Lesson 12 of 12 Free account 5 min read
Query Letters and Finding a Literary Agent
How a query letter works, what goes in one, how to research agents, and the red flags, such as reading fees, that separate real agents from people who want your money.
Key takeaways
- A query letter is a one-page pitch whose only job is to make an agent want to read your pages.
- Finish and revise your novel before you query, because an agent may ask for it quickly.
- The pitch sets out who wants what, what stands in the way and what is at stake, and it usually stops before the ending.
- Research each agent's sales and guidelines instead of sending one letter to everyone.
- Real agents earn commission on sales, so treat reading fees and other upfront charges as a warning sign.
Many writers who want a traditional publisher start by looking for a literary agent, someone who sells your book to publishers and takes a commission when it sells. You reach one with a query letter, and that short letter can feel harder to write than the novel.
This lesson covers how the letter works, how to choose who receives it, and how to spot the people you should avoid.
What Is a Query Letter?
A query letter is a short business letter pitching one book. It isn't a synopsis, a life story or a plea. Its job is to make the agent want to read your pages. Jane Friedman's guide puts a full query at about 200 to 450 words, which is one single-spaced page.
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