For most writers pursuing traditional publishing, everything starts with a single page: the query letter. But writing one can feel daunting. What exactly belongs in a query letter? How do you find the right agents to send it to? And what makes a letter stand out in a sea of submissions?

If you’re navigating the querying process for the first time—or just looking to strengthen your approach—you’re not alone. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of querying and share expert advice from industry professionals. You’ll learn what agents are really looking for, and how to give your manuscript its best chance.

What is a Query Letter?

A query letter is a brief pitch of your book with the purpose to generate requests to read your manuscript from agents. That’s it! It’s NOT a complete synopsis of your book, and it’s not an opportunity to share your author journey. The ideal length ranges between 250 and 500 words. Think of querying as a slightly extended elevator pitch—it’s polished, professional, and exhibits having done your research.

Agents are skimming quickly. They’re looking for a finished manuscript, an appropriate word count for its genre, a project that fits their list, and a query that demonstrates professionalism.

How to Compose Your Query Letter

Your query letter needs certain components to be successful. We’ll identify each component and explain what to know for each one.

Salutation

Example: Dear Ms. Smith, (Agent name, spelled correctly)

Introduction

Briefly state why you are querying this agent specifically. Maybe you have a horror novel and you know they are looking for that.

Example: I saw on your profile that you’re drawn to horror grounded in metaphor and psychological tension, and I believe my gothic horror novel, SHE SPEAKS, would be a strong fit. (book title in ALL CAPS throughout the letter).

Book Summary

Sum up your novel, answering the question: Who is this book about and what is their objective? Keep it short, mimic the tone of the novel, and be clear about the plot and the stakes. It is not the same as the jacket copy. It’s less mysterious. You’re trying to tell an agent exactly what they would find by picking up your manuscript. Focus on what the character wants and only include essential details that capture the essence of your story. Be specific! Here’s one template to follow: hook, catalyst leading to conflict, potential consequence.

Example: When Eleanor inherits a crumbling manor on Bainbridge Island, she hears whispers in the walls revealing long-buried family secrets, forcing her to confront the darkness within herself—or vanish entirely. At first, she tries to ignore the whispers, but they grow insistent, even familiar. When her long-dead sister’s voice echoes from shadowed corners, Eleanor begins investigating the house and how its secrets might illuminate what really happened to Hannah. The more she uncovers, the more the manor asserts control over her life, forcing her to confront the parts of herself she has tried hardest to forget—or risk being swallowed by the house’s growing darkness.

Book Facts

Next you’ll want to include details about market comparisons (“comps”), word count, and genre.

Example: A gothic horror story, SHE SPEAKS is complete at 80,000 words. Fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s MEXICAN GOTHIC and Laura Purcell’s THE SILENT COMPANIONS will enjoy the similar atmospheric tension and female-driven storyline.

Where authors want to see this information in the query may vary from agent to agent. Some want it upfront, others prefer it later in the email.

Author Bio and Invitation

You’ll end by establishing who you are with a brief bio. You can add writing credentials, such as previous publications, relevant life experience that shows authority in your book topic, membership in professional organizations, relevant educational background, and location. You can also keep it quite simple.

Example: I am a high school English teacher living in Washington state, and this is my debut.

Follow your bio with an invitation to read more, and the first 5-10 pages of your book—most agents appreciate a sample. Close with your name and contact information.

Example: If you would like to consider SHE SPEAKS, I’d be happy to forward the complete manuscript to you. I have included the first five pages of the manuscript in the body of this email.

Thank you for your time,
Paige Author
Email address/Phone number/Social handle (as appropriate)

Curious what a successful query letter actually looks like? These authors—Amy Pence, Neely Tubati Alexander, and Isabel Ibañez—are sharing exactly what worked for them.

When to Send it Out

Timing is everything, and the best time to send your query letter is when your novel is complete. Ideally it’s been read by beta readers—anyone in your corner willing to read your manuscript with fresh eyes! They can report any moments that confuse them or if the pacing needs attention—general reader response to bring your draft clarity and momentum.

Before sending a query, give your book its best chance by assessing structural issues. One useful revision strategy is to write a brief outline or synopsis—you might notice plot logic or story problems that need tweaking. Spend some time looking at comps—recent, successful books similar to your manuscript in tone, theme, or genre. Consider what you can learn from those books that might help you position your book to be market-ready.

While you can query an agent any time of year, you might want to avoid the holiday season (Thanksgiving to New Year’s) and prime summer vacation time (July-August), as the publishing industry tends to slow down and take time off. Furthermore, agents have windows where they are open or closed to queries, so before sending one, double check to make sure the agent you’re pitching is currently open to receiving query letters.

