I was asked recently, “What is the one thing that makes you request a project based on a query and what is the one thing in a query that makes you decide a book isn’t the right fit?”
I’m sure the answer to this question varies agent to agent, but I’d like to share my thoughts with you. I have reviewed thousands of query letters over my (almost) 16 years as an agent, so I’m pretty experienced now. 🙂
First off, there’s not a magical item to include in a query letter that will make an agent request the project. There are many things that will cause an agent to request a project. For example, platform size–if you are an author with a large following, an agent is very likely to request your project. Also, if your idea is something an agent knows a publisher is looking for, you are likely to get a request. For me, I think the topic or plot of a book is still most important. If your book is about something I’m interested in and the query grabs my attention, I am very likely to request more even if I don’t have a publisher in mind yet and even if your platform isn’t huge. I still allow the content to speak for itself and then determine after taking a look at the proposal or manuscript if I think I could have a good chance to sell the project. I’m not against taking a few risky projects on, but I mostly like to feel confident that there are publishing houses looking for the type of books I’m representing.
There are also many things that could make an agent say no to a query, but the one thing (two things?) that causes me not to request a project from a query letter is poor spelling and grammar. A query letter should be very clean. It’s only a page long and it represents you and your project. You want it to sparkle! If I can tell a person hasn’t spent any time on their query, I can be pretty sure that that project isn’t ready for representation yet. It’s easy to make silly mistakes when writing anything, so I encourage each of you to have a critique partner read your query letter for you. Query letters are often the gateway to publishing, so spend time putting yours together.
How has your query letter evolved as you’ve pitched your project?
What is the hardest part for you when you write a query? Bio? Summary? Hook? Something else?
While You Wait
No-one at Books and Such will get a query from me, not now. I can only write to God, and I am so scared.
So now I am writing a letter,
a query unto mine own God;
I want somehow to make it better,
that it not be badly flawed,
for now the nights do hold stark terror,
pain, and things I will not say;
is my fear in hell’s own error,
or is this now the the right true way
to touch Your holy, gentle heart,
to reach out to Your gentle soul?
Strength is gone, I fall apart;
will You reach out, and make me whole
in response to this bald-faced request?
Dear God, I’ve really done my best.
And, if you’re interested, may I suggest a clip from America’s Got Talent, of a woman (whose stage name is Nightbirde) whose courage I cannot hope to match?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZJvBfoHDk0
Praying for you tonight, Andrew. Hang in there, my friend. He who is with you is strong and tender and able.
Boy, my queries have grown less formal and stilted and have developed a more friendly casual tone. As I grow more confident in my writing, I feel more able to relax and be myself. The writing is stronger for it I think. I find the hook difficult. What is it that would make a young reader sit up and pay attention? I’ve got to discover that and write it up short and sweet.
Sage advise.
Good advice. The hardest part for me in a query is the bio. I hardly think I’m all that interesting!