Finding a literary agent is an increasingly essential step toward publishing a novel. Many publishers refuse to accept submissions directly from the author; rather, they prefer to have a professional agent with knowledge of the market present the materials to the editor.
A first-time author can contact a literary agent by sending a query letter, which is a short letter introducing the concept of the novel. However, many authors make a few typical mistakes when querying that will, more often than not, lead to the dreaded form rejection letter. Here are a few tips on what agents want to see in a query letter.
Know What the Agency Represents
Before querying any literary agent, writers need to do careful research. Most agencies have websites and/or a page on Publisher's Marketplace that will detail exactly what type of books they are interested in representing. If an agent explicitly states he/she does not represent science fiction, than do not query them with a sci-fi novel.
Most agencies have different query requirements. While most all will want, at the very least, a basic query letter. Some may also want a few sample pages or chapters from the beginning of the novel, and/or a complete synopsis of anywhere from one to a dozen pages detailing the complete plot of the book.
While some agencies accept both regular mail and e-mail queries, many only accept one method. Be sure to follow instructions precisely.
The Basics of the Novel
Writers should include a few specific points about their novel either near the beginning or the end of the query letter.
- The word count, rounded to the nearest thousandth
- The title of the novel, generally in all caps (although this may not always be the case)
- The genre of the novel (mystery, romance, etc.- try to avoid combining more than two genres)
- The fact that the manuscript is complete (for fiction, never query an unfinished novel)
The "Hook" – The Basic Plot of the Story
Again, writers should always know the preferences of the literary agent they are querying. However, most agents agree that a synopsis and a query are different entities.
A synopsis includes all major events of the book, including spoilers and the ending. The main body of a query letter is a catchy blurb of the story, much like what readers see on the back or jacket flap of published novels. The idea is to entice, or "hook" the reader (or in this case, the agent) to want to read the book.
Queries do not give away the ending of the book. Writing a strong query letter requires patience, practice, and revision. For help, authors should take a look at the blurbs on the back cover of their favorite books and take note of the structure. What did that author focus on? What was left out? What about that blurb makes readers want to open the book?
Include a Brief Biography
For previously published authors, or writers with published fiction or non-fiction credentials, by all means include them in the query letter.
However, first-time authors with no writing credentials should include a small amount of information as well. The important thing is to keep it short; in general, the main focus of the query is the story. There is no need to overcompensate by listing degrees, past jobs, number of children, etc. One to two sentences describing oneself is more than adequate.
Patience With Publishing Begins Now
Remember, publishing is a notoriously slow business. Take the time needed to craft a strong query and carefully research literary agents before querying.
For more ways to find a literary agent, take a look at How To Contact a Literary Agent.
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