Querying a literary agent is the process of pitching your manuscript to agents in hopes of securing representation. In this guide, you’ll learn how to write a query letter, what agents actually want, common mistakes to avoid, query letter examples, and how to track submissions professionally. Whether you’re querying fiction, nonfiction, or children’s books, this guide walks you through the entire process step-by-step.
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Before You Start Querying Literary Agents
As with any endeavor, a little bit of research before action is the gold standard.
Too often, eager writers read a few articles, find a handful of agents, and begin blasting out query letters.
That usually ends badly.
Querying literary agents is less about speed and more about professionalism, research, and targeting the right people.
Before sending anything, it’s worth understanding how the process actually works.
What Is a Literary Agent Query Letter?
A literary query is simply a request from you to a prospective agent for representation.
As with any industry, decades have gone by that have shaped the current, modern expectations of a query.
Every agent, agency, and publisher has different requirements. Many state exactly what they want to see and how they want to see it.
If you Google literary agency, you’ll find companies like Martin Literary Management, Writer’s House, Albert Whitman & Company, and Bradford Literary Agency. You’ll come across many literary agents, as part of these agencies, who also maintain profiles and query requirements on website like Publishers Marketplace, Query Tracker, or Agent Query.
One exceptionally resourceful site, Children’s Book Council, was recommended during my interview with Rhonda Gowler Greene. CBC provides information on many things, one of which is publishing companies and what types of manuscripts they accept (unsolicited, agented, query only, etc.). You’ll also stumble across user managed lists of agents and agencies from other blogs which are wonderful resources if they’re kept up to date.
Most often, you’ll find these basic similarities in query requirements:
- Whether the query should be mailed, emailed, or submitted through a form
- What materials should be included
- Whether sample pages are required
- Which agent to query
- Whether the agency is open to submissions
Why Most Query Letters Never Reach the Top of the Slush Pile
Most new authors find themselves quickly at the bottom of a very daunting slush pile.
You may think to yourself, as most authors have, with thousands of literary agents available they should be jumping at the chance to represent MY work. Well, that would indeed be nice if it was the case.
Instead, the thousands of literary agents are inundated by tens and hundreds of thousands of queries, some solicited and most unsolicited.
Unsolicited queries start at the bottom.
They’re coming without referral by someone they know, which means they are likely the lowest priority to review.
You may think that in this modern age of immediate communication, agents wait all day at their computers for that next query letter so they may read and respond promptly.
Solicited queries are a different animal and thus carry a different level of weight with an agent or agency.
If you can move from unsolicited to solicited, you’re already ahead of the game. This might mean you meet an agent at a conference, speak with them about your manuscript, and they like the idea, asking for you to send them a query.
If this wonderful phenomena happens, this is the information you include at the very top of a query letter.
Dear So and So,
It was wonderful meeting you at Such and Such Conference and learning about you and Company’s literary interests. As you requested, below is a query for my 200-word children’s book, Goo Goo Ga Ga.
This type of information immediately gets you near the top of the slush pile, focuses the agents attention, and possibly gets you past any agent assistant gatekeeper. Another way to skip over some slush pile people is a referral from a represented author. Let’s say you just happen to be friends with published Author A, who has been working with super Agent B for a number of years. During casual conversation, Author A asks you what you’ve been up to, and you mention your personal interest of writing. Because remember, we NEVER try to sell and convince our friends or family with ulterior motives. Focus on the friendship first, and if they’re interested in knowing more about something, they’ll ask. Well, it just so happens that Author A loves your story concept and, based off what they know about Agent B, they really think the agent would consider representing your work too. Again, this is top of the letter information.
Dear Agent B,
One of your represented authors, Author A, firmly believes you may be interested in representing my 200 word length children’s book, Goo Goo Ga Ga. Based on your profile at Company XYZ, especially your previous experience as an Elementary School teacher and your personal hobby as a bug collector, I couldn’t agree more.
Now, most folks simply aren’t running into their agent of choice nor do they have an inside track to friendship. So, the unsolicited query letter really is the path for you. Don’t be afraid though. This is still a way to turn your publishing dreams into reality.
A great resource in improving your ability to select and query is researching agents and agencies.
Many, many agents have done interviews regarding their query wish list, books they love, what they look for in a new author for representation, a history of their current represented authors, personal hobbies, locations, important conferences, etc. This information is INVALUABLE to the querying author. Do not bother an agent, or yourself, querying content they are clearly uninterested in. Focus your efforts on the strong likelihoods instead.
