Ask the Critic: Writing query letters

Anonymous asks:

I am preparing a query letter in the hopes of getting an agent for a novel I've just completed. I have all sorts of contradictory advice from various Internet sites to sort out. Do you have any advice?

I have thoughts on writing query letters and soliciting agents, but I'm hardly an expert on the subject. So I turned to someone who is: Jeff Kleinman, one of the founders of Folio Literary Management and a top-notch agent. Below, Jeff responds to Anonymous' specific questions.

Q. Should the query letter try to start out with something clever, or just be straightforward and business-like?

A. Either works. There isn't a right or wrong answer with queries. The question really is: what letter opening will most grab the agent's attention? Obviously that may depend on the agent. But starting off too cleverly may be off-putting. I think a simple "here's how I heard about you," and then having some targeted info about the agent (books she's represented, etc.) is often best.

Q. Should the query include the page count?

A. The query should include word count, not page count. And word count should be rounded up or down: so not "92,193 words" - saying "about 92,000 words" is fine.

Q. Should the writer compare themselves to other writers? (For example, "my work is like Tess Gerritsen's" or whatever.)

A. REALLY depends on the other writer. If it's a bestselling, brand-name author (Stephen King, Dean Koontz, etc.), probably not. If it's a breakout first novelist, maybe, depending on if the comparison's really accurate. An easier way of doing it is to write "My book will appeal to readers who like Tess Gerritsen's."

Q. Should the writer let the agent know they have sought him out exclusively, or should they send the letter out to many agents?

A. DEFINITELY let the agent know it's exclusive - agents assume it's nonexclusive unless they're told otherwise, or unless they ask to see the materials exclusively.

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Comments

[Clea Simon]

Thanks for this - I didn't realize that most agents wouldn't assume exclusivity. Silly me.

[Ray-Anne]

I rather like the analogy Barry Eisler makes to the Writer as an Entrepreneur who is trying to persuade a Venture Capitalist [agent] to invest time and money in a new product. To me that focuses the direction of the query. Otherwise sound advice.