How to write a fiction query letter

When submitting a novel to a publisher or agent the Submission Package should consist of three parts: a query letter, a synopsis and an extract (normally fifty, double spaced, pages). This article is about the query letter. You can find out more about the synopsis here.

The goal of a query letter is to get the publisher/agent to read your synopsis. It is your synopsis and (hopefully) your extract that will seal the deal. This means your query letter should be concise and to the point. No waffle, no exaggerated claims, just a focussed and honest summary of your book.

I would suggest a three paragraph approach:

Paragraph 1: This is your elevator pitch - you need just a few lines to sell your book. It is essential that these are concise and to the point. You just need to give the publisher/agent a feel for your narrative; this will give them an indication as to whether your title is something that will fit into their current list.

Paragraph 2: This is a more details about the book. Remembering to be concise and to the point you need to include the following:

1. The book’s genre,
2. The word count,
3. An indication of the market with one or two representative titles,
4. An Indication of if the book is written and if not when it will be finished,

Paragraph 3: This is about you as a writer. Include a brief biography, containing any relevant information such as previous published titles.

The key to remember is that this is just a taste of your book. You are going to expand on some of the points you make in your synopsis. At this stage it is all about the agent/publisher making sure that your book fits their list. If the agent/publisher has no experience of selling the genre in which your book falls then any potential partnership is doomed to failure.

Related Articles

How to write a ficition synopsis

The three secrets of a successful book pitch.

At BubbleCow we spend a lot of time helping very talented writers fine tune their submission packages so agents and publishers are more likely to offer them a deal. There is no doubt that in the current financial climate book deals are becoming more elusive. If you add to this the simple fact that many submissions simply slip onto the slush pile and are never given a fair review, then you can see just how tough it can be for a writers.

It is essential that your submission package is faultless. So here are the secrets to a good book pitch.

Don’t be rubbish - Your work needs to be of a professional standard BEFORE any agent or publisher ever reads it. This is especially true for smaller publishers who will be looking for a finished product. This is the reason that companies like BubbleCow exist. We provide the expertise that allows unpublished writers access to professional editors. But it is not just your writing that can’t be rubbish. You also need to ensure you are pitching to the correct company (one that already sells your genre of writing), you are addressing the letter to the correct person (name spelled correctly) and that you have no grammar mistakes. I could go on…

Your submission is a sales document - The cover letter and synopsis are not just summaries of your book, they are sales documents. These documents are all the agent/publisher has to assess your book. They are not going to read your extract unless they feel it is commercially viable. So, and this is important, you must SELL your book in the cover letter/synopsis. Pin point your market, highlight similar titles and make it as easy as possible for the publisher/agent to say yes. A big mistake many writers make is they simply include a summary of the story - this is a big no no.

Realistic expectations - All writers want to be the next JK Rowling. You know the dream - big advance, worldwide sales and a nice new house. However, this approach is fatal in trying to get published. Big advances are very rare, if fact a £3000(ish) advance is more realistic though still big. It is essential a writer is realistic about their book. You need to assume you are talking about a couple of thousands books sold, not millions. You also need to think carefully about which publisher is correct for you. The big boys offer the best deals on paper but smaller, more dynamic independent publishers may make you more money and give your book a better chance.

Writing a killer cover letter

Writing a cover letter is a bit of a black art. There is no one right way to do it, but there are many wrong ways.

A writer can go a long way by making sure that they don't make any basic mistakes – typos and bad grammar – but beyond that they are very much on their own.

The aim of a cover letter is to do two things.

1. To give the publisher a snapshot of your work and you as a writer.
2. To give them a taste of your style.

However, ultimately, the cover letter's goal is to get the publisher/agent to pick up your synopsis and read your manuscript.

Here's a few pointers:

Name: Make sure you have addressed the cover letter to the correct member of the publishing/agenting team. Also include your name, address and contact details.

First Paragraph: Five or six sentences outlining your book and the story. This should include your elevator pitch – a couple of lines that sell the book.

This is the pitch for the recent 3Para:

50 degree heat. Few provisions and no water. Bullets whistling past, shot from the guns of an enemy you can't even see. Can you imagine it? Probably not.

Second Paragraph: Five or six sentences about your market. Include examples of similar titles and your proposed readership. I would also include a little bit about what sets the book aside - its unique selling point.

Third Paragraph: Three or four sentences about your future as a writer. Tell them about any plans you have for other books and if you have had anything previously published. Place emphasis on the fact that you are committed to writing and have other ideas/works. Also three or four sentences about you, including any information you feel will be of interest to them when marketing your book.