One such incredible resource readily available is Query Shark. Eventually, everyone new to querying comes across The Sharks with their incredible insight and in-depth critiques of real people’s queries. It’s spoken of just about everywhere that no one should send their first query until reading the entire Query Shark archive.
It’s a daunting task and everyone skims it their first time, or two, until realizing most answers really are there if you dig for them. If you’ve truly read the archives and have a new question, the Sharks just might read and review your query.
Before You Query Literary Agents
Manuscript Readiness
Manuscript readiness is all about finished product. If you’re still considering tweaks or alternate ideas, it’s not ready!
Get to the point where you would not change anything else. The point where it’s perfect. Now, it’s ready to query.
Beta Readers
It’s scary sharing manuscripts with other people. It brings vulnerability and fear. Knowing when to share your manuscript doesn’t need to be daunting. Just find other writers or ex-agents/publishers that offer this service, read reviews, and give it a go.
Beta readers find things writers often miss and their critiques are priceless. Also, agents will want to know you’ve employed beta readers as a way to know you’re not a newbie.
Editing
A good writer can perform the majority of editing on their own work. But you are bound to miss things because you are too close to the material personally. Let a professional editor give detailed recommendations. You’ll find the edits are not only grammatical but pertain to pacing, flow, style, and even missing plot pieces.
Genre Expectations
Books fall into specific genres. It’s best to know these genres before you start writing. If your manuscript lands between genres it will not only be a hard sell but a confusing read for professionals. Help agents know where your new book fits on the shelf.
Comp Titles
Comp titles, or comparison titles, is another way agents know how to perceive your work. And no, you don’t want to say your manuscript is just like that amazing best seller so they should pick you!
Find actual books that mirror your theme, pacing, topic, structure, and age level. Strong comp titles save agents a lot of work when they have to sell the manuscript internally before acquisition can occur. Help them help you.
Synopsis Preparation
Boiling down your story to a brief paragraph or couple sentences is very difficult for most writers. It’s critical though because if you can’t do it, who can?
Think hard about the core element of your manuscript. What is it really about?
If someone reads your synopsis, they should immediately know a) what your book is about, b) if they would like to read your book, and c) if they are the right audience for your book.
An Actual Query Letter Template
Dear [Agent Name],
I’m seeking representation for my [genre] manuscript, [TITLE], complete at [word count] words.
[1-2 paragraph compelling pitch]
[TITLE] will appeal to readers of [comp title] and [comp title].
I’m a [brief bio].
Per your submission guidelines, I’ve included [materials].
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Name]
How to Track Literary Agent Queries Professionally
This is an area many authors and illustrator’s don’t do well. It’s not because they’re incapable of it, it’s just not always second nature.
Part of the querying process is growing in your ability to manage a business. Yes, writing and illustrating is your business! Unless you don’t care about succeeding or making any money, it’s time to enhance your skills.
With my engineering background, spreadsheets came second nature, so I suppose here I can really shed some light.
From the very beginning of my author journey, I created and managed a spreadsheet. I called it a Publishing Activity Matrix. With so many agents, agencies, and publishers out there, the last thing I wanted to do was accidentally lose track of who received what, when, and how.
I created a very simple spreadsheet to track the following information. Each numbered point is a different column in the spreadsheet and I encourage you to do the same.
- Date (the date at which you submit the query)
- Destination (agency or publisher company name)
- Sub-Destination 1 (the website or main source of the destination above)
- Sub-Destination 2 (the agent, assistant, or coordinator name you submitted to)
- Description (a bit of information about your query, such as Email query with pasted manuscript, Online electronic form, or Query letter and manuscript by mail).
- Sub-Description 1 (here I typically enter the name of the manuscript I sent)
- Sub-Description 2 (perhaps a second manuscript sent at the same time)
- Sub-Description 3 (perhaps a third manuscript sent at the same time)
- Status (this is the final kicker column – it’ll either be blank [Waiting for response] or filled out [Rejected Month Day, Year] or [Offered Representation Month Day, Year] and so on and so forth
This spreadsheet can become your best friend! You may think, gosh, I’ll only send a few queries, why have a spreadsheet?
Well, sorry to break it to you, but if you are average, and most of you are, especially if you’re reading this post, you’ll be sending in a LOT of queries. Many folks, even after having representation, leave an agent and enter the querying world again!
