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Querying Literary Agents

Find out all about how to query literary agents and how to create the best agent query pack. Querying literary agents can be a long, tedious, and demotivating experience, so this category helps you to explore the best ways to stand out from the crowd.

When you should follow up with a literary agent

Querying a literary agent is a daunting task, but not knowing when you should follow up with a literary agent can be even worse. You’ve sent out your agent query pack, you’ve waited weeks for a reply, but you’ve received nothing. Now you have to ask yourself: should I follow up? If this is something that turns you into an anxious mess or seems worse than just querying another batch of literary agents, that’s okay. But you might still want to think about it if you’re holding out hope for that perfect literary agent to reply to you still. Find… Read More »When you should follow up with a literary agent

How to write a query letter to a literary agent

Query letters are the first step to getting a literary agent, so you need to know the best way of writing one. One of the most common questions asked by writers is how to write a query letter to a literary agent. Here, I’ll explain what a query letter is, how to write one, some tips for formatting a query letter email, and provide both a template and a sample. This is an ideal resource for anyone who’s writing their first query letter. If you need more information on querying, check out my other blog posts on querying literary agents.… Read More »How to write a query letter to a literary agent

What is a synopsis and how long should a synopsis be?

Querying a literary agent is a daunting task, but it’s even worse when you don’t know where to start. Knowing what a synopsis is and how long it should be is one of the first steps to creating the perfect query pack. Find out the answers to these questions below! What is a synopsis? A novel synopsis is a description of the novel’s events. It summarises what happens in your novel to give a plot breakdown for a literary agent or publisher to read without needing to read your whole manuscript. You’ll likely not need a synopsis until you’re submitting… Read More »What is a synopsis and how long should a synopsis be?

How to get a literary agent in the UK

Representation from a literary agent is key to getting traditionally published, as most publishing houses don’t accept unsolicited or unagented manuscripts. This post covers how to get a literary agent in the UK, including top tips for perfecting your agent submission pack. If you’re looking for how to find a literary agent in the UK, my other post explains where to find literary agents accepting submissions. Do you need a literary agent to get published? If you dream of seeing your book in bookshops, or you just don’t want to deal with self-publishing, you need a literary agent. Because publishing… Read More »How to get a literary agent in the UK

An introduction to submitting to literary agents

Agent query packs – also known as agent submission packs – are essential for any author hoping to gain representation from a literary agent. Submitting to literary agents involves creating, personalising, and sending agent query packs. Aspiring authors put together agent query packs when trying to secure a literary agent. Comprised of a query/cover letter, book synopsis, and an extract of your manuscript, an agent query pack is sent to literary agents in the hope that they’ll be interested in representing you and your book. If you don’t know where to start, read on to find out more. What are… Read More »An introduction to submitting to literary agents

How to find a literary agent in the UK

For writers seeking traditional publishing, finding a literary agent is crucial. While not required, literary agents can be invaluable thanks to the guidance, support, and connections they provide. To find a literary agent in the UK, you need to know what to look for, where to look, and how to make the best impression. Here you’ll find links to some of the best websites to search for a literary agent, what an agent query pack is, and a list of some UK literary agencies with clear submissions guidelines. Where to find a literary agent in the UK There are many… Read More »How to find a literary agent in the UK

Agent query letter tips for aspiring authors

Querying literary agents can be pretty daunting, especially when you hear horror stories of how many agents people reach out to. I’ve compiled some of the best agent query letter tips to help aspiring authors impress literary agents from the get-go. There are plenty of resources out there to help you when querying, and starting with a strong query letter is essential. This is your first chance to impress and intrigue a literary agent, so it needs to be as strong as possible. If this is your first time, you might want to read my post on how to write… Read More »Agent query letter tips for aspiring authors

Query letter samples for fantasy novels

Writing a perfect query letter to a literary agent is difficult, especially if you don’t know where to start. I’ve written two query letter samples for fantasy writers to help inspire you on how to get started. I’ve also included a query letter template if you need a jumping off point to start drafting your own query. You can see how this leads into the two samples I wrote. All of the information in the samples is completely made up. I just wanted to give an idea of what your own query letter might look like. No query letter is… Read More »Query letter samples for fantasy novels

Query letter samples for LGBTQ+ fiction

Writing a query letter is difficult for everyone, whether they nail it from the beginning or it takes many attempts to get it right. I’ve written some query letter samples to help you draft your own query letter for your LGBTQ+ novel. Below you’ll find a query letter template designed with LGBTQ+ fiction in mind. You can use this template as written, with your own information replacing the placeholders, or you can take it just as inspiration on wording your letter. No query letter is perfect, and every agent is after something different. I hope these help you when drafting… Read More »Query letter samples for LGBTQ+ fiction

Query letter samples for romance novels

If you’ve never written a query letter before, you probably don’t know where to start. Not many published authors will share the query letter that got them agent representation. While there are lots of templates out there, having some romance query letter samples can really help you figure out how to write about your novel. I’ve written a query letter template of my own that uses all the query letter tips I’ve heard about and used myself. Then I’ve created two fake samples of letters, making up details about novels and their fake writers. No query letter is perfect, and… Read More »Query letter samples for romance novels