Скачать или смотреть How to write a query letter: Query Letter Breakdown

Breakdown of the query letter that landed me a literary agent.

I answer questions like:
What parts make up a query letter?
How long should a query letter be?
How do you personalize a query?
How to write a strong blurb?
What goes into the bio?
What are comp titles and how to find good ones?
Should genres be capitalized?
Should comps be italicized?
Should the title be all caps?
Should word count be rounded up or down?
Should you write a unique or different query to stand out?
Should you mention if you’ve already had full requests?


QUERY LETTER BREAKDOWN

Dear [Agent’s First Name],

THE LOOK (15-35 words) - Since you’re looking for [something specific from their manuscript wishlist], I hope my manuscript will pique your interest.

[Optional one-sentence pitch: Keep it short and compelling, or skip it. I added mine in italics.]

THE HOOK (50-80 words) - [YOUR BOOK TITLE IN ALL CAPS] is a [genre (not capitalized)] set in the [setting], featuring [specific elements from you book]. Complete at [word count rounded to the nearest 1,000] words, it captures the [elements from your first comp] of [Comp Title in Italics] by [Author’s Name], along with the [elements from your second comp] reminiscent of [Comp Title in Italics] by [Author’s name]. [If you want to mention other full requests, you can do that here].

THE BOOK (150-200 words) - [Blurb goes here and should include:]

Your main character
Introduce their name and a few key details about who they are, such as profession, character traits, something that defines them in some way
Keep it short: just the most compelling parts.
If you can express their goals or desires at the beginning of the story, even better.

Main conflict and stakes
What events disrupt your protagonist’s world? What choices must they make to handle the new conflict? What’s at stake—what will they risk losing if they don’t succeed?
Include the inciting incident, which usually happens around 10-15% into the story, and kicks off the main conflict.
You probably also want a few words about the first plot point, often around 25% into your story, where your character is forced into a completely new situation, world, or role.
Don’t spoil the rest of the story, but you can hint at what’s to come or the broader stakes/themes.

Tone and genre
Your blurb should reflect the tone and atmosphere of your story
For example: if you’re writing romance, show the romantic tension. If you’re writing horror, capture the creeping dread. Match the tone to your genre.

THE COOK (30-70 words) - [Your bio goes here. Share who you are, any relevant writing credentials, or the personal connection you have to the story. If you don’t have any of that, that’s perfectly fine. Just keep it brief and professional.]

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Your Name

(Total word count: 250-380)