When I was a literary agent, authors would try to creative with their subject lines. Sandwiched in between subject lines like “Query” and “Query Author Name” will be one that says:
- New novel act fast!!
- I have just the project for you!
- Not just another query! (only it was usually just another query)
UPDATED 5/29/19
Nice effort but…
I do respect that these authors are thinking about how many e-mails are likely in the agent’s inbox (chances are: a lot) and are thinking they need to really stand out in order to be read. It’s definitely coming from a good place.
But the end result is that it sometimes felt like I was hearing from a group of excited telemarketers and/or spammers.
Allow me to take a moment to reassure the “OMG another rule to follow and someone else on the Internet said the exact opposite KMN” anonymous commenters. This isn’t another rule to follow and no one is getting rejected over their subject line. Subject lines? Really not a big deal. Also, imaginary anon: you might consider decaf.
Avoid spam filters
The real reason to reconsider a wacky subject line is this: we live in a Spam Filter world. If your e-mail accidentally ends up in Spam Land and the agent is scanning that folder before deleting, the best way to ensure that an agent will see your query and retrieve it is if you have used some combination of “Query” or “Query + Title” or “Query + your name” in the subject line. It’s like your query’s life raft!
If your subject line looks like spam: should it land in the spam filter an agent may well mistake it for actual spam or not notice it at all.
Now. Is it mandatory? Not unless the agent you’re querying says it is. Is the agent probably going to appreciate it? Yes. Have you ever had spam musubi? Delicious.
You’re not selling the agent on your ability to write a catchy subject line. Be confident that your query will do the trick.
Need help with your book? I’m available for manuscript edits, query critiques, and coaching!
For my best advice, check out my guide to writing a novel (now available in audio) and my guide to publishing a book.
And if you like this post: subscribe to my newsletter!
That Spam photo led me to imagine a real Spam filter. Not pleasant!
My college roommate was Hawaiian. I love spam musubi!
Not too long ago, an intern tweeted about how writers should NOT put query in the subject line. I had to correct her. LOL. Most important reason is the spam filters.
I hate canned meat.
I never thought to add anything else in the subject line other than query+title.
Maybe I should worry that I lack imagination.
These people obviously think they need to stand out for you to read their queries at all. Since you've assured your readers that you do, in fact, read and respond to all queries, it's totally unnecessary.
Also, silly.
Like you say about the amount of time you spend formatting your query letter being inversely proportional to how professional it looks, I think this falls under the same category.
I'm super hungry and STILL. Never would I try that.
Some like flash. Like glitter. Glitter invades crevices. Flash invades inboxes.
Haha, at least they don't say "You've just one the UK lotto, open to collect!" because then, of course, when you open up the query, you'd be disappointed that you didn't' actually win the UK lotto.
I'm thinking that if your novel is about someone who works in a Nigerian bank, you're really up against it.
Word Verif: "gadvisms." Not sure what it is, but I know I don't want to have it.
Business. Relationship. = Business. Letter.
great advice.and funny post!
Well, I guess it shows imagination, but it does come across as a hard sell gimmick. And, as you say, it might disappear into Spamland.
What if the subject line promised that the query would make your penis larger?
Very helpful advice in regard to creating query subject lines that sound like SPAM. In regard to your mentioning how many rules there are today for query letters, even though unusual out-of-the-box approaches no longer work in trying to get a book published, they still work in other businesses. A recent TV show demonstrated how wildly creative approaches can lead to huge success. One young woman who designs bathing suits decided that having her bathing suits worn by the models in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition would hugely boost her sales. So she showed up at the Sports Illustrated office, proceeded to take off her clothes and try on her own bathing suits. Well, the magazine people liked her bathing suits; her bathing suits were worn by the models; she’s now quite wealthy.
Marsha, I'm with you. On all counts.
Hmmm, what an amazing thing your inbox must be these days, Nathan. Almost like a living, breathing, creature of sorts, that generates new ways of challenging you or presenting you with new ways to wonder at the world (in good and scary ways I would imagine) – frequently.
If what I'm about to ask is too off topic then don't mind me, but would you mind sharing the most unique 'thing' you ever came across as an agent?
Really? Really? People are so darn silly, you gotta love 'em. Hahahaha!
Subject:
"Query: If you don't pick it up, someone else will!!"
Book Title:
"Revenge of the Cat-Eating Space Monkeys"
I mean, seriously… who could pass that up?? It's like passing up Northern Iowa on your bracket.
Ick. Nothing made with SPAM is delicious.
Not only are those tags misleading, but they're way too long for a subject line. SL's should be direct and to the point, otherwise, they scream "GIMMICK!!!"
One of my early on-line gaffes, from back when I didn't know anything about how or who to query, involved sending an unsolicited query directly to a publisher. I found out later, that their SPAM filters actually filter out anything that includes the word "query" because they "don't accept them". I hadn't tagged mine as a query, so it slipped through. In that case, the editor liked the pitch and requested a read. (She passed though – phooey! It definitely wasn't ready to be queried.)
All SPAM filters are set differently, and there's no way to know how one is calibrated. It's like when someone has a title that's racy, and the recipient's filter snags it for "content".
I'm totally craving spam musubi now. (Grew up in Hawaii.)
I assumed it was Query + Title, unless the agent or editor asked for something else.
