Re: Query Letters
Hello from my writing cave, where outlining is going like this:
Because I have an arguably atrocious memory, I realised that after uploading that whole ‘how I got an agent' + book deal’ post, I failed to expand on the query letter bit. So, for those who are interested in their own writing journey, I’m back with a half-hearted vengeance (it’s Friday, I’m tired) to provide an example of a query letter.
The example, dear reader, is mine.
Before you even think about writing a query letter, you must first complete step one, which is to write your manuscript. Once you finish your first draft, revise, revise, revise because no first draft is ever amazing.
If after this already impressive feat, you decide to query your manuscript to an agent with the hope of getting published, you should move to the next step. Step two involves finding the right agent to submit your manuscript to (again, there’s no point submitting a romance novel to an agent who’s looking for a thriller). Personally, I found QueryTracker to be a brilliant tool (link to which is here). If you don’t want to sign up, QueryTracker does provide a free and extensive list of literary agents that also tells you the country in which they operate, plus a link to the agency website. If you do want to sign up, you can filter and sort by things like genre and age category so, you do you.
Formulate a list of the literary agents you want to send your manuscript to. If they have a MSWL (Manuscript Wish List) available online, that’s an even better resource to see if your manuscript matches with what they’re wanting to see in their inboxes.
Prior to this, I would have my query letter already written. Once it’s completed, you can adjust and personalise to each agent as you see fit but ideally, the general introduction, summary, and bio should remain the same. I’ve adjusted my query for The Prince Without Sorrow countless times, and this is the version that has resulted in requests for either a partial or full manuscript submission. The format of a query letter is kind of the same; you’ll find variations of this everywhere. Find one which works for you and then make it your own.
A few disclaimers before reading:
This is not a guarantee that you will get a request. As I’ve said before, this business also tends to run on luck and timing.
Please don’t copy this word for word. You may as well be chatGPT.
Dear [AGENT NAME]
I hope this email finds you well [1]. I’m writing to seek representation for my first novel, The Prince Without Sorrow, a dual POV YA fantasy novel with crossover appeal [2] complete at 90,000 words. [3] Inspired by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Dynasty of Ancient India, it will appeal to fans of [insert relevant comparative titles here - ideally, choose two].
History sang of Emperor Ashoka, who annihilated his siblings and took the throne by blood.[4]
Youngest of the four [5] Maurya children, Prince Ashoka knows he would never sit on the Obsidian Throne. He is the last in line, his father thinks he is too weak, and his siblings don’t see him as a credible threat. But when an unexpected abdication leaves the ruler of the kingdom in chaos, Ashoka realizes that this may be his only chance to take power for his own and reverse the damage done by his father to the mayakari: the witches of the kingdom. Sent to calm a tumultuous region once annexed by his father, Ashoka begins to plot, and plan. To take the Obsidian Throne would be no easy feat; death would be unavoidable. But as he descends into brutality, Ashoka must fight against becoming the one person he despises the most – his father. [6] [8]
I queried you because [insert reason here because why else would you query this agent??]. My hope in writing The Prince Without Sorrow was to draw a loose interpretation of Emperor Ashoka’s life, and while most of the story takes a heaping dose of creative licensing, its essence remains the same. It is a story of a fictional prince who would echo parts of Emperor Ashoka’s story, injected into a fantasy world filled with nature spirits, magic, brave women, and even braver witches.
I am currently working as a graduate dentist [7] , and The Prince Without Sorrow will be my debut novel. I look forward to writing further novels in the series. I have included [insert whatever material required by the agent and/or agency here].
Thank you very much for considering my submission.With Kind Regards,
Maithree Wijesekara
[1] It’s funny. Fight me.
[2] Please let the agent know your manuscript’s genre and age category. I initially pitched this as YA, but this changed after signing with my agent. It is now adult.
[3] Also, remember to insert a word count! Agents would like to know if your book falls too short of the genre standard or if it’s waaaay too long for a debut. Mine has since increased.
[4] Added a hook as the introduction. Not always needed, to be honest, but I do like inserting a short, snappy punchline prior to the summary. (What can I say, I have my dramatic tendencies)
[5] Fun fact: there were four siblings until the decision was made to foetus deletus one of them. (It was the eldest. Am I self-hating? Maybe.)
[6] Asking a waffler to summarise is pain beyond death, but it can be done folks. The summary is kind of the most important part of a query letter.
[7] How time flies.
[8] Yes, I know it says dual POV (and it still is), but for the summary, I made the executive decision to include Ashoka’s arc instead of both his and Shakti’s. Do I regret it? Yes. Shakti’s story is equally important but it would’ve made the summary too long. Because part of the inspiration came from Emperor Ashoka, I chose to include his namesake’s journey for the query.
And there you have it.
Querying is perhaps the worst part of the process. Unless you’re lucky, it’s a long, hard slog. The waiting period is the absolute worst. I was in the query trenches for over a year and a half and it’s both depressing and anxiety-inducing. There are hundreds of better query letters out there, I guarantee it, but I do hope this provides a useful blueprint for your own.
