The TGEP Literary Network
How to Write a Query Letter
A practical guide to presenting a manuscript clearly, professionally and persuasively to a literary agent or publisher without exaggeration, vagueness or unnecessary detail.
A query letter is not a summary of everything you have written.
Its purpose is to make a publishing professional understand what the book is, why it may interest readers, who you are and why the manuscript is appropriate for that particular recipient.
The essential elements
A strong query letter is usually concise, specific and tailored to the submission requirements of the recipient.
The Book
Title, genre and word count
State the working title, category or genre, approximate word count and whether the manuscript is complete. Avoid forcing the book into a label that does not accurately describe it.
The Hook
The central premise
Present the core conflict, question or promise of the book in a few clear sentences. The reader should understand what makes the project distinctive without being told that it is “unique” or “groundbreaking.”
The Author
Relevant background
Include only credentials, experience or platform information that is relevant to the manuscript. A short honest biography is stronger than a long catalogue of unrelated achievements.
A reliable query-letter structure
The order may vary, but the following sequence is clear and easy for agents and publishers to review.
Professional greeting
Address the named agent or editor where possible. Use the spelling, title and submission route shown on the official website. Avoid informal greetings, mass-mail language or invented familiarity.
Opening identification
State the title, genre, word count and completion status. Mention any referral, conference request or specific reason for approaching that person only when it is genuine.
Book pitch
Describe the protagonist or subject, the central conflict or argument, the stakes and what makes the project compelling. For fiction, focus on the story. For nonfiction, focus on the problem, promise, audience and authority.
Market position
Identify the intended readership and, where useful, mention one or two comparable titles. Comparables should clarify market position, not claim that your book will match the sales of a bestseller.
Author biography
Add a concise paragraph covering relevant experience, prior publications, professional authority, awards or audience. First-time authors do not need to apologise for being unpublished.
Submission materials and close
State which materials are attached or pasted in accordance with the guidelines. Thank the recipient for their time and provide your name and reliable contact details.
Sample query-letter framework
This is a structural example, not a universal template. Adapt the language to the manuscript and the recipient’s instructions.
Dear Ms Rao,
I am seeking representation for The Last Monsoon Train, a completed 82,000-word work of contemporary literary fiction set between Delhi and Jammu.
When thirty-eight-year-old Asha receives a railway ticket booked by her late father, she returns to the city she left after a family scandal. The journey forces her to confront the brother she abandoned, the truth behind her mother’s disappearance and a decision that could permanently divide the family. The novel explores memory, responsibility and the cost of choosing silence over truth.
The book may appeal to readers of intimate family fiction with a strong sense of place. I am approaching you because your list includes character-driven contemporary fiction and South Asian narratives.
I am a journalist based in Chandigarh. My short fiction has appeared in two Indian literary journals. In accordance with your guidelines, I have attached the synopsis and first three chapters.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Author Name
Email Address
Telephone
What strengthens or weakens a query
Professionalism is communicated through precision, restraint and respect for the recipient’s stated process.
Do
- Follow the recipient’s current submission guidelines.
- Keep the letter concise and easy to scan.
- Describe the manuscript accurately.
- Use specific story or subject details.
- Personalise only where there is a real reason.
- Proofread names, titles and attachments.
- State honestly whether the manuscript is complete.
Do Not
- Call the book a guaranteed bestseller.
- Use a mass email addressed to several agents at once.
- Send materials that were not requested.
- Hide the genre, word count or completion status.
- Include a full life story unrelated to the book.
- Attack other authors, publishers or readers.
- Demand an immediate response or decision.
Final checklist before sending
Check the letter against the actual submission instructions, not against a generic template alone.
Personalisation should be genuine, not decorative.
Mention a recipient’s list, interview, conference session or stated interest only when it genuinely explains why the manuscript may suit them. Empty praise and copied personalisation are usually easy to recognise.
Protect yourself during the query process
Verify agents and publishers through their official websites and recognised professional records. Be cautious of unsolicited offers, pressure to pay reading fees, guaranteed representation, requests for banking details or correspondence from domains that do not match the agency or publisher.
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