How to Write a Query Letter: The Dos and Don’ts

Mar 27

If you're a writer, then you know that pretty much the only way to get a traditional publishing deal is to query literary agents. But how do you go about writing a query letter that will make an agent want to read your manuscript? In this blog post, we'll break down the dos and don’ts for writing a successful query letter. So, sharpen your pencils and let's get started!

Do…

Write a separate letter for each agent you query. Research each one and write a personalised letter based on that research.
Format your letter correctly and proofread about a thousand times. Typos and grammar errors are a very, very big deal.
Seriously consider hiring an editor. Honestly.
Make sure you include the title of your book, the genre and the word count. Usually somewhere near the beginning of your letter.
Round up your word count to the nearest thousand.
Let the agent know who you think your book will appeal to. Your target audience.
Spend ages working and reworking your hook. The hook is a few short sentences, usually plot related, that shows why your book is something special.
Think about your book as a product.
Make sure your manuscript is as finished and polished as you can make it. Agents are not looking for a work in progress.
Include some personal information about yourself. But make sure it’s all relevant to your writing.
Single space your query letter and make sure it’s no more than a single page in length. Between 200-500 words.
Begin by talking about your book, not about yourself. Unless you have a really strong reason to.
Tell the agent about any success you’ve had so far with your writing. Competition wins, previous publication etc.
Draw attention to your profession if it makes you an authority on your book’s subject matter. If you write crime fiction and you worked in the police force, for example. However, make sure the link is there. Don’t force a link if there isn’t one. The agent will see right through it and you’ll just appear desperate.

Don’t…

Tell the agent how good your book is.
Think that the more you say about your book in your query letter, the better. Actually, the more you say about it the more chance you have of turning the agent off it.
Go into too much detail in your hook. Fewer than 300 words is best.
Reveal the end of your book in the query letter unless you’re providing a synopsis or you think there’s a really good reason to.
Mention too many characters in your hook.
Mention minor plot points anywhere in your query letter.
Tell the agent about your self published books, unless they’ve been very successful. The fact that you have self published before will not hurt your chances of getting a new book traditionally published. However, unless you achieved great success with your self published books, no will it impress them much.
Don’t try to find a tenuous link between your profession and your book’s subject matter. Being a librarian doesn’t make you a good writer, being a teacher doesn’t mean you can write stories for children.
Apologise for yourself if you haven’t been published before, don’t have a degree in literature, or you haven’t won a writing competition. Just don’t mention it.
In fact, don’t say anything negative about yourself or your book.
Mention your online presence unless it’s really, really impressive.
Tell the agent your mum thinks your book is incredible.
Tell the agent how hard you worked on your book, how difficult it’s been, or how many times you’ve been rejected.
Try to sound desperate in the hopes someone will read your manuscript out of pity.