Figuring out how to start writing a query letter to a literary agent is difficult, especially when you’re writing a fantasy novel. How do you balance explaining the story when you have a lot of worldbuilding involved? I’ve written a letter template and two query letter samples for fantasy novels to help you make a start.
These query letter samples are designed to give you an idea of how you might present your novel to an agent, because it’s difficult to find query letters from published authors who succeeded in getting a literary agent. All of the information in the samples is completely made up, but it might help you with the right framing or wording for your own querying process.
No query letter is perfect, and every agent is after something different. I hope these letter examples help you when drafting your own letter.
Query letter template
Dear [NAME],
I am seeking representation for my novel, [TITLE]. I saw that you are currently seeking [GENRE/TROPE], and I believe that my novel would be a great fit for you.
[TITLE] is a [WORD COUNT]-word fantasy novel about [ONE LINE SUMMING UP THE STORY].
I think you’d especially be interested in [REASONS AND TROPES]. It shares [THEME/VIBE/PLOTLINE] with [COMP TITLE] and would appeal to fans of [COMP TITLE].
[1- OR 2-SENTENCE PLOT DESCRIPTION].
I have previously been published in [MAGAZINE OR ANTHOLOGY]. [ANECDOTE RELEVANT TO STORY].
Thank you for your time and consideration.
I look forward to hearing from you.
[YOUR NAME]
In this template, I’ve capitalised all the placeholders you need to swap out. Here’s a rundown of what you can replace the placeholders with:
Name. The literary agent’s name shown on their website.
Title. The working title of your novel.
Genre/trope. A keyword you’ve found on the agent’s website, social media, or in an interview.
Word count. Include the word count of your novel here, rounded to the nearest thousand.
One line summing up the story. Give an interesting one-line description for your novel. This should be as intriguing and interesting as possible. Make the agent want to read more about it. Try to frame it as a statement that might be found on a blurb, don’t write it as a question.
Reasons and tropes. Personalise why your novel suits this agent. Have they mentioned they’re looking for particular settings, characters, tropes, or storylines? You should also include any comp titles here, especially if they fit what the agent has shown an interest in.
Theme/vibe/plotline. Something your novel shares with a published book, to show that readers who have read those comp titles would be interested in your story.
Comp title. Ideally a query letter should include two comparative titles, with one published traditionally in the last 5 years. Comp titles can include other media, like video games, movies, and TV shows, but at least one comp title should be a recently published novel.
1- or 2-sentence plot description. Hook the agent in by introducing what your story is about. If you can, personalise this to focus on what the agent is looking for. You don’t need to spoil the ending here, you just want the literary agent to be interested in reading your synopsis.
Magazine or anthology. If you’ve been published anywhere before, you’ll want to include this, so include any magazine, anthology, or small press you’ve been published by.
Anecdote. An anecdote can help show how you’re the best writer for the story. Perhaps your novel setting is something you’ve studied academically, or you have a hobby relevant to the character or plot.
I’ve put together two query letter samples for romance fiction in this post, but if you want the template and three query letter samples in a Word document, click the button below to download the free file:
Query letter sample 1
Dear Georgie,
I am seeking representation for my novel, Crowns. I think my novel would be a good fit for you because you represent [BOOK TITLE], which shares the main plotline of a hero’s journey to save a kingdom with Crowns.
Crowns is an 84,000-word tale of treachery and war with series potential. Fans of [AUTHOR] or [BOOK TITLE] will particularly enjoy the dynamics shown in the novel.
When the queen is poisoned, her children – the ambitious Arthur, the erudite Guinevere, and the young Will – are caught in a battle to lead the kingdom, while outside forces wait to strike.
I have previously been published in anthologies by Fantasy Press, including a short story which inspired me to continue writing and led to Crowns.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Jack
In this sample query letter, Jack makes comparisons to a book the agent already represents, as well as another author. This helps the agent know how to market the book. They also include where their writing has previously been published.
Jack could have added a little more about the plot, particularly to hook the agent more on who the hero of the story is.
Query letter sample 2
Dear Georgie,
I am seeking representation for my novel, A Battle of Vicious Blades. I saw that you are currently seeking urban fantasy adventures, and I believe that my novel would be a great fit for you.
A Battle of Vicious Blades is a 70,000-word urban fantasy novel about monsters hunters set in the streets of London. It shares similar themes to [PUBLISHED BOOK].
I think you’d especially be interested in the main character’s adventure in hunting down a vampire coven in the London Underground.
Charlie is a monster hunter in the Order of Swords, who have for centuries protected the city from all manner of monsters. When Charlie is sent to investigate disappearances connected to the Tube, they’re the only hunter who can stand in the way of a frenzy of blood threatening the capital.
I’ve self-published 2 books, both of which received over 1000 sales in the first year, and I’ve also been published in Vampire Horrors Anthology with my short story Blood in the City.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
I look forward to hearing from you.
David
In this query letter example, David focuses the most on the plot and how it will appeal to the agent. By including how many sales their self-published books received in the first year, they’ve told the agent that they already have a strong readership and success with their previous books.
To improve, David could include another comp title, ideally something published in the last 5 years.
More resources for querying fantasy fiction
Other resources you might find useful for querying fantasy fiction:
- Agent query letter resources for fantasy fiction – a free downloadable Word document with the above template and samples, as well as an additional query letter sample.
- How to find a literary agent in the UK
- Agent query letter tips for aspiring authors
- I AM In Print’s Agent 1-2-1s – paid service that allows you to submit your query pack to literary agents and get feedback in a video call.