How to Query an Agent
And look like you know what you’re doing
This post is in honor of all the writers who took a chance and participated in #PitMad, yesterday’s massive pitch event on Twitter. If you got a like from an agent or publisher, you’ve now got to query. Here’s how to get it done.
Whether you are writing a cold query or referencing a like or comment on your Twitter pitch, the basics of querying are the same.
The structure consists of three main elements: the hook, the pitch, and the close.
Additionally, there are critical industry elements that must be included for an agent to take the query seriously.
Let’s start with the basics.
Identify the Agent
Yes, even if you already have a name from #PitMad. Find out who they are, what they represent, their likes and dislikes — everything you can find to see if they are right for your project.
#MSWL
One of the best resources is the Manuscript Wish List. You can search the site itself, or use a search engine for the agent’s name and “MSWL” to find out exactly what types of manuscripts they are looking for. These can also be found on Twitter under “#MSWL”.
Publishers Marketplace
This is more advanced, as a paid membership, but worth the money if you’re deep in the querying trenches.
Not only can you find out how many deals this agent has made, but you can find other agents how have sold books similar to yours.
Before you agree to work with an agent, you can see their deals and other stats to help you make your decision.
Draft Your Query
A query should be short and to-the-point. The whole thing should be about a page (yes, one page) long.
Intimidated by the idea of cramming 350 pages of your creative soul into one page? Don’t worry, you don’t have to.
Just focus on the turning point of the story. Why does this story matter?
There are many incredible resources on how to write a query.
Writer’s Digest has articles for querying authors.
Jane Friedman’s blog is a wealth of information for querying writers.
The Manuscript Academy podcast hosts a first pages look with agents. You can hear exactly how agents go through queries in their inbox, and how to stand out from the crowd.
They all boil down to the hook, the pitch, and the close.
Hook
Start off catching the agent’s attention. Mention they liked your #PitMad tweet, or that since they are looking specifically for a witchy love story they might be interested in your paranormal romance.
Pitch
The pitch in the query is longer than the Twitter pitch. This would be the back of the book — the one-paragraph blurb that tells the reader who the character is, what challenge they will face, and what are the stakes and complications they will face.
Don’t give away the ending. The agent will ask for a synopsis if they want to know the end.
Close
End with any writing credentials you have (do you belong to any writing groups?) or personal experience that informed the writing of the book (the protagonist is an an astronaut and you’re an astrophysicist).
No writing bio? Don’t worry. Keep it simple with the required industry elements.
Include Critical Publishing Industry Query Elements
Somewhere in your query, you must include the following:
- Title
- Genre (and subgenre)
- Word count (estimated to the nearest thousand)
- That the manuscript is complete (e.g. “TITLE is complete at 75,000 words…”)
Read successful query examples (see links above) so you can get a feel for the style and what needs to be included.
Review, Review, Review
We are all immune to our own writing tics.
When we read our own work, no matter how hard we try, we hear it in our heads they way we intended it to be heard, not how it is written.
So once you’ve got that draft as perfect as you can make it, try one (or all) of the following:
- Print it out and read it the next day
- Copy it into a new document, and change the font drastically
- Have a writing friend review it
- Hire an editor to polish the query
Your writing may be incredible, but if the query is a mess the agent might never get to those well-written pages. Make your query as bulletproof as you can before sending.
Send That Query
Once your query is as strong as it can be, send it *exactly* as the agent requests.
This means if they ask for 10 pages, do not send the whole thing and expect them to read the first ten.
If they ask for three chapters, create a new document that is exactly three chapters long.
If they ask for a synopsis, make sure you’ve got a synopsis to send.
If they ask you to submit through their online Query Manager, do not try to be clever and send a hard copy to their office.
Or by phone, which is apparently something people have done?
Although an agent’s interest in your pitch may feel like a looming deadline that might expire, they aren’t sitting and waiting for your query.
They won’t take it personally if it takes a few days to get your package in order. Or a couple of weeks.
So take your time, and do it right.
Agents care about is a story that hooks them — and that they can sell.
Getting the query right makes it easier for them to see why they need to work wit you.
Be Patient
Now that you’ve sent the query, the really hard part begins.
The waiting.
On average, it can take agents 3–4 months to respond to queries in their inbox.
Remember, they have authors they must also work hard for before they can bring on new projects.
So, use the time to get organized.
You might not think it now, but three or four months into querying it can be easy to forget exactly what you sent to who.
I recommend using Query Tracker. It’s $25 for a membership, and will help you keep track of all of your queries. Plus, you can look up the agent(s) who showed interest in your manuscript and find similar agents to query.
How else can you pass the time?
- Query some more agents.
- Write a new book.
- Finally get back to that hobby you put off while you were finishing up your manuscript.
For the love of everything green on this planet, please don’t take to Twitter to talk about rejections or agents not getting back to you “soon enough”.
Agents read Twitter. And they likely won’t want to partner with somebody who puts them on blast.
So be patient.
Your writing may be from the heart, but you are trying to sell it as a commodity. It takes time to find the right champion to get your words into the hands of readers.
Going a little crazy waiting for that agent to respond? Get working on your next book already! Or reach out to your writing friends. That’s what we’re here for!
