How to Write a Query Letter Agents Will Love
A Quickstart Guide to Writing a Query Letter that Opens Doors to Traditional Publishing
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve written something you care about deeply—something you believe in. Now, your task is to convince a literary agent to believe in it, too.
Let’s explore the essentials of what a query letter is, when and why you need one, and how to craft one successfully – including a template.
I. What Is a Query Letter, and Why Do You Need One?
A query letter is a one-page letter (usually an email) that introduces both you and your book to a literary agent. It’s a sales pitch, a teaser, and an invitation to read more.
If you want to publish your book traditionally—through a big publisher like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, or Simon & Schuster—you will likely need a literary agent to represent your work.
Why work with an agent?
They pitch your book to editors—many publishers won’t accept unsolicited submissions.
They negotiate contracts to secure the best deal for you.
They help guide your career, offering industry knowledge and editorial feedback.
📌 If you’re writing fiction (and sometimes memoir), your manuscript should be complete and polished before querying. For nonfiction, you typically query with a book proposal and sample chapters.
Now that you know what a query letter is and when to send one, let’s break down how to craft one that stands out.
II. The Essential Parts of a Query Letter
Though the exact structure may vary depending on you and your book, there are some fundamental elements that make up a strong query letter.
A strong query letter should include:
1. The Opening Paragraph – Address the agent by name and mention why you’re querying them. Introduce your book with its title, genre, and word count.
2. The Story Description – A short, engaging summary introducing your main character, conflict, and stakes.
3. Market Positioning – Comparative titles that show where your book fits in the market and why those comps make sense.
4. Your Bio – A brief section about you, focusing on relevant writing experience and why you’re the person to write this book.
5. The Closing – A professional, confident sign-off that thanks the agent and invites them to request more.
1. Start With an Introduction That Includes the Essentials
Your opening paragraph should do two things:
Personalize the query – Greet the agent by name and mention why you’re querying this specific agent.
Introduce your book – Include its title, genre, and word count.
📌 Example:
"Dear [Agent’s Name],
I’m seeking representation for my The Vanishing Shore, a 90,000-word novel set in 1980s and present-day Cleveland. I read in your interview with [publication] that you’re drawn to stories with morally complex protagonists, which is why I thought of you for this novel.
✅ Why this works:
Personalization shows the agent why you’re querying them.
The introduction immediately clarifies genre, title, and word count.
🚫 Avoid:
Jumping straight into the plot without clarifying the genre and word count.
Using generic intros like "I’m querying you because you represent historical fiction."
2. Summarize Your Book
Now that the agent knows what they’re looking at, dive into the main character, central conflict, and stakes. Think of this section like back cover copy—concise, intriguing, and leaving the agent wanting more.
📌 Example:
“Every summer, the lake takes someone. That’s what they say in Collinswood, where the fishermen blame dangerous currents and the old women at St. Jerome’s whisper about ghosts. But when ten-year-old Milo Novak vanishes one August afternoon in 1986—his shoes left neatly on the rocks, his bicycle untouched on the shore—his sister Frankie refuses to believe the lake claimed him. Thirty years later, Frankie returns to a neighborhood she barely recognizes. The factories have shuttered, the lakefront is eroding, and her mother is selling their childhood home. But when another boy disappears in the exact same way Milo did, Frankie is pulled back into a mystery she thought she’d left behind. As she searches for answers, long-buried secrets begin to surface—secrets some will do anything to keep hidden.”
✅ Best Practices:
Keep it short (one paragraph, two max).
Focus on the main plot, not subplots.
Let the writing reflect the book’s tone (atmospheric, fast-paced, literary, commercial).
🚫 Common Mistakes:
Too many characters—stick to the protagonist.
Trying to summarize the entire book—just focus on the core conflict.
3. Position Your Book in the Market (Comp Titles)
After the story description, help the agent visualize where your book fits in the market.
A comp title (short for comparative title) is a book that shares similarities with yours in tone, theme, structure, audience, or narrative style. It helps agents and publishers quickly understand where your book fits in the market and how it might appeal to readers.
When choosing comp titles, consider books that share your novel’s tone, themes, narrative style, or structural approach rather than just its genre.
📌 Example:
“The Vanishing Shore blends the atmospheric suspense of John Banville’s The Drowned with the noirish investigative tension of Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman. Like Dennis Lehane’s Mystic River, it explores the weight of unresolved history, unraveling a decades-old disappearance that threatens to upend a tight-knit community.”
✅ Best Practices:
Choose two or three recent (last 5 years) books that share tone, theme, or structure with yours.
Explain why the comps make sense—not just "readers of X will love this."
🚫 Common Mistakes:
Comparing to global blockbusters ("This is the next Gone Girl")—agents hear this all the time.
Saying your book is completely unique—every book has comparable titles!
4. Introduce Yourself (Briefly and Purposefully)
📌 Example:
”I’m an Ohio-based journalist covering urban development and environmental change. Growing up, I spent summers on Lake Erie, listening to my grandfather’s about shipwrecks, disappearances, and the ever-changing lakefront. I’m a member of the London Writers’ Salon, where I’ve workshopped sections of this book.”
✅ What to include:
Writing credentials (publications, awards, class and programs, writing communities).
Any professional background relevant to the book.
Any personal connection to the material.
🚫 Common Mistakes:
Over-sharing personal details.
Listing hobbies that aren’t relevant to writing.
5. Close with Confidence
📌 Example:
"Thank you for your time and consideration. I have attached the first ten pages per your submission guidelines and would be delighted to send the full manuscript upon request."
🚫 Avoid:
Begging for a response.
Over-explaining why you wrote the book.
III. Query Letter Template
Dear [Agent’s Name],
I’m seeking representation for my [genre] novel, [Title], which is complete at [word count] words. [Personalize the letter to show the agent you’re familiar with their work.]
[Brief book summary—main character, conflict, stakes.]
[Share your comp titles and why they’re in conversation with your book.]
I am [brief bio about your writing experience, relevant background, and any publications].
Thank you for your time and consideration. I have attached [pages/sample, if relevant] per your guidelines and would happily send the full manuscript upon request.
Best,
[Your Name]
What to Remember When Querying
Check submission guidelines. Every agent is different—some want sample pages, and others only a query letter. Follow the instructions found on their website.
Remember, agents want to say yes. Their job is to find books they love. Make it easy for them by keeping your query clear, concise, and compelling.
Other Resources
Publishers Marketplace - Find and vet literary agents and agencies
Query Tracker - Database to find agents and track your queries
Manuscript Wishlist - “The most human database for the most efficient querying”
The Artists’ & Writers’ Yearbook - UK-based agents (LWS Members get 30%-off).
Join our Query Room to connect with fellow writers querying.
Querying can feel daunting, but remember, agents want to fall in love with your book. Trust in your story, your voice, and the work you’ve put into crafting something meaningful.
Keep going, and most importantly, keep writing.
The Writers’ Hour Magazine Team