How to Pitch Your Story to an Agent or Publisher—Query Letter Template

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If you want to land an agent or publisher for your latest manuscript, you’ll have to pound the pavement by sending out query letters. Don’t just stop at one query letter, either. But if you’ve sent a couple of dozen queries and only gotten rejections or radio silence, the publishers didn’t like your query letter.

There’s a trick to writing query letters. Partly, you have to follow a formula and include the things agents and publishers are looking for. But you also have to wow them with your story and your hook and make them care. If they don’t know why they should read your book, they certainly won’t want to sell it.

Introduction

The beginning of your query letter should include the relevant details, such as

  • the name of your book

  • the genre

  • word count

  • two comparable titles

But first, you need to mention why you’re querying this particular agent. And always use the agent’s name in the salutation. 

Dear Josephine Agent,
I noticed on Twitter that you’re looking to acquire more Science Fiction titles for your list. I’m excited to share my YA Science Fiction manuscript ALL THE TREES WILL FALL with you, complete at 65,000 words. ALL THE TREES WILL FALL will appeal to readers who enjoyed The Big Spaceship by G.I. Joseph and Here Come the Aliens by Joyful Writer.

Pitch

If you’ve done the introduction right, the agent or publisher will be ready to read your pitch. This is your chance to entice them to ask for the full manuscript. Don’t write up a summary of your story here. Instead, you want to pitch the hook and the theme of your book. Don’t include spoilers or what happens at the end. 2 to 3 paragraphs is all you need, written in 3rd person. If you’re having trouble with the pitch, read more about crafting unforgettable stories.

When all the trees in Myra’s backyard suddenly fall down, the 16-year-old knows there’s more than just a freak windstorm to blame. Upon investigating further, she finds a magic portal in her bedroom closet that transports her to another dimension.
In the alternative world, trees no longer exist, and oxygen is a premium resource. As Myra watches the war for natural resources unfold, she fears for Earth’s future. Her newfound knowledge has to be shared with the leaders of Earth to prevent the destruction of the planet. Will Myra figure out how to get back home before it’s too late?

Background

It’s tempting to start with a section about yourself at the beginning of the query letter. After all, the book you have written is meaningful to you, and you can’t wait to introduce yourself. Don’t worry, you still get the chance to talk about yourself in this third section. Just keep it to one paragraph, explaining a little about yourself and why you wrote this book. If you’ve earned any writing accolades, mention them here.

With an MA in Creative Writing from Medford University, I have written three books about the dangers of climate change. All of them have been self-published, and the most recent, For the Love of Nature, has won the Best-Book-Ever-Award for new authors.

Closing

It’s pretty nonsensical. Now it’s time to wrap it up, thank them for their time, and share your contact information. Include your address, email, website (if applicable), and phone number. If you want to include social media profiles, you can, but make sure they’re relevant. If you rave about political or religious topics on social media, you’re better off keeping that private, unless it relates to your book and you have a lot of followers.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Joe Bookman
100 Book St. Suite 123
Reading, Massachusetts 12345
Joe.Bookman@gmail.com
www.JoeBookman.com
(222) 123-4567
Twitter @joebooksalot

Do your research

Many new writers make the mistake of sending query letters to everyone they can find. You’re better off doing your research first. Otherwise, it’s like trying to land a job in accounting and sending your resume to your local supermarket hiring cashiers. It’s not the right fit.

Agents and publishers are busy. They reject more queries than they receive, and they certainly won’t waste their time on a manuscript outside of their preferred genre. So do you research first. If you write science fiction, don’t pitch to Harlequin.