HOW TO WRITE A QUERY LETTER - Purpose: Your Sales Pitch to Hook a Literary Agent

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda

A query letter is a concise, well-crafted sales pitch that introduces a manuscript to literary agents. It explains why an author needs representation and clarifies when agents will consider submissions, including how to follow each agent’s specific guidelines. The letter should be properly formatted with genre, page and word counts, and finished-work status where required. Guidance covers paragraph structure, what to include for fiction versus nonfiction, competition and market plan, and how to respond to requests, follow-ups, and potential rejections.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Purpose: Hook a Literary Agent

What a Query Letter Is

Who to Query and How to Submit

Submission rules and timelines

Query Letter Structure

Required top-of-letter details

Body paragraph requirements for fiction and nonfiction

Final paragraph and contact information

Cautions and Recommended Resources

HOW TO WRITE A QUERY LETTER Purpose: Your Sales Pitch to Hook a Literary Agent Why do I need a literary agent? A literary agent will protect your business interests throughout the publishing process – from manuscript to printed book – with sales, promotion, royalty statements, and for feedback on your marketing platform. A good agent is your career advisor, contracts negotiator, and your best editorial guide to help you sell your book. Why do I need a query letter? Many publishers will not consider unagented submissions, which are unsolicited manuscripts. There are, however, rare exceptions: your best friend (a book editor or publisher) works for a book publisher, and you send your manuscript directly to her without an agent. Sometimes, a book publisher may directly approach a celebrity, business owner, or expert and suggest a book project. What is a query letter? A query letter is your sales pitch. It is a concise, intriguing and well-crafted letter describing your manuscript. Address this letter to each agent with his or her full name (Dear ) . Each agent has specific submission guidelines involving query letters. Read each agent’s website carefully and follow these directions exactly. Most agents will not open attachments unless they specifically request them. Study query letters / samples online at Writer’s Digest, Poets & Writers, and the Writer Magazine. If you have not completed your fiction work, do not send a query letter to agents. Who should I query? Send your query letter to the agents who represent your genre. Do not send your query letter to more than one agent in the same literary agency. If one agent declines, you may send a query to another agent in the same agency, unless otherwise instructed in their submission guidelines. Read agency websites for this information. You may query agents at different literary agencies simultaneously. (Make sure the email doesn’t contain everyone’s email address!) However, some agents request only single submission queries. If an agent is interested in your manuscript, the agent will request additional information: your bio, a nonfiction book proposal, a fiction synopsis, sample chapters, and perhaps the complete manuscript. Do not phone or visit the agent unless you receive a request to do so. Be Patient. Follow up with each agent if you haven’t heard back within 8 weeks. If an agent rejects your query letter but suggests changes, ask the agent if she will reconsider your revised manuscript. A one (1) to 1½ page query letter sent via mail or email is your first written contact with a literary agent. Check the agent’s website to see which method the agent prefers. If sending by mail, a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) for return of materials is required. Include sufficient return postages for your material Study online book description pages and the book catalog copy in any major book publisher's print or online catalog for excellent examples of how to craft the book synopsis for your query letter. At the top right of your query letter, list the genre of your work. Under that (on one line), list the number of pages and the word count. After that, if this is a work of fiction or a memoir, type“Finished Work”. Agents will only consider works-in-progress that are nonfiction. GENRE: PAGES: WORD COUNT: FICTION: Completed Manuscript Body of the letter: 1.The first compelling paragraph includes the hook for your manuscript, the selling points and your proposed author platform. 2. The second paragraph: a) Fiction: Genre, main characters, setting and plot; b) Nonfiction: Genre, Table of Contents page, number of illustrations, photos, charts, graphs. Plus a brief bio; including why you are qualified to write this. List your published articles and books, if any, and cite reviews. List your social media platforms, social media numbers, blog activity, newsletters, YouTube videos, podcasts, 3. The third paragraph has concise information about th

FAQs

Why do authors need a literary agent before publishing their manuscript?

A literary agent protects the author’s business interests through publishing, handling sales and promotion, royalty statements, and marketing feedback. The agent also advises on career direction, negotiates contracts, and helps guide editorial efforts to sell the book.

How should an author decide who to query and how many agents to contact?

Query agents who represent the genre of the manuscript and avoid sending to multiple agents within the same agency unless guidelines allow it. Some agents accept simultaneous queries, while others require a single submission, so the agent’s website must be followed closely.

What should be included in each main paragraph of the query letter?

The first paragraph includes the hook, selling points, and proposed author platform. The second paragraph specifies fiction elements (genre, characters, setting, plot) or nonfiction elements (genre, table of contents, illustrations/photos/charts/graphs, brief bio, and credentials). The third paragraph covers competition and the market plan, and the final paragraph explains why the agency was chosen and adds contact information.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda