How to Write a Query Letter
Countless authors dream of seeing their work on a bookshelf, alongside other bestselling titles. And while there are ways to approach smaller publishers and submit your book, for the largest publishers in the world, that reach out happens via a literary agent. The question then becomes, how do you get an agent? Enter the query letter.
Every agent has different submission guidelines, but what they all have in common is a query letter. Think of it as your pitch. And while it’s only a page long, agents deduce a huge amount of information from it. It tells them:
- Who you are and why they should sign you
- What your book is about
- If you understand the market
- Your unique selling point
And before we get into query letter specifics, it’s worth pausing here. Most authors think the query letter is just about their book. If they have a good concept, they think, agents will like it. Most of the time, that’s not true. Agents aren’t looking for the best story in the world, they’re looking for the best story that they can sell. It’s a key distinction. In order to craft a successful query letter, think like an agent. Their job is to sell your manuscript to an editor at a publishing house, so while an amazing book is often a prerequisite, it’s not sufficient. You need a great book that they can sell. With that in mind, let’s dive into the specifics.
The Anatomy of a Query Letter
Let’s start with the rough structure of a query letter. The entire thing should be one page and typically between 250-350 words.
Dear [Agent's Name], → Always personalize your greeting. Double-check the spelling of their name; a simple mistake here can signal sloppiness.
[Personalization & Housekeeping] → This first paragraph is your chance to show you've done your research. Mention why you are querying them specifically—perhaps you admire a book they represent or their Manuscript Wish List aligns with your project. If you can't find a meaningful personalization, it's fine to skip it, but some agents notice the extra effort. This paragraph should also include the essential details: your book's title, genre, word count, and comparable titles. More on comp titles later.
[The Hook / Pitch] → This is the core of your letter, usually one to two paragraphs long. You want to introduce your main character, the central conflict they face, and what sets the story in motion. Focus on the first third of your book and avoid revealing the ending. The goal is to create intrigue and leave the agent wanting more. Your writing style should shine through here, giving them a taste of your novel's tone.
[The Stakes] → This is critical. You need to tell an agent why they should care about the character. What’s at stake if they fail? It doesn’t need to be ‘the world will end.’ Stakes can be internal (loss of identity, love) or external (loss of life, home), but you must convey why the outcome matters deeply to your protagonist.
[Author Bio] → If you don’t have extensive writing credentials, keep this short. Most agents want to know a bit about who is on the other end. If you have an MFA, relevant publications, or professional experience related to your book's subject matter, mention that here. Keep this section tight and professional.
Thank you for your consideration,
[Your Name] → Always end in a professional manner.
A Classic Example: Pitching The Lord of the Rings
To see how this structure works, let's imagine how J.R.R. Tolkien might have queried his epic fantasy in today's market.
Dear [Agent's Name],
I am seeking representation for my epic fantasy novel, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, complete at 180,000 words. I saw that you represent high fantasy with extensive world-building, and I believe my novel will appeal to readers of a similar vein.
In the peaceful land of the Shire, a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins inherits a simple gold ring from his eccentric uncle. He soon discovers it is the One Ring, an ancient and powerful artifact created by the Dark Lord Sauron, who now desperately seeks it to enslave all of Middle-earth.
Guided by the wizard Gandalf, Frodo must leave his home and embark on a perilous quest to the volcanic Cracks of Doom—the only place the Ring can be destroyed. He is joined by a fellowship of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and men, but the journey will test their bonds as the Ring's corrupting influence preys on their weaknesses. Frodo soon realizes that the fate of the world rests on his small shoulders, and he may have to carry this burden alone.
Failure means plunging the world into everlasting darkness, but success will cost him more than he can possibly imagine.
I am a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, and my academic work in philology and mythology has deeply informed the creation of Middle-earth, its languages, and its history.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
J.R.R. Tolkien
Note: These days, it's rare to query a series. Most agents are looking for a 'standalone novel with series potential.' Including that phrase in your query will check the box. And secondly, make sure to understand word count norms for you genre. 180,000 words, while fine for Tolkien, is far too high for today's market.
Decoding the Key Parts
The Pitch
When people talk about a book being "high concept," they mean it's easy to pitch. You can get the gist across in a couple of sentences. This is a key part of your query letter because it’s what your book is about! Boil your book down to the basics, don’t be too verbose (you don’t need to mention every plot point and detail!), and in general, you should only be covering the first third of your book. What situation is your character in, what are their options, and what’s at stake if they fail? It’s also good to make sure your writing style comes across without being over the top. If an agent enjoys the flow of your query, they’ll be more willing to read your work.
Comparable Titles
Comparable titles can make or break your query—some agents request manuscripts based on comps alone. You're entering into a business partnership with an agent, and strong comps show them you understand the market and where your book fits. Many authors fear comps. Don't. Used appropriately, they're an invaluable part of your pitch.
What makes a good comp:
- Published within the last 3-5 years (market tastes evolve quickly)
- Similar genre, but can cross boundaries if themes align
- Sold well enough to be recognized but not so successful they're unrealistic (avoid Harry Potter, Twilight, or The Hunger Games)
- Share specific elements with your book: tone, theme, character type, or setting
How to structure your comps:
Don't just list titles. Explain the connection: "The Atlas Six meets The Secret History for its dark academia setting and morally complex characters exploring the price of power."
Where to find good comps:
- Browse recent releases in your genre on Goodreads
- Check acknowledgments in books you love—authors often thank their agents
- Follow publishing industry accounts on social media for trending titles
- Ask librarians and booksellers for recent recommendations
- Inkshift (more on that later)
Red flags to avoid:
- Books older than 5 years
- Mega-bestsellers that broke all publishing rules
- Books in completely different genres
- Self-published books (unless you're querying for self-publishing services)
The Author Bio
Don’t overthink it. A sentence about who you are and what you enjoy is fine. “When I’m not writing, I’m snuggling on the couch with my fluffy Corgi” is better than a resume-style list of your accomplishments that have nothing to do with writing. Mention relevant experience if you have any (like MFA programs, an author platform, or experience in your field if you're writing non-fiction), and if you don't, don't sweat it.
How to Get Started
So how do you actually begin writing a query letter? Start by boiling it down to your main character and what they need to overcome, then try ending on a cliffhanger. DO NOT give away the ending in your query. You want them wanting more. You want the agent to ask for materials.
And if you’re really stuck, or you want a second set of eyes before diving in, Inkshift can help. Each Inkshift Editorial Critique provides you with a one-page synopsis, 10 comparable titles for your manuscript, and a sample query letter to get you started on the right foot.
The critique also provides a comprehensive review of your manuscript, including plot and pacing consistency, character arcs and motivations, settings, prose, and more. Once you query an agent, you normally aren’t able to query them again unless you’ve made radical changes to the manuscript, so getting a quick analysis before querying can be beneficial.
And if you're still in the editing phase, check out this article how finding great novel critique partners, or this one on how to find a good developmental editor.
Conclusion
Writing a query letter is hard. Some people think it’s harder than actually writing the book. And it can be. It’s taking tens of thousands of words and distilling them into a single page. But unfortunately, people don’t make buying decisions by reading your entire manuscript. They need to know who it’s about, what they do, and why they should care.
People try to be cheeky. They think the only way to make their novel stand out is to do something crazy in the query letter. That doesn’t work. All it does is show the agent you’re not professional and might even ruin a future query attempt down the line. Don’t try to be special. Instead, nail your pitch.
Pro tip: It might be too late for your current manuscript, but a great way to test out a concept for a book is to write the query before writing the actual novel. It’s a useful exercise, and even though you might end up changing it by the end, it can help you hone your pitch down the line.