How to query literary agents

Querying is how most novelists find representation: you send a short pitch to literary agents, and the ones who want more ask to read pages. It looks simple, but the writers who get offers treat it as a deliberate, well-researched campaign rather than a mass email. Here is how the process actually works.

Finish and polish the book first

For fiction and memoir, agents expect a complete, revised manuscript. Query before it's done and you'll have nothing to send when an agent asks within the hour — and you only get one first impression per agent. Run it past beta readers, take a few weeks away, then revise again. Confirm your word count fits your genre (most adult novels land between 70k and 110k; check norms for yours) because an outlier count gets passed on at the query stage.

Write a query letter that does three jobs

A query is one page, around 250–350 words, in three parts. First, the hook and pitch: two or three paragraphs introducing your protagonist, their goal, what stands in the way, and the stakes — written like back-cover copy, not a synopsis. Second, the housekeeping: title, genre, word count, and one line on comparable recent titles ("comps"). Third, a short bio with any relevant publications or credentials; if you have none, keep it to a sentence. Personalize the opening so the agent knows why you chose them.

Research agents so you query the right ones

The single biggest cause of rejection is a mismatch. Only query agents who actively represent your genre and are open to submissions. Build your list from trustworthy sources — agents' agency pages, their Manuscript Wish List entries, interviews, and the acknowledgments of books like yours. Verify each agent is legitimate: reputable agents never charge reading fees. Then read every agent's submission guidelines individually, because they vary wildly (query only, query plus 10 pages, query plus synopsis) and ignoring them is an instant pass.

Once your list is built and your letter is sharp, send in small batches so you can adjust your approach based on early responses, and keep a record of everything you send. That record is where the next four guides come in.