Query-Writing 102: Query DOs and DON'Ts

On yesterday's blog "Writing a Basic Query," I laid out the basic structure for writing novel query letter. Today, I'm providing you with a checklist of dos and don'ts, complied from multiple blog posts, interviews, and tweets, to make sure your query is effective and doesn't get immediately rejected without so much as a second glance.

DO:

Before querying --

• DO check the agency's guidelines before querying... and follow them!
• DO have someone who has not read your manuscript read over your query to make sure it makes sense
• DO proofread for typos
• DO make sure that your manuscript is 100% ready to go before you begin querying
• DO use the word "QUERY" and your novel's title in the email subject line (unless otherwise noted in the agent's guidelines)
• DO keep your query short and sweet (250-300 words on average); agents are going to be looking for tight, concise writing
• DO query one project at a time

In the salutation/personalization --

• DO address the agent personally
• DO mention in your query if you met the agent, if you have a referral from one of their clients, or if they have requested materials from you for previous manuscripts

In the pitch section --

• DO use specific details in your query -- think about what in particular sets your story apart from others in the same genre
• DO choose specific words that will give the agent a feel for the tone/voice of your novel
• DO try to bring out what makes your manuscript unique
• DO stick with the story's major plotline (particularly what happens in Act I)

In the "housekeeping" section --

• DO include comp titles that have been published within the last five years
• DO include relevant biographical information
• DO pick one category (MG, YA, NA, or Adult) to pitch your novel
• DO include the genre where your book would appear in a bookstore
• DO include the word count of your novel, rounded to the nearest thousand
• DO make sure that your book is an appropriate length for your genre (no 200,000 word middle grade novels! no 35,000 word sci-fi novels!)

In general --

• DO act professionally and politely AT ALL TIMES
• DO query widely; it might take dozens of rejections before you find the agent who's looking for a writer like you.
• DO be patient in waiting for responses. Many agents will note in their guidelines how long it takes to respond to queries, but during certain times of the year may take longer.
• DO stay positive!
• DO write something else while querying. It's a great way to take your mind off the process, and if you do get an agent, s/he will want to know what you're currently working on.

DON'T:

Before querying --

• DON'T self-publish your work to "test the market"
• DON'T query agent who do not represent your category or genre
• DON'T query agents who state they are closed to submissions
• DON'T pitch to agents on social media
• DON'T cc: or bcc: multiple agents in the same email
• DON'T pay a third party to query for you (it's a scam!)
• DON'T use fancy formatting, fonts, colors, borders, or backgrounds.
• DON'T query multiple agents at the same agency simultaneously
• DON'T send "exclusive" queries
• DON'T send queries from an unprofessional-sounding email address or one that you share with anyone else
• DON'T send submissions to small presses while you're also querying agents

In the salutation/personalization --

• DON'T address the query "Dear Agent"
• DON'T try to fake a referral (or, really, any aspect of your query)
• DON'T comment on an agent's appearance

In the pitch section --

• DON'T use gimmicks; agents have seen them all before, and they only make your query stand out in a bad way.
• DON'T write your query from the 1st person perspective of your character
• DON'T use more than three proper names (any more than this can be incredibly confusing)
• DON'T use too many world-related/"invented" words in your query
• DON'T spell out the novel's themes
• DON'T use rhetorical questions
• DON'T use cliche phrases like:
• "her life was normal until"
• "that will change her life forever"
• "must choose between love and [something important]"
• "turns his life upside down"
• "change his world forever"
• "[character] never expected that"
• "To make matters worse"
• "Time is running out"
• "She finds herself drawn to"
• "an incredible journey"
• "before [something] falls into the wrong hands"
• "face her past"
• "a group of unlikely heroes"
• "a chain reaction"

In the "housekeeping" section --

• DON'T mention "This is my first novel" or "I've been writing since I was..." or "I'm an avid reader"
• DON'T mention how long it took you to write your book (this is irrelevant)
• DON'T call your story a "fiction novel" -- this is redundant and looks amateur
• DON'T toot your own horn by speculating about how you'll be "the next Stephen King" or "a surefire bestseller," or editorialize with comments like, "you'll laugh! you'll cry!"
• DON'T try to pass your story off as a genre which is it is not (usually done to try to fit a trend or to avoid "dead" genres) -- this will only make it look as if you don't know what genre your book really is.
• DON'T include reviews, blurbs, or comments from beta readers, family, friends, pets, or agents who have rejected you
• DON'T include irrelevant biographical information (age, number of cats owned, etc)
• DON'T include a photo
• DON'T use classics or MAJOR bestsellers (Harry Potter, Twilight, LOTR, etc) as comp titles
• DON'T claim that there "are no books like mine on the market"

In general --

• DON'T bad-mouth other agents, writers, or others in the industry or their works
• DON'T respond to rejections
• DON'T complain about querying on social media
• DON'T cherry-pick your sample pages from the middle of your novel (always use the opening pages)
• DON'T include attachments (unless the agency specifies to do so)

Optional hints, tips, and advice

• Send queries in small batches (5-10 at a time) in case you decide to change things up or revise your query later on.
• Check agent blogs, Twitter feeds, and the #MSWL hashtag to find agents who are looking for something similar to what you write
• Keep track of the queries you have sent and those that have been responded to using a spreadsheet or QueryTracker.com
• Be careful using metaphors in your query, particularly if your book contains speculative elements--you'll have the agent wondering if your character really turned into a bear or if they just got a bit grouchy

Special thanks to @TECarter7, @micscotti, @RachelDRainey, @LabyrinthRat, @Aggy_C, @SH_Marr_Writes, @AnnaKaling and @sharischwarz for your contributions via Twitter!