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.
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Mira, it's a date! LOL I like most of your posts, but guess I get offended when you stereotype writers. If anything, we're an unpredictable bunch that can't be typecast. But I do like your witty repartee…
Gimmicks don't sell books, books sell books.
Query Spam — Light on the Adverbs, Heavy on the Adjectives. Available soon in a super market near you with complimentary hybrid parking.
LOL.
Well, it's your own fault Nathan. 🙂 Telling us to stand out. I'll bet those do stand out!
Sorry; I just really needed this tonight.
…….dhole
In the end, it's really all about the query and the first pages. If that isn't stressful enough then I don't know what is.
That spam picture gave me a nasty flashback to my camping days as a kid, where Dad's favorite meats always came in cans (and yes, there's more than one kind. Ugh.).
It caught my attention, though. 🙂
A query with in idiotic subject line would never make it past my BS filter.
lolz
What if the subject line consisted of QUERY – followed by a rhetorical question repeated twice?
Nathan,
I typically use "Query & Genre," which for me is Literary Fiction.
I'm beginning to notice that i get a LOT of no-response rejections. Judging by QueryTracker, in the time I send a query, others get form rejections and I get NOTHING. It's really frustrating.
I wonder if it's because literary fiction is a hard sell, so agents are ignoring the email without even opening it, or if I suck beyond belief…
I know you respond to every query, but should I just resort to "Query" to be safe?
Anon – thanks. 🙂
I really find all messages with a hard-sell subject line annoying and not professional. Maybe some folks respond positively to "You must read my blog" or "You must buy my book". However, there are plenty of other folks who are turned off and never even read the message.
OK, so this post makes me wanna write a bunch of goofy query subject lines featuring all caps and exclamation points.
like:
THIS QUERY IS DA BOMB!
THIS QUERY IS YOUR NEW FAVORITE!
THIS QUERY IS MINTY FRESH!
THIS QUERY IS YOUR CO-PILOT!
YOUR MOTHER WANTS YOU TO LOVE THIS QUERY!
THIS QUERY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND!
YOU AND THIS QUERY WILL UNITE!
THIS QUERY WILL LIFT YOU OUT OF YOUR CLINICAL DEPRESSION!
THIS QUERY CURES HERPES!
OK, enough. sorry. and thank you. moving on…
Hey Nathan! 🙂 I gave you a blog award, check it out on my blog. Congrats!
~TRA
https://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
Thanks for stopping over @ my blog and leaving a comment for the library-loving challenge!
I saw your comments on the other blogs as well…THANKS!
Yes Mira, writing is an art form but it is also a job… I stand by what I said; you have to cover every aspect of what you do. This doesn't mean it need be an onerous and distasteful chore. Sometimes things we initially find unattractive become interesting once we get some experience with them.
Joanna van der Gracht de Rosado
I sometimes need to ask a super short question of an agent — not a query, but something I actually need to know about being an agent or policy or whatever for my job. I always used "Question, not a query" but if folks are putting subject lines about their QUERIES not being queries, it's a wonder I ever get answers to my questions.
My subject line looks like this:
Query – Title – Genre – Size
i.e.
Query – Trunk Music – Crime Suspense – 90K
Am I being too helpful?
I always say, the goal is to stand out, not stick out.
At the same time, you can't blame people for getting desperate to try something new. It's a tough, tough world out there!