How to Write a Query Letter That Works (2026 Guide to Finding a Literary Agent)

Should you query agents or self-publish?

Querying suits authors who want a traditional deal: a publisher paying an advance, handling editing, design and distribution, and the chance of books in physical bookshops. It is slow. Agents can take weeks or months to reply, and many queries end in a form rejection or no answer at all. Plenty of good books are turned down for reasons of market timing rather than quality.

Self-publishing suits authors who want speed, control over the cover, price and release date, and a larger share of each sale. You also carry the cost and the work of editing, design and marketing. Neither path is better in general. It depends on what you want from the book and how much of the publishing job you are willing to do yourself.

Some authors do both, either self-publishing one project while querying another, or moving to self-publishing after querying a book without success. For a wider comparison, see our guide to traditional, self-publishing or hybrid. One practical rule: never self-publish a book you still intend to query, because most agents want to see a book that has not already been published.

What does an agent need to see before you query?

For fiction, your manuscript should be finished, edited and polished before you query. Agents usually ask for a complete novel from debut authors and may request the full text within days of a query. Querying a half-written draft wastes a chance you will not get again with that agent.

Non-fiction works differently. Most agents want a book proposal, with an overview, market analysis, your platform and sample chapters, rather than a finished manuscript. Memoir is usually treated like fiction and needs to be complete.

Check that your word count sits inside the normal range for your genre, since an outlier is an easy reason to say no. Our guide to word counts by genre covers this. You will also need a short synopsis ready, because many agents ask for one alongside the query. See how to write a synopsis for that.

What goes in a query letter?

A good query is short, usually 250 to 400 words, and fits on one page. It is a business letter with a sales pitch inside it. Most follow the same order, which agents are used to reading.

• Personalised opening: one sentence on why you are writing to this agent, such as a book they represent or a genre they say they want.
• The hook: the pitch itself, in one or two short paragraphs. Who is the protagonist, what do they want, what stands in the way, and what is at stake.
• Book details: title, genre, word count, and one or two comparison titles, ideally recent and not mega-bestsellers.
• Short bio: relevant credits or expertise only. If you have none, say so briefly or leave it out.
• Close: a polite thank you, and a note of any materials included as the agent’s guidelines request.

Write the pitch in third person and present tense, like a blurb, but with more of the real plot and the ending left out. The pitch is the part that decides everything, so spend most of your time there.

What does a strong query letter look like?

Here is a short example for an imaginary novel. Opening: “Dear Ms Okafor, I am querying you because you represent quiet, character-led mysteries, and my novel shares the tone of the books on your list.” Pitch: “When Mara inherits her grandmother’s cottage, she plans to sell it and leave. Then the lighthouse nearby, dark for thirty years, is lit again. Mara follows its beam to a wreck the town refuses to discuss, and learns that her family’s silence is the reason. To uncover the truth she must turn the whole village against her.”

Details: “THE DARK LIGHT is a 82,000-word adult mystery with the atmosphere of a standalone, and will appeal to readers of recent coastal and small-town mysteries.” Bio: “I am a nurse and a member of a local writing group. This is my first novel.” Close: “Thank you for your time and consideration.”

Notice what the pitch does. It names one character, one want, one obstacle and a cost. It does not list every subplot, explain the world, or describe themes in the abstract. Cut anything that is vague, such as “a journey of self-discovery”, and replace it with something a reader could picture.

How do you find the right literary agents?

Aim for agents who actively represent your genre and are open to new clients. Good sources include the acknowledgements pages of books similar to yours, agency websites, and reputable directories and databases of agents. Agencies list who is accepting queries and what they want, and these details change often, so always check the agent’s own page before sending.

Build a list in tiers rather than querying everyone at once. Send a small first batch, then watch the responses. If you get no requests at all, the query or the opening pages probably need work, and you can fix them before using up the rest of your list.

Research each agent properly. Follow their submission guidelines exactly, including how to attach pages and whether they want a synopsis. Be wary of anyone who asks you for a reading fee or upfront payment. Reputable agents earn their income as a commission on sales, not from charging writers to read.

How do you submit, follow up and handle rejection?

Send each query individually, addressed by name, using the format the agent asks for. Most use an online form or email. Do not send a mass email to many agents, and do not attach files unless told to. Proofread twice, because a typo or a wrong agent name tells them you did not take care.

Many agencies state how long to wait before a polite nudge, and some say that no reply means no. Follow that guidance. If an agent offers representation, you can ask to speak with them and with their existing clients, and notify any other agents who still have your material, giving them a reasonable deadline to respond.

Rejection is the normal result, not a verdict on your talent. Most replies are brief form notes. Keep a simple spreadsheet of who you have queried, when and what happened. If many pass on the query itself, revise it. If many read the pages and pass, the manuscript may need another edit, and a professional editor can help; see how to hire a book editor.

What are the most common query letter mistakes?

• Writing a summary of the whole plot, including the ending, instead of a pitch.
• Too many characters, names and invented terms in the hook.
• Opening with praise for your own book or claims that it is the next big bestseller.
• Comparing your book to huge hits or saying there is nothing like it.
• Ignoring an agent’s submission guidelines or querying the wrong genre.
• Including long personal history or irrelevant credits in the bio.

If you want a starting point to rewrite, a query letter generator can produce a rough draft, but treat it as scaffolding and put in your own voice and details. CruxOne, a browser-based AI publishing platform for indie authors, also offers 100+ free author tools, and if querying does not lead to a deal, it can take the same manuscript through editing, cover design, formatting and publishing.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a query letter be?

Usually 250 to 400 words, on a single page. Agents read many each day, so a tight, clear letter works in your favour.

Do I need a literary agent to get published traditionally?

For most large publishers, yes, because they rarely read unagented submissions. Some smaller presses do accept authors directly.

Should I send my query to many agents at once?

You can query several agents in the same period, but send each one individually and personalise it. Start with a small batch and adjust.

What is the difference between a query letter and a synopsis?

A query is a short sales pitch that leaves the ending out. A synopsis is a fuller plot summary that includes the ending.

Can I query a book I have already self-published?

It is difficult, as most agents want unpublished work. Agents may consider self-published books with strong sales, but do not count on it.