How to Write a Query Letter That Gets Read
A query letter is a one-page business pitch. Its only job is to make a literary agent request your manuscript. Nothing else.
Writers routinely overthink it. The good news: the structure is simple and consistent across genres.
The four-part formula
1. The hook (one to two sentences) Lead with your book’s core premise — the character, the situation, the stakes. Think back-cover copy, not synopsis. If you can name a compelling comp title and explain how yours differs, even better.
2. The pitch (one paragraph) Expand on the setup. Who is your protagonist? What do they want? What’s standing in the way? What happens if they fail? You’re writing a mini-synopsis here, not spoiling the ending.
3. The vitals (one sentence) Title, genre, word count. Keep it clean: HOLLOW GROUND is a 92,000-word literary thriller.
4. The bio (two to three sentences) Relevant publishing credits, if any. If you have none, that’s fine — skip the apology and just end professionally. Agents expect debut writers.
What kills queries
- Opening with rhetorical questions (“Have you ever wondered what it’s like to…?”)
- Describing your book as a cross between three things
- Mentioning that your family loved it
- Explaining that this book will make a great movie
- Being vague about genre or word count
One thing most writers forget
Personalize each query. One sentence explaining why you’re querying this specific agent — based on their stated preferences, a panel you watched, a book they represent — makes a real difference in a crowded inbox.
Keep it to one page. Every word should earn its place.