How to Write a Query Letter for a Book

Your first chance to make a great impression on an agent is through your query letter. Whether you’re submitting a novel or nonfiction book, the query letter is more than a note telling the agent what you’re offering. It’s a marketing letter that needs to grab the agent’s attention right out of the gate and make them want to know more about your book.

Many books are rejected at the query level for a multitude of reasons. Here are tips to help you write a query that has an agent opening your synopsis, proposal and/or sample chapters.

Hook Agent Immediately

First, start with their name.

Dear Mr. Smith or Dear Ms. Smith.

Next, wow the agent. The first few sentences of the query letter are crucial in grabbing the attention of agents or editors. The hook should be intriguing and engaging, making the agent want to know more about the book. The hook could be a tagline, a logline, a question, a quote, an anecdote, a factoid, or a short statement that highlights the uniqueness of the book.

Accountant Sally Sue never imagined her day would end in death…her own.

Eighty-one percent of people say they have a book in them, but only a small percentage ever sit down to write it.

Provide a BRIEF Plot or Book Summary

Start by telling the agent about the genre and word count, then give a short summary that reads like a blurb. It needs to have the elements of the story or topic told in the same voice and tone as the book. But keep this short. It’s not your synopsis or proposal.

The Day Sally Died is an 80,000-word magical realism novel in which Sally unexpectedly dies while eating a TV dinner and watching Live or Die, the new reality show in which contestants compete in dangerous tasks such as lion taming or swimming with sharks. Upon her death, Sally is sucked into the show and discovers in her death a life that is more thrilling than when she was living.

Write Your Book is a 80,000-word how-to guide and workbook to help would-be authors get their book written. Readers will learn how to
* Find time and space to write
* Tips on getting motivated to write
* How to organize ideas
* How to write more in less time

Indicate the Target Market

Don’t simply state general genre or topic readers (e.g. romance readers will love… or emerging authors will love). Do your research and get specific. List similar books to help the agent understand who the ideal reader is.

The Day Sally Died will appeal to readers of TJ Klune’s Under the Whispering Door.

Similar books to Write Your Book include Finding Your Voice by Angie Thomas and The Author’s Novel Organizer: Organize Your Novel from Concept to Bestseller by Jenna Harte.

Tell the Agent about You

The good news for fiction authors is that you don’t need previous writing experience to get an agent. Of course, if you have it, even if it’s in a different genre or non-fiction, tell the agent. This will let the agent know that you understand deadlines, editing, and the publication process. But if you don’t have writing experience, share about you and why you wrote this book. Also let the agent know if you plan to use a pen name.

For non-fiction, you don’t need to have writing experience, but you do need a platform. You’ll need to show an agent that you’re not only the expert in what you’re writing, but that you’re known as an expert. If you don’t have a platform promoting you as a go-to person in the topic, you’ll need to build it first.

If you’ve done that, use the about you paragraph to share your expertise and your platform (social following, email list subscriber count, etc).

(See below for samples of this section of query)

Offer Brief Overview on How You’ll Market

Today, authors must be involved in selling their book. In fiction, you don’t have to have your platform set up yet (although it doesn’t hurt), but you do need to show that you understand that you’re a part of the sales team. Share a few things you plan to do to market your book such as social media, events, book clubs, etc.

In non-fiction, you should already have a platform and a base of people to market too. Let the agent know how you’ll do that such as social media, email, speaking, etc.

(See below for samples of this section of query)

Let the Agent Know What You’ve Attached

This is where reading the submission guidelines is crucial! Whether you’re emailing and attaching materials, or submitting through Query Manager and uploading, only send what the agent asked for. It could be just a synopsis. I could be the synopsis and three chapters. In non-fiction, you’ll likely be asked to submit a proposal. (See below for samples of this section of query)

End with a Thank You and Closing

Let the agent know you appreciate their time and consideration, then close with your name.

Read and Re-Read Before Hitting Send

Check and re-check your submission for errors before hitting the “Send” button. Having grammar or spelling mistakes will make you look unprofessional. Consider asking a friend to proof the pitch for you, including your synopsis, proposal, and/or sample chapters.

Sample Query Letters to An Agent

The samples below are completely made up for this article. They provide a basic template from which you can craft your query letter.

Sample Query Fiction

In this sample, note that the author not only has humor in her blurb, but in her bio as well. However, if your novel is serious or dark, you’ll want your query to reflect that. You’re query should fit the voice and style of your book.

Dear Ms. Smith,

Accountant Sally Sue never imagined her day would end in death…her own.

The Day Sally Died is an 80,000-word magical realism novel in which Sally unexpectedly dies while eating a TV dinner and watching Live or Die, the new reality show in which contestants compete in dangerous tasks such as lion taming or swimming with sharks. Upon her death, Sally is sucked into the show and discovers in her death a life that is more thrilling than when she was living.

The Day Sally Died will appeal to readers who enjoy the humor and humanity of TJ Klune’s Under the Whispering Door.

I’m Sally Sue, a freelance accountant who’s obsessed with the TV shows Survivor and Naked and Afraid, which inspired me to write The Day Sally Died. When I’m not working or watching reality TV, I live with my dog George in a tiny southern town that has one stop light but three roundabouts.

I plan to market The Day Sally Died through a website and email list and using Tik-Tok, although my dancing skills still need work. I’m currently researching the market more to develop a comprehensive marketing plan.

I’ve attached the synopsis and first three chapters of The Day Sally Died.

Thank you for your consideration.

Have a wonderful day.

Sally Sue
Email

Sample Query Non-fiction

This doesn’t have humor like above, but it’s clear on what readers will get from the book, and why this author is right person to write it. Note, that if you have humor in your non-fiction, use it in your query as well. You’re query should fit the voice and style of your book.

Dear Ms. Smith

Eighty-one percent of people say they have a book in them, but only a small percentage ever sit down to write it.

Write Your Book is a 80,000-word how-to guide and workbook to help would-be authors get their book written. Readers will learn how to

* Find time and space to write
* Tips on getting motivated to write
* How to organize ideas
* How to write more in less time
* How to manage writers block
* And More

Similar books to Write Your Book include Finding Your Voice by Angie Thomas and The Author’s Novel Organizer: Organize Your Novel from Concept to Bestseller by Jenna Harte.

My name is Sally Sue and I’m a writing instructor at Acme College and run my own online writing community (www. website .com) where  I teach, coach, and support emerging authors. I’ve written articles for magazines and online writer resources, such as Acme Writing. I’m active on Instagram and TikTok where I share regular tidbits on writing, and host weekly live events. When I’m not teaching or coaching, I enjoy baking and gardening.

I’ve already started talking about Write Your Book with the 5,000 members of my online community and 20,000 email subscribers. I will continue to promote the book to them and on social media, through in-person and online writing events, and reaching out to podcasters for interviews.

I’ve attached the full book proposal per your submission guidelines.

Thank you for your consideration.

All the best,

Sally Sue
Email

Don’t underestimate the power of your query. A basic, blah query won’t do the trick. Use the tips above to write a query that has an agent taking notice and an interest in your book.