I think this issue goes back to the fact that what matters most is the STORY. So, agonize and sweat blood over the book's Title and put that in the subject line.
Of course, it's also important not to get emotionally attached to the Title, since the story might just get published after all that. And the publisher might change it.
Such is life.
SPAM… eeee! *shudders*
It seems a lot of agents ask that you put QUERY in your subject line in their submission guidelines, anyway.
How many queries do you receive from truly gifted writers, those who might actually win a major book award, including a Pulitzer Prize? Your blog seems mostly geared toward beginning writers.
anon-
That's extremely rare.
But really, I try and mix things up on the blog between the stuff-for-beginners and stuff-that-only-publishing-nerds-will-probably-ever-care-about. Something for everyone! Hopefully.
This raises a question that I had: if you queried an agent and they were interested but ultimately passed, and then you have a publisher make you an offer, what should your subject line hold if you decide to see if the agent is interested now?
I thought something like "Have offer, need agent" might do it, but now that seems suspiciously like some of the examples you've given.
I've been writing all my life, so I'm no beginner writer, but I am a beginner at finding an agent. I think there's a big difference, anonymous. Also, I'm not convinced that beginner writers can't pull a rabbit out of their hat and win some amazing awards, whereas many experienced writers are just hacks (like me? Who knows).
Well, how about QUERY: "insert really really really interesting book title here". Then you're following the rules. (I accidentally typed fules, and that kind of works too).
April Wendy, I noticed a scolding, chiding tone in today's and other recent blogs. I couldn't imagine extraordinary writers being scolded in that way is all. By "beginning writer," I meant a writer who has only begun learning the basics of how to write, not whether or not they've been published or how many books they've written.
Spam musubi actually makes me gag a little. But that's because I'm pretty anti-Spam in general.
Canned meat. *hork*
anon-
All scolding/chiding unintended!
And if William Faulkner came back to life and wanted to send an e-query I'd tell him to put Query in the subject line too. It's not about who is or who isn't a fantastic writer, it's just a practical suggestion that everyone is welcome to take or not take.
Yes, many writers aren't great at sales, wrong personality type, me included. We're too…obvious and sometimes cluncky….mainly because we're fairly honest types, and sales requires a certain….finessing.
No critique of those who are good at sales implied, though. It's a skill!
But it's nice of you to warn people against being filtered to spam.
My query address line will never be filtered to spam, though. I've already thought of it:
"This is me, Mira, this is not spam, and I'm querying you. I know. I realize you thought this day would never come, and if you want to take a a second to savor the moment, that's fine. This is just a quick reminder, though, that if you do not say yes to my query, you will not be my agent. Food for thought. Okie dokie, go ahead and open the query now. Enjoy!"
Yep. The perfect query address line. That should get me an agent. That should do it.
I would have thought that the subject line was pretty formal and routine, like most parts of a query. It's just the synopsis part that's Hell on Earth.
Last month, I found an email in my spam folder from Mitch Stewart, Director of Organizing for America, on behalf of BarackObama.com.
Why?
The subject line (referencing health care reform) was: "Too hard, too risky?"
Nathan – Would William Faulkner be published today, or would his serious issues with alcoholism stand in his way? His alcoholism resulted in some unusual behavior, and perhaps he wouldn't be published today. It makes for some interesting discussion – how books used to be published before there were so many writers.
anon-
I've actually already addressed that question, or rather decline to address it on a regular basis. Everyone had to deal with the constraints of their time.
Spam Musubi is like pocket rocket fuel. It's good to go, and hot.
Nathan – Last comment on this subject, I promise. I've noticed so many agents addressing writers over the past few years through blog posts in which the language is very similar to an exasperated parent scolding children or an exasperated kindergarten teacher lecturing the kindergartners. It sometimes creates an impression that either there aren't a lot of great writers querying agents, or that the art of writing is being reduced to a kind of paint-by-number kit. Of course, there are many great books published today, so I wonder where the discussion would go if the writers of those books were the ones being addressed on agent blogs. What if Pulitzer Prize winning books were discussed, for instance, and writers could learn something about how that is accomplished? I'm guessing the discussion would take place on a completely different level. I'm also guessing that most queries that completely follow guidelines are rejected anyway, so isn't the real problem how do you write a really great book? Thanks for bearing with me. I'm just trying to discuss a trend I've been noticing over the past few years on many Internet sites devoted to helping writers.
I'm getting so spooked by all this "how to query" stuff I don't know what to think. I'm about a year out on querying with my project. By then I'll probably have abandoned the whole idea.
anon-
I really try and avoid an exasperated tone. It happens to everyone from time to time, but I wouldn't want to think I'm part of that trend.
That said, I do post about the craft of writing and talk about writers and books who have won Pulitzers. But the fact is that there's only so much you can do to tell someone how to write a Pulitzer Prize winning book, and if I could tell everyone precisely how to write a Pulitzer Prize winning book I would be copyrighting it and selling it for millions of dollars rather than blogging for free.
All I can do is provide advice I hope people will find helpful. Some of that is about writing, some of that is about boring nuts and bolts stuff like query subject lines. It's all part of making the process work. Even great writers have to jump through hoops to be discovered.
Thanks, Nathan, for your time and patience. I really do appreciate it.
Thank you. None of the cutesy stuff. Okay I get it.