Free template
Query letter template, with an annotated example
Fill in the brackets, paste it into your email, and send a query in the format agents expect. Free, with word counts for each paragraph and the mistakes to avoid.
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Query letter template
Replace everything in [brackets]. Aim for 250 to 350 words in total, and paste it into the body of the email.
Dear [Agent's first and last name],
[Optional, one sentence: why this agent. Name a book they represent, a wish list item they posted or an interview they gave.]
[Hook, one or two sentences: who your main character is, what they want and what stands in the way.]
[Pitch, one or two short paragraphs: what sets the story in motion, the choice your character faces and what they lose if they fail. Stop before the ending.]
[TITLE IN CAPITALS] is a [genre] novel, complete at [word count, rounded to the nearest thousand] words. It will appeal to readers of [Comp title] by [Author] and [Comp title] by [Author].
[Bio, two or three sentences: writing credits, expertise or experience that connects you to the story, and where you live. No credits yet is fine. Keep it short.]
Thank you for your time and consideration. [If the agent's guidelines ask for pages: As requested, the first [number] pages are pasted below.]
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
[Email address], [phone number], [website or social handle]
The standard query letter format
A query letter is a one-page pitch you email to a literary agent to ask whether they want to read your manuscript. Nearly every agent expects the same shape, so the format is not where you stand out. Your story is.
- Greeting and personalization: the agent's name, spelled right, and an optional line on why you chose them.
- Hook: one or two sentences that make the agent want to read the next line.
- Pitch: the setup, the stakes and the central choice, in one or two short paragraphs.
- Book details: title, genre, word count and two comparable titles.
- Bio and closing: a few lines about you, a thank you and your contact details.
How long a query letter should be
Aim for 250 to 350 words. Nathan Bransford, then a literary agent, counted every query he received in one week and found that only about half were the right length. Many of the others ran much longer.
Paragraph by paragraph, that is roughly one sentence of personalization, 150 to 200 words of hook and pitch, 40 to 60 words of book details and 30 to 70 words of bio. If the pitch runs long, cut subplots and side characters first.
Read Nathan Bransford on query lengthAnnotated query letter example
Here is a condensed query for an invented novel, broken into its parts, with a note on what each part does. A full letter would add a line of personalization and a slightly longer pitch and bio.
- Hook: When the last lighthouse keeper on Skerra vanishes, his estranged daughter Nell comes home to settle his debts and finds his logbook full of ships that never existed. One sentence names the character, the situation and the question the book answers.
- Pitch: Nell has two weeks before the ferry stops for winter. The logbook's dates match three drownings the coroner called accidents, and the only person who believes her is the harbormaster who signed all three reports. To learn what her father saw, she has to trust the one man with every reason to bury it, or leave on the last ferry and let the island keep its story. The stakes and the choice, with the ending left out.
- Details: THE LAST FERRY is an upmarket mystery, complete at 88,000 words. It will appeal to readers of The Island by Adrian McKinty and The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke. Title, genre, word count and two comps, in two sentences.
- Bio: I spent ten years as a coastguard radio operator and live in Aberdeen. This is my first novel. Short, and it shows a real connection to the story.
Query letter mistakes agents mention most
- Opening with a rhetorical question or a dictionary definition instead of the character.
- Describing the theme, such as a story about love and loss, instead of what happens.
- Naming more than three characters, or explaining every subplot.
- A word count far outside the range for the genre.
- Comparing the book to a blockbuster everyone has heard of, which says little about where it fits.
- Querying an agent who does not represent your genre.
Grade your query, or draft one from your answers
Once the letter is filled in, paste it into the free Query Letter Grader for instant checks on length, word count, genre and comps, plus feedback on the hook, the stakes and the voice.
Starting from a blank page? The free Query Letter Generator drafts a first version from six answers about your book, in the same format as this template.
Grade your query letter freeRun it on the whole manuscript
These tools read a sample. StoryWith AI reads the whole book: structure, pacing, continuity, and a readiness score with every issue linked to its passage. Start free, then upgrade when you're ready to analyze the whole book.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the standard format for a query letter?
One page, in the body of the email: a greeting, a hook, a short pitch, the title, genre, word count and comps, a brief bio and a sign-off. Send no attachments unless the agent's guidelines ask for them.
How long should a query letter be?
250 to 350 words, the range former agent Nathan Bransford recommends and a common target. Shorter usually leaves out the stakes. Longer usually means the pitch is retelling the plot.
Do the book details go first or last?
Either works. Many writers lead with the hook and put the title, genre and word count after the pitch. If someone referred you, or you met the agent at an event, say that first.
What do I write in the bio with no publishing credits?
Two or three sentences about who you are and anything that connects you to the story, such as a job, a place or an experience. A short bio with no credits is normal for a debut.
How many comp titles should I use?
Two is the usual number. Pick books from the last five years or so, in your genre, that sold well without being household names.
Can I use this template for nonfiction?
Use it for a novel or a memoir. Most nonfiction is sold on a book proposal instead, so start with the book proposal template.
Is the template free?
Yes. Copy it, change anything you like and use it for as many queries as you need. No signup.