How To Write a Winning Query Letter: A Step-by-Step Guide for Authors

One-page query letter – a compelling way of convincing an agent that your book is worth publishing. The majority of authors are unaware of how to write a query letter that will meet their agents’ needs and demands. 

If you want to sell your book as an author, you must focus on grabbing an agent’s interest. But how? In this all-encompassing blog, we’ll assist you in writing a winning query letter to find an agent and close the deal on your book. 

Step 1 — Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction  

Once you’ve written your book, you will need to understand what do copy editors do and what impacts the agents most, so you can find the best resource for your book publication.

The majority of people start writing their query letters by introducing themselves and adding other facts about them. Doing so is just a waste of time and also irritates agents. Instead of mentioning Hi, my name is……and thank you for reading my proposal, open with something to grab their attention. 

For instance, when you write a compelling book introduction, your readers will love to read it. The same rule goes for writing the query letter’s introduction. If your query letter can make a good impression in the first few seconds, the chances are it will be read and accepted by the literary agent. 

Step #2 – Offer a Brief Summary of Your Book

Next, explain to them what your book is about, who it’s for, and why they must buy it right away. Most writers spend more time writing the summary. Don’t do it. Bear in mind that your agent’s main role is to get your book published instead of reading everything in a query letter. 

When writing your summary, think about the description that would go on in the book. So, be sure your book summary is to the point, interesting, and well-curated before moving to the next section regarding what your agent is looking for. 

Step #3 – Invest time in Identifying Your Platform

Are you unsure to whom you will sell your book and how you will reach them? If so, invest your time in identifying your platform. Ask yourself questions like: Who do you want the book to appeal to? Why would your audience prefer to invest in your book? 

The majority of authors consider that once they publish a book, the publisher will be responsible for its marketing and promotion. However, it’s a major misconception. Publishers aren’t aware of how to sell a book. They depend on the authors to promote and market their book to sell. 

Large platforms are capable of representing a variety of things:

• Being well-known enough to receive media coverage
• With a large follower base on social media
• Having a large email list
• Being a part of an enormous organization that wants to purchase your book
• With a track record of writing and book sales (supported by numbers)
• Writing a book focusing on a present need for a broad audience and coming up with how to get the book to that audience.

Your platform encompasses everything a publisher thinks will help you sell books without requiring any extra effort on their part.

Step #4 – Add Relevant Credentials to Provide Value

Credentials related to the book and your platform are worth considering. It’s brilliant if you’re a financial analyst and a champion baker, too. However, don’t count it amongst your achievements unless your book is about puff pastry. An autobiography is not what the majority of authors do while writing a query letter. Thus, never include all of your life experiences in it. 

Always add credentials that provide value to both your books and your agents, leading to a long-lasting bond in book-selling endeavours. So, if you want to convince your prospective agents, then your book’s niche-specific credentials can appeal to your target audience and close deals on books.

Step #5 – Do Personalize as Per Different Aspects

When writing a query letter, it’s preferable to use the agent’s name at the beginning. If you add generic openings such as “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,” your agent will recognize that you haven’t done your research. 

Agents specialize in a wide array of fields, styles, and topics, so mentioning your agent’s name in your query letter is a must. If you don’t, you may be unaware of their clients, sales, or specialties.

Personalization means that you have studied market trends and consumer interests. It also implies that you understand the role of the agent well. If they have extensive experience selling the specific kind of book that you have written, they will most likely be what you’re looking for. 

Understandably, changing your query letter format for every agent you write to is time-consuming. However, it is advised to do it anyway. Always put yourself in the agent’s shoes and think thoroughly. They may receive thousands of letters every year but sign only a few of them. If you don’t even follow simple directions, what would you be like as a client?

Step 6 — Keep It Short (400 Words Max)

No one wants to read a longer document especially when it comes to making deals on selling books. So, be sure that your query letter won’t be a full-fledged document but a sales letter. Keeping it shorter but detail-oriented can help you win over an agent completely, but rather just make them want to read further. 

The optimum word count for a decent query letter must not exceed 400 words. The shorter and to the point your query letter, the better and more interest-grabbing it will be. So, when you write a query letter, don’t make it too long, as the agents will find it useless. 

Step 7 — Proofread Your Query Letter More than Once

Once you’ve written your query letter, proofread it multiple times to change the words and phrases that are unclear. To avoid different flaws and mistakes and make them clearer when you are pitching to an agent, focus on the typos. 

No doubt, experienced and precision-focused writers are in high demand by agents. If you can’t nail a 400-word query letter, how do they expect you to nail a whole book? A single spelling or grammar mistake implies that you don’t take your work seriously. Carelessly made mistakes warn prospective clients.

Your query letter should include the title, genre, and word count, among other basic elements. Even if you don’t use letterhead, your contact details should be included at the bottom of the page. Just a phone number and an email will be enough.

Crux: What Is Next If Your Query Letter Is Done

When your query letter is ready, mail it to the agent who seems the best fit for your project. Keep in mind that every agent has a unique submission procedure. 

Look at their website first and make sure you understand their instructions. If you can craft a killer query that intrigues rather than annoys an agent, you are good to go.