Once you’ve written a fantastic query letter and compiled a list of reputable literary agents who specialize in your genre: it’s go time, baby. Here’s my best strategy for sending out query letters.
I also offer online classes with exclusive resources about finding and working with literary agents that you can take at your leisure. They will help you every step of the way!
And if you need personalized help, I can help edit your query letter or you can book a consultation to ask questions.
What not to do
Let’s talk for a second about what not to do when sending out a query letter.
One of the more mystifying ways some aspiring authors go about the query process is to blast an e-mail to every single agent in the publishing industry with a “To My Future Literary Agent” subject line.
When I was an agent, what made me slap my head wasn’t just that it’s poor e-mail etiquette or knowing that 1,000 of my closest colleagues were also considering the project at exactly the same time. It’s just not a good strategy.
What if you didn’t get the pitch right and everyone rejects (or ignores) you all at once? Well, you blew your chance to tweak it a bit and try again with another round. (And no, you can’t just tweak it and re-send it to those 1,000 agents again, that’s a good way to get blocked forever.)
If you rush the submission process you lose the ability to evaluate and adjust as you go.
Send query letters in batches
It’s much smarter and more effective to send out the query in batches of seven to ten at a time. When you get a rejection, send a new one out. If a few months go by and you haven’t heard from an agent, consider it a rejection and send a new one out.
Take your time. See what the response is like. If you’re not getting any requests, you might take another hard look at your query and opening and think about making adjustments.
As time goes by you might notice something you could do better or receive a valuable piece of feedback. If, on the other hand, you’re getting manuscript requests but not an offer, you will know you’re at least on the right track but maybe just haven’t found the right fit.
Going at a steady pace can be frustrating and feel tedious sometimes, but it gives you time to look at your query and opening with fresh eyes as your results come in.
Consider supplementing your query strategy
Also take note: in this day and age, sending out a query letter is not the only way to approach agents! There are pitch wars, hashtags on Twitter, and you can meet literary agents at writers conferences.
I would still resist the temptation of jumping the gun and pitching via other channels to test the waters before you’re ready to pair it with a traditional query letter strategy.
Many experienced agents still only accept traditional query letters, and you might miss out on a potential opportunity if you get caught up in the rush and limit yourself to only one channel.
What happens after you send out your query letter
After you’ve sent your query letter off into the great unknown, you sit back and wait for the literary agent to consider it. And wait. And wait some more.
If you get requests: your query letter has done its job and you have moved on to the next step!
Bear in mind that many/most literary agents have a no-response-means-no policy, so if you do not hear back after a couple of months you have your answer. It is not customary to follow-up if you haven’t heard back on a query letter.
Keep your cool, stay calm, and be professional throughout the process. Patience in the submission process (and life, for that matter) goes a long way.
More query letter resources
- How to write a query letter
- How to find a literary agent
- A guide to literary agent etiquette
- Is there a best time to query?
- How to interpret rejection letters
- Query letter subject lines: Act now!! get it while it lasts!
Do you have a tried and true strategy for sending out queries? Any superstitions? Take to the comments!
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Art: The messenger of love by Leonard Straszyński
Couple more things:
If you’re getting requests then your query is good, but if you’re not getting any offers, perhaps your manuscript needs work. While you’re out on sub, start writing your next book! It helps pass the time.
Check out querytracker.com, it’s a wealth of information. It’s also a great way to keep track of who you have queried and to find new agents.
Thank you again for earlier feedback about query letter dos and don’ts.
Now I have one more concerning query letter etiquette.
I initially meant to stick with traditional mail, but now I found an legitimate agent that requires email to contact him.
In the email subject box should is it best to simply type “Query”, “Query Letter” or is it best to do something else like “Query Letter- [book title]” ?
Include “Query” in the subject line, but I’d make it unique with either your title or name.
Here’s a full post on query letter subject lines: https://nbrans.wpengine.com/2010/03/query-letter-subject-lines-act-now-get
Thanks again for the help.
Great model for the email Query.
Some agents ask for the manuscripts first chapter or 25-pages in the email… (and not as an attachment). Can you recommend how to format this? The cut-and-paste never works. Is there a reference we should go to for instructions?
Thank you.
Just do the best you can, it’s tricky to get the formatting to work properly in an email and agents know that.