Author’s Note: if you want all the querying resource links and none of my rambling, scroll to the end for a handy list. All pictures are direct links to articles. Here are other writing resources if you’re not querying yet.
After my third book (the only book my internal monologue deemed potentially “publishable”), I dove head-first into the rabbit hole that is querying. Or, as the lovely folks over on Threads/insert social media of choice like to call it: #querytranches.
I see why the term applies after going through the process (no agent yet). You’re getting bombed right and left, desperate pleas for more info, unknown requests for resources you didn’t know you needed, and on and on. I thought getting the book done and edited was ‘the end,’ but as Semisonic said: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
From my time in the trenches, here are some resources for others getting into the querying process. These are the ones I’ve distilled over the years and found the most helpful.
Querying materials: a general list:
There are tons of other places to find this information, but I can summarize it quickly. Keep in mind that this is primarily for works of fiction. There are different requirements for non-fiction, and I think Memoir has a slightly alternate request pattern. I’d check elsewhere for articles on those.
Basic query materials:
1. Query Letter
2. Synopsis (one page and three page)
3. First twenty pages of MS, polished to a high shine
4. Agent List (I mean, they don’t require you to have this, but you’ll need to know who to send these materials too)The dreaded query letter
I wouldn’t be surprised if whole books were dedicated to the query letter. The Herculean task of asking an author who just finished their magnum opus to distill it down to the core elements and, oh, make it super enticing so an agent can’t wait to read the pages. Huh boy.
With this in mind, much of the focus tends to boil down to the book, the blurb, and the author.
There are a ton of resources for query letter writing. Search YouTube for the words “Query Letter” to see the many videos on the subject.
This is all covered masterfully in this video. Listen, I’m lazy, and sometimes it’s nice to have someone explain it rather than read about it.
NT Book Editors provides a detailed breakdown of all the aspects of the query letter writing process for those who want something to refer to or like processing written details.
Then there is The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast. I’ve posted this in so many places that some might think I have some affiliation with the podcast. But I don’t; it’s just been so helpful. There is a massive archive of shows, but the main gist is a segment called “books with hooks,” two literary agents reading query letters from querying authors and then breaking down what works and what doesn’t. They also critique the first five pages. There is so much to unpack in this show.
Last is a blog run by Janet Reid, a New York agent who sadly passed away this year. The website’s content, which focuses on Janet showing the feedback she gives to real query letters, is super useful, but you can no longer get critiques on your own letters.
Alright, as I said, there are way more resources for query letters, but these should be enough to get your querying started.
The even more feared synopsis
I finished my query letter and thought it was time to start querying. Aww, how cute, how naive I was. That’s when they tell you you also (potentially) need a 1-page or 3-page synopsis of your entire novel. And the way to write this is, more or less, completely different than the query letter. Insert screaming face emoji.
Not going to lie, this one is a doozy. So much so, I decided to ignore agents that requested this as part of their materials, to my own detriment. Really, going forward, I need to include this in my writing process so it’s more or less done by the time the query process comes around. Even with an agent, this process can be enlightening to show a manuscript’s potential issues.
Above are three reliable resources for tackling the synopsis. Of the three, the method outlined by Caro Clarke (first link) worked best for me. Delilah S. Dawson also advocated this method when she offered advice on Twitter back in the day. The general idea is to write down what happens in every scene. Yes, this is going to take a lot of effort. Yes, it is ultimately very revealing about the structure of your book.
Once you have the entire book described—probably 15-20 pages for a 100,000-word book—you just start trimming to get to a 10-page synopsis (these can sometimes be requested), trim a little further to your 3-page synopsis and then trim more to get all the way down to the 1-page synopsis.
The other methods tend to have you build up from a sentence to a paragraph to a page. I’m sure this works for some authors and seems like a shorter method; however, the only one that ever worked for me was getting it all down and trimming.
To each their own.
Agents, Agents everywhere but not a one to query
On a webinar with Literary Agent Carly Watters she advised authors to have a list of 50-60 authors ready before beginning the query process. That is, checks notes, a lot of agents. I’d thought I went overboard when I had 25. With this in mind, where can authors find lists of agents?
MSWL, or Manuscript Wish List, is a website where agents tell you EXACTLY what they are looking for right now. The website has a ton of useful filters to help you narrow down that list of agents into your top, mid, and low tier.
Massive database of agents. Enough said. They also have other great resources about the querying process.
If you’ve ever seen those snapshots of sold books being announced, this is where those come from. It can be a great place to see which agents are selling and which ones are selling often, as well as to research the list of agents you’ve compiled to see if those agents are selling books similar to yours.
The downside: it’s $25 a month. It might be good to sign up and get a month’s worth out of it and then cancel (you didn’t hear that here).
You can also look at your favorite books in your genre. In the acknowledgments section, they will always thank the agent. Then, with the names, you can research whether those agents are still working/accepting clients and the submission process.
I’ll provide a way to track agents in the next section. However, if you are a spreadsheet nerd, here is a link to the spreadsheet I created to track my agents. It’s straightforward for those not into spreadsheet.
Bring on the rejections
With a killer query letter, a beautiful synopsis, and a list of agents, it’s time to start querying.
Query Tracker is the go-to resource not only for finding agents (it could have been up in the other section) but also for adding these agents to the query list for your manuscript, tracking the submissions, and ultimately showing how you’re tracking on the journey.
As it says above, it is free, though some features are behind a $25/year paywall. Note: I’ve paid for the premium for years and never regretted it. However, if this is outside your budget, the free version has all the key features.
Query Tracker has pages for most agents, giving all the info needed for querying that agent. Many agents and agencies actually accept queries through Query Tracker (they have their own log-ins), so it behooves you to have an account, as you might be redirected to this site anyway.
I’ve used this site exclusively, but if anyone has other suggestions, please send me a link, and I will update this.
Good Luck Querying!
The quarrying process is fraught with pitfalls for the author’s confidence. More likely than not, you’re going to get a lot of rejections. Even with the best query letter and book, it will not be for all agents. At the end of the day, they are professionals who make money only when they sell your book. This means the agent needs to have a clear idea of how they will market your book. Even mega best sellers, like Twilight, might not have made it to a publisher without the right agent.
The only reluctant “advice” I’ll give querying authors is to be ready…and read all the directions.
I think of Scare from the Loin King “Be prepared”. It takes A LOT of work to get ready to query. Don’t rush it. I wanted to rush it, to be closer than I was, and it was flustering to learn all the other steps required to begin. But ultimately, for most agents, the one query you submit (for this book) is your only chance at a first impression. So you want to put the absolute best foot forward you can. And that means allowing more than enough time to get the materials together, get feedback, and prep.
Two, PLEASE read the submission directions. It’s said in many places, but if you follow the directions the agents provide for what they want and how they want it, this alone will put you far ahead of many other authors. It doesn’t mean a higher likelihood of success, but it will save you from an outright auto-reject.
Good luck out there, my friends; I wish you the best on your journey.
List of Querying Resources
Query Letters:
https://nybookeditors.com/2015/12/how-to-write-a-darn-good-query-letter
https://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx
https://www.theshitaboutwriting.com
https://queryshark.blogspot.com
Synopsis:
https://www.caroclarke.com/synopsis.html
https://www.writersdigest.com/improve-my-writing/learn-how-to-write-a-synopsis-like-a-pro
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-novel-synopsis-step-by-step-guide
Agents:
https://www.publishersmarketplace.com
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cZH5daaVUUjQTRwn6VD-5aQVSZ-iosgD-eZLRcaAaF0/edit?gid=0#gid=0