonder if this would be a good fit for your list. My book is similar to Good Girls DO Make History, Your Best Body Yet, and The Busy Woman’s Guide to Fitness.

If your book is fiction, then consider something like this:

Having thoroughly enjoyed Rebecca Yarros debut, The Fourth Wing, I am excited to submit my novel, Ophidian, for your consideration. In a galaxy where science meets sorcery, one man’s quest to rescue his daughter could alter the fate of humanity and the universe forever, not to mention the orange cat.  I believe this 90,000-word work of fantasy/sci-fi fiction aligns well with the “unrepresented gems” you mentioned on your website.

Be Brief with Your Synopsis

The idea is to get them to ask to read more of your work. Hitting them with the intricacies of your characters’ motivations and taking five paragraphs (or a full page) to do so is NOT the way to go. Give a succinct overview of the plot. Focus on the main character, the central conflict, and the stakes. Avoid detailing subplots or minor characters; keep the summary focused and engaging.

Here’s an example:

Cat Adams wants a fresh start at her new life, but that is cut short when her 5-year-old son falls into a muddy pit, his ankle caught in the ribcage of a skeleton. Her quiet country life is turned on its ear as she uncovers a decades-old murder, one that ultimately leads back to the mystery of her past. As she struggles to settle into a new life with her child, she must come to terms with what it means to go home again and that, sometimes, it can be murder. This novel is a cozy mystery novel, the first in the Country Woman Mystery series.

Come to the Table with Something

The third paragraph in your query letter needs to talk about you and what skills, experiences, and background you bring to the project. Have you published before? Where? Do you already have an extensive following via social media? What about marketing plans, outreach, or an extensive background in something pertaining to the publishing industry, or the subject matter of the book.

Here’s an example:

Mason Jackson, a native of Chicago’s South Side, spent over a decade as an Emmy-nominated, award-winning television journalist with CBS and ABC affiliates across various markets. A graduate of Northwestern University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he now resides in downtown Chicago, where he manages brand communications for a major nonprofit. FINDING UNICORNS is his debut novel.

Maybe you don’t have credentials like that. Don’t worry about that. But you do have something that is uniquely you, and went into the creation of your work. Focus on your strengths.

Last But Not Least…End It

The last paragraph is deceptively simple at first glance. You simply thank them for their time and consideration, then sign your name. THEN, you add a PS. The magic is in the PS. Here’s a sample:

Interested?

Thank you for your time and consideration for FINDING UNICORNS.

Mason Jackson

Unicornsarereal.com

P.S. I really enjoyed your latest podcast episode on the Mel Robbins Show. Mel cracks me up! Did you catch her episode on motivation?