Who to Query—Researching Literary Agents

Probably the most time-consuming—but also most important—part of the whole query process is researching which literary agents to query. With hundreds of agents available, it’s worth setting aside time to look through a variety of sources. Here are a few ways to find agents:

  • QueryTracker is a free, web-based platform designed for authors to find, research, and track literary agents. You can create an account and search through the database for agents who rep your genre and see if they’re accepting submissions and how they like to be contacted. You can even track the queries you’ve sent. A quick YouTube tutorial can help you get familiarized with the site.
  • Manuscript Wish List is not comprehensive, but it’s a place for agents and editors to post what they wish they had in their inbox, and can be a source for finding agents that match what you’re writing. Look up who represents other authors, especially those you’ve identified as comps for your work. If those agents are still accepting submissions for your genre, they might be a good fit.
  • Social media—search the terms #MSWL or literary agent and see what pops up. You’ll need to do follow-up research to verify legitimacy and fit, but it can be a good starting point.
  • Publishers Marketplace is a subscription-based digital hub ($25/month) for the publishing industry. It’s where book deals get announced—exciting! Agents use it, and it’s full of great information if you’re open to a paid service. You definitely don’t have to spend any money to get an agent, though.

Once you’ve got a list of potential agents to query, diligence is due. Research each agent to confirm your information is accurate, up-to-date, and that you have their specific submission guidelines in mind. Look out for scammers. Sites like Preditors and Editors, Absolute Write, and Writer Beware provide a writing community with information about discredited or unethical services.

It’s typically fine to query multiple agents at once—but before you hit send, take time to review each agent’s guidelines and preferences, especially if you’re considering submitting to more than one person at the same agency. And if you don’t hear back within an agent’s stated timeframe (or after several weeks), it’s okay to send a polite follow-up.

Query Letter Red Flags—Avoid These!

🚩Misspelling the agent’s name or using a generic greeting like “Dear Agent”—a common pet peeve that signals a lack of research and attention to detail.

🚩Claiming your story is unlike anything else out there—if you can’t identify comparable titles or your book’s genre, it suggests a lack of market awareness and makes it harder for others to position your book.

🚩Sharing details like how many years you’ve worked on this, who else liked it, what it’s inspired by, or boasting—saying “it’s sure to be a bestseller” or “I’m the modern-day Jane Austen” isn’t relevant or professional.

🚩Using outdated or overly popular comps like The Hunger Games or Harry Potter. More recent, specific comps help the agent immediately understand how they might position your book.

🚩Disregard for the types of projects and genres an agent is looking for. Do your research; otherwise you waste your time and theirs.

🚩Being vague or cryptic—your pitch is not a teaser. Focus on plot over worldbuilding and theme. Keep it simple and specific.

🚩Any signs of AI generated work.

🚩Rhetorical questions: “Have you ever wondered what it’s like…”

🚩Gimmicks, like colored paper, graphics, rhymes, cliffhangers, or gifts/goods.

🚩Inaccurate word counts. When your word count is way under or way over what’s typical for that genre, it tells the agent that you’re not really finished with your work or you don’t understand publishing. For mainstream adult fiction, that’s generally between about 70,000 and 100,000 words.

Expert Advice from Active Literary Agents

Below, we’re providing some expert guidance from working literary agents who offered their insight in exclusive interviews with She Writes magazine:

“A query letter is the start of a conversation. It works best when it clearly communicates who the protagonist is, what they want, and what stands in their way if they fail. So many of the query letters I see are failing because the core narrative isn’t presented on the page.” Jessica Berg, Rosecliff Literary

“I continuously tout signing up for Publishers Weekly announcements so you’re always in the know on what is getting acquired. Many editors post their manuscript wishlists publicly on their social media, on MSWL.com, or on their own websites.” Sandra Proudman, Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency

“Do your research. The more time you spend researching your targets the more likely you’ll get requests for consideration. As well, vary your list with big agents and ones just starting out.” Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit Associates

“There are tons and tons of literary agents out there and you aren’t going to please them all. In fact, you will please very, very few of them! It only takes one to say yes. But as a writer, you’re not writing to please a literary agent; you’re writing to please a reader. The right agent for you will see that.” Kate McKean, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency

“Most often, [rejection] just means that an agent doesn’t feel like they could be the right advocate for the project.” Jessica Berg, RoseCliff Literary

“Take your sweet time. Publishing is an industry where nothing happens and then EVERYTHING HAPPENS. There’s no rush. Do your research, pitch folks who are a good fit. And then make sure you lean on your community. It can be really demoralizing sending your work out there and getting passes, because it can feel like someone is passing on YOU, and not your work. So make sure you’re actively talking to your writer buddies, but also your pals outside of books—have something else you’re chasing that also brings you joy.” Eric Smith, Neighborhood Literary