Don’t forgo the spreadsheet!
The spreadsheet can also help you know when it’s OK to request an update.
Most agents and agencies post timelines for review on their websites, which range from 2 weeks to 6 months. Some agents and agencies say if you don’t hear from them, it’s a rejection while others say if you don’t hear from them in X amount of time, that it’s OK to request an update.
I’ve found some agents respond well to the request for update while others ignore it.
What to Expect During the Querying Process
Querying literary agents can be exciting, discouraging, motivating, and frustrating — sometimes all in the same week. For most writers, the process takes time, patience, and persistence.
Literary agents receive hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of submissions every month. Even strong manuscripts are often rejected for reasons that have little to do with the quality of the writing. Timing, market trends, an agent’s current client list, personal preferences, and submission volume all play a role in the process.
It’s also important to understand that querying is rarely quick. Some agents respond within days, while others may take weeks or months. In many cases, you may not receive a response at all if an agency has a “no response means no” policy.
Rejection is a normal part of traditional publishing. Nearly every published author has collected rejection letters before finding the right agent or publisher. Rather than viewing rejection as failure, treat it as part of the process of finding the right professional fit for your work.
Querying is also not an exact science. At its core, you are looking for someone who genuinely connects with your manuscript and believes they can successfully represent it. The author-agent relationship is often long-term, which makes compatibility just as important as talent.
While you wait for responses, continue improving your craft. Revise your manuscript, begin a new project, research the industry, and keep learning. The most successful writers are often the ones who remain consistent, adaptable, and persistent throughout the querying process.
Common Query Letter Mistakes
Querying Before the Manuscript is Ready
Listen, I’ve done exactly this. I’ve been so excited about a manuscript and an agent “perfect match” that I’ve sent a query only to realize later that my manuscript had rambling prose, grammar errors, and missing plot points.
Querying is like knocking on an agents door. If they open it and see you, they should see the best version of you. If you send poor quality material, you’re fighting yourself when you try to send a second query.
Really make sure you’re ready and the manuscript is as polished as possible.
Sending Mass Generic Emails
Writers new to querying may not know how easy it is to fall into this trap.
What happens typically is a new writer will find a few great agents, send some queries, and then wait.
The waiting is torment. After a few weeks or a few months, it happens.
The writer decides to find new agents. Only this time, they come across dozens of agents, publishers, and agencies.
After getting no responses, they decide to just send their work out to the masses and hope someone sees the diamond in the rough.
Unfortunately, this mass generic approach weakens each attempt. When you query, it must be specific, targeted, tailored, and just perfect for that individual recipient.
This approach gives you the best chance.
Bad Comps
Finding comp titles is hard. Providing bad comps is tragic.
If you tell an agent bad comp titles, it actually says more about you than your manuscript.
It confuses the agent where your book might fall on the shelf but also makes them wonder if you are ready to be a real author.
Take the time and find people to help you develop strong comps.
Overlong Query Letters
I’ve interviewed many agents and publishers on this site, along with successful authors.
The common theme is they are all extremely busy.
Agents do not have time to read a manifesto query. They want it short. Snappy. Clean. Clear.
Help agents help you. Give them what they want in as few words as possible.
Weak Stakes
Even if you get the querying part perfect, a low-stake story will hold you back.
Stories need to be gripping. They need to tug at you emotionally.
A high-stakes story is one people can rally behind. They can invest in it.
High-stake stories are page turners.
If you let someone read your manuscript, do they get bored or do they want to know what happens next?
That is a tell-tale sign you’ve got strong stakes on the page.
Spelling/Grammar Mistakes
In 2026, there really is no excuse for poor spelling or grammar.
Editing tools abound.
In fact, so many manuscripts have perfect editing that a poorly edited one will stand out so glaringly bad, the decision to reject it can be immediate.
Do yourself a BIG favor and take the time to check spelling and grammar.
Pitching Wrong Genre Agents
Pitching the wrong agent is a big billboard sign that screams “I did not read anything about you or your agency but I am so desperate to be published I queried you anyways!”
Don’t be that writer. Thoroughly research the agent. Figure out the types of books they represent. See what they are looking for. Many agents have websites saying exactly what they want. Be a good query-er and follow the rules.
Query Letter Checklist
- Manuscript fully revised
- Beta readers completed
- Genre identified
- Comp titles selected
- Query personalized
- Submission guidelines followed
- Query tracked in spreadsheet
