Today, we’re thrilled to have Mara Cobb with Martin Literary Management as our guest! That means these are real tips from a real agent who reads real query letters! Here’s a little bit about Mara, followed immediately by her helpful article:

After earning her MA in English, Mara Cobb began working for Martin Literary Management in September 2023, where she reviews Christian fiction, young adult, inspirational romance, and adult nonfiction queries. When she’s not working, she can be found baking, reading, and spending time on her family’s farm. You can read more about her on her website.

So you’ve finished your novel. Congrats! If you’re seeking traditional publishing, one of the hardest steps is done. Next up: securing a literary agent.

How do you do that? It starts with a great query letter. Think of a query letter as your introduction to an agent. They need to know what your book is about and who you are so they’re excited to read or request sample pages. Keep in mind though—it’s not unusual for an agent to receive ten, twenty, or thirty queries each day. That’s a lot of people “introducing” themselves, huh? There’s good news, though! As a literary agent myself, I’ve noticed that a lot of queries aren’t well-written. Queries that include the author’s personality, follow directions, and include necessary elements are rare—and I find myself more excited to read samples when a query letter is solid. Read on for some simple tips that will help your query rise to the top of the slush pile.

Tip 1: Address the agent correctly

It may seem simple, but you might be shocked by the number of queries I receive that misspell my name, call me “sir,” or include a form of “To Whom It May Concern.” The greeting to an agent is your very first impression. Double-check that you’re spelling the agent’s name correctly and make sure you’re addressing them correctly (use Ms. if you’re unsure if a female agent is married). Finally, be sure to use the agent’s name specifically. You’re probably copying and pasting large chunks of your query to different agents. And that’s okay! But addressing an agent by name only takes a moment, and it sets the tone for the rest of your letter.

Tip 2: Share some specifics

When I’m reading queries, I like to know what I’m getting early on. Be sure to include your book’s title, the genre, the book’s themes, and your word count. While it’s not a must, I love when authors share comps—books that they feel are comparable to their finished work. The important thing to remember when comparing your book to another is to be realistic in what you’re delivering. While it might sound impressive to label your book The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter, that’s a big ask that’s tough for any writer. But if you share that your sweet summer romance book would be a great fit for readers of Kasie West, I’d be like ah, okay. I have an idea of what the manuscript will be like. 

Tip 3: Tell what your book is about (without oversharing)

Now that we have an idea of what type of book you’re pitching, go ahead and move into the synopsis. Who are your main characters? What is your story world like? What problem are your characters facing? How do they work to overcome their problems? The key with sharing what your book is about is to share without oversharing. What do I mean by this? Stay on topic and don’t overwrite. It’s hard—after all, you’re super excited about your story! But remember that agents review multiple queries each day in addition to keeping up with all of their other daily tasks. An agent will usually spend a limited amount of time on each query. So if you’re sharing every single plot point of your book, odds are they’re going to lose interest. But you don’t want to leave an agent in the dark about your book’s strong points either! If your entire query is over 500 words, it’s probably too long. Less isn’t always better, but being concise usually is. Stick to around 350 words if possible.

Tip 4: Let an agent know who you are

Again, conciseness is key! But agents can gain a lot of insights about an author from this component. If you have a degree or certificate in writing or English, that’s totally fine to share. You can also include information about other publications you may have (newspapers and magazines count too!). I also like to know if an author is part of any writing groups or organizations, because this shows me they’re dedicated to their craft. I also appreciate it when an author provides links to their website or social media handles so I can take a peek at those and get a better feel for who they are.

Tip 5: Follow directions

While many agents request a query letter and sample pages, each agent is a bit different in their submission requirements. Some want queries submitted via email while many others use something called QueryManager. Some agents will also request a one-paragraph pitch or a one-sentence pitch. And how much of a writing sample to send along will differ by agent too. Please make sure you’re doing your research on each agent and following directions regarding what information they want and how they want to receive it. Following an agent’s submission instructions right from the start sets the tone on what kind of person you might be to work with.

There’s (unfortunately!) no one-query-fits-all approach and no magic query formula. But following these simple tips will set your query apart. If you’re looking for examples of great query letters, I highly recommend this article from Jill.

Have you ever written a query letter? If so, what was your experience like? If not, what part feels the hardest?