A query letter is a one-page professional pitch sent to a literary agent that introduces a book, summarizes its premise and marketability, and requests representation. It is the first step in traditional publishing and the primary filter literary agents use to decide whether to request manuscript pages. A standard query letter runs between 200 and 450 words and follows a 6-part structure: personalization, introduction, hook, comp titles, author bio, and closing.
What Is a Query Letter?
A query letter is a concise, targeted pitch that introduces a book to a literary agent, summarizing what it is about, who it is for, and why it belongs in the current market.
A query letter is not a synopsis, a back-cover blurb, or a writing resume. Its only goal is to get the agent to request pages or the full manuscript. According to publishing consultant Courtney Maum, a useful formula for query writing is: who needs to accomplish what, by when, where, and why?
Literary agents receive an estimated 15,000 or more queries per year. According to former literary agent Nathan Bransford, agents make a read-or-reject decision within the first few lines of a query. This makes the opening hook and the introductory paragraph the most critical elements of the letter.
What Are the 6 Parts of a Query Letter?
A query letter has 6 parts: personalization, book introduction, hook paragraph, comp titles, author bio, and closing.
| Part | Length | Purpose | |—|—|—| | Personalization | 1 to 2 sentences | Shows the agent was targeted deliberately | | Book introduction | 2 to 3 sentences | States title, genre, and word count | | Hook | 150 to 200 words | Summarizes the story and creates desire to read more | | Comp titles | 1 to 2 sentences | Positions the book in the current market | | Author bio | 50 to 100 words | Establishes credentials and relevant background | | Closing | 1 sentence | References enclosed materials and thanks the agent |
Total length should not exceed 1 page single-spaced, or 200 to 450 words in body text. According to publishing expert Jane Friedman, brevity is the safer approach. The more a writer explains, the more they risk losing the agent’s interest.
How Do You Personalize a Query Letter?
Personalization shows the agent that the query is not a mass submission. It references a specific reason for targeting that agent, such as their stated interest in a genre, a book they recently represented, or a public statement about what they are seeking.
Examples of personalization include:
- Referencing a title on the agent’s current list that shares themes with the manuscript
- Citing a Manuscript Wishlist (MSWL) entry where the agent requested a specific type of story
- Mentioning a conference, pitch event, or referral from a current client
According to writing coach Tiffany Hawk, the goal of personalization is not flattery. It demonstrates research and shows that the writer understands the agent’s list and has made a considered decision to submit to them specifically.
How Do You Write the Book Introduction in a Query Letter?
The book introduction states the manuscript title in capitals, the genre, the word count, and whether it is a debut or part of a series.
A standard book introduction reads as follows: I am seeking representation for [TITLE], a [genre] novel complete at [word count] words.
Word count guidelines by genre, according to Jane Friedman:
- Novel (most genres): 80,000 to 100,000 words minimum
- Young Adult: 55,000 to 80,000 words
- Middle Grade: 20,000 to 55,000 words
- Minimum for most adult novels: 50,000 words
Genre identification is required by most agents. Writers who are uncertain of their genre benefit from researching comparable titles and identifying the shelf in a bookstore where the book would sit.
How Do You Write the Hook Paragraph in a Query Letter?
The hook paragraph summarizes the story in 150 to 200 words, introducing the protagonist, the central conflict, and the stakes.
The hook is the equivalent of the back-cover blurb of a published book. It does not summarize every plot point. It presents the protagonist’s goal, the obstacle, and the consequence of failure. According to literary agent Tiffany Hawk, the most common mistake in the hook is focusing on themes at the expense of character and story arc.
A 3-part hook structure:
- Introduce the protagonist and their world in 1 to 2 sentences
- State the inciting incident or central conflict in 1 to 2 sentences
- State the stakes: what does the protagonist stand to lose if they fail?
Example structure: [Protagonist name] is a [description] who [daily life]. When [inciting incident], [protagonist] must [goal]. If [protagonist] fails, [consequence].
Agents are judged on the manuscripts they bring to publishers. A hook that does not make the stakes clear gives the agent no reason to invest years of their career in the project.
What Are Comp Titles in a Query Letter?
Comp titles are 2 recently published books or media properties that share thematic elements, tone, setting, or style with the manuscript. They show the agent where the book sits in the current market and which readers it targets.
According to Jane Friedman, 2 comp titles are sufficient. Effective comps have 3 characteristics:
- Published within the last 3 to 5 years, with an active readership
- Similar in tone, theme, or style, not identical in plot
- Neither a major bestseller nor an obscure title (both signal weak market awareness)
Comparing a debut novel to a current New York Times bestselling author reads as arrogant, according to Jane Friedman. A nuanced comp demonstrates genuine knowledge of the literary landscape.
Acceptable comp formats include:
- [Title] meets [Title]
- Written in the style of [Author]
- For readers of [Title] who enjoy [thematic description]
How Do You Write the Author Bio in a Query Letter?
The author bio in a query letter runs 50 to 100 words and covers 3 elements: relevant publishing credits, professional expertise related to the book’s subject matter, and a brief personal detail.
Publishing credits include prior novel publications, short story placements in literary magazines, competition placements, and relevant awards. First-time writers without publishing credits do not need to apologize for this. According to Nathan Bransford, a clean and confident statement such as “This is my first novel” is sufficient.
Relevant professional expertise strengthens a nonfiction bio significantly. A memoir writer who is also a practicing physician, attorney, or recognized expert in the book’s subject area benefits from naming that background. For fiction writers, unrelated professional experience is not necessary to include.
Writers with a social media following relevant to the book’s audience benefit from citing it. This applies primarily to nonfiction, where platform size influences publisher acquisition decisions.
What Are the Most Common Query Letter Mistakes?
The 5 most common query letter mistakes are exceeding 450 words, attaching the manuscript as a file, omitting the hook, using generic personalization, and querying before the manuscript is complete.
| Mistake | Why It Fails | Fix | |—|—|—| | Exceeding 450 words | Agents skim; length signals poor editing skills | Cut to 200 to 450 words | | Attaching the manuscript | Attachments appear as spam and are not opened | Paste pages into the email body | | Omitting the hook | Gives the agent no reason to request pages | Make the hook the longest section of the letter | | Generic personalization | Signals mass submission; reduces credibility | Research each agent’s list before submitting | | Querying an unfinished manuscript | Agents who request pages need them immediately | Complete and revise the manuscript fully before querying |
According to Nathan Bransford, literary agents are besieged with queries. Any deviation from professional norms reduces the chance of a read. Query letters are sent in the body of an email. Attachments are not opened because they appear as spam.
How Do You Submit a Query Letter?
A query letter is submitted via email or through an agent’s online submission portal, always following the individual agent’s stated submission guidelines.
Submission guidelines vary by agent. Some request only a query letter. Others request a query letter plus the first 5, 10, or 15 pages of the manuscript. Some request a 1 to 2-page synopsis alongside the query. The agent’s website or QueryTracker profile states exactly what each agent requires.
Writers track submissions using QueryTracker or a personal spreadsheet recording the agent’s name, agency, date submitted, response time, and outcome. Most agents respond within 6 to 12 weeks. Some do not respond unless interested, a policy known as “no response means no.”
Querying is a volume process. Successful authors report querying between 50 and 100 agents before securing representation. Author Lauren Kay received 8 offers from literary agents after generating 26 full manuscript requests with a single query letter.
For another writing guide, see How to Write a Research Proposal: 9-Part Structure, Word Count, and Common Mistakes.
