There’s a lot to consider when writing a query; it can be hard to stay on top of it all. This email lists 6 Dos and Don’ts to help you rise to the top of the slush pile.
DO
✅ Personalize each query to the agent — check podcasts, blogs, and youtube videos so you can write a brief personalized open for each agent you query. Don’t be too familiar (e.g., your new puppy is soooo cute), and don’t be too generic (e.g., I saw on your website that you accept romance novels). You’re looking for that balance in between (e.g., In your Writers on Writers podcast interview, you mentioned you loved quirky girl heroes who are into STEM… ).
✅ Include comps — comparison titles are hard to find, but they really help your work stand out. Including 2 comparison titles tells an agent where you think your book will sit on a shelf in a bookstore, a bit about how they can market it, and how well you know the market you’re writing in. Comp books that are recent, published within the last 2 years or so, that did reasonable well but weren’t ground-shaking game-changers (click here to learn more about comps).
✅ Follow the submission guidelines on the agent’s website (use their website specifically and not other sites that could be out of date).
✅ Be specific — the words you use to introduce your characters, their goals, and what’s stopping them from achieving them need to be specific to your story. If what you’ve written could be used to describe another story, then you haven’t been specific enough. Avoid general statements like “she must discover the secret behind…”.
✅ Include the “housekeeping” info — that’s the age category, genre, and word count of your story (click here to learn more about housekeeping info). Keep this info all together on one line so it’s easy to spot, either at the top or bottom of your query letter. Some agents prefer this info at the bottom because they want to get to the good stuff (your story) asap, and they may overlook a slightly high or low word count if you really hooked them.
✅ Use professional filenames for attachments — We recommend your last name, the book title, and a brief description of the file (e.g., Martin_Game of Thrones_5pages). Avoid filenames like GoT_finalfinalreallyfinal.
DON’T
❌ Query several agents at the same agency at once. Some agencies are “one and done,” so if you get a rejection from one agent, it’s a rejection from all of them at that agency. Don’t try to cheat their system. It’s a small community and they all talk to each other. Follow their guidelines.
❌ Rage Reply — if your emotions are running high, step away from the keyboard. Don’t email things you’ll later regret and don’t burn bridges. Remember that an agent who passes on this work may offer representation on your next.
❌ Forward messages from one agency to another. Draft a new message every time to avoid slip ups.
❌ Use unique fonts, colors, animated gifs, or other visual tricks. Present your work in a professional light that highlights the quality of your writing.
❌ List your degrees, unless they relate to the story you submitted. If you can, tie your bio back to your story in some way.
❌ Include quotes or praise from friends. It’s really great that your friends love your work, but don’t include their feedback in your query letter, even if they are a published writer or journalist. Agents prefer to dive into your work with fresh eyes, forming their own impressions straight from the words on the page.
Looking for more query tips? Learn the six 6 Critical Parts to a Query!