Have you given yourself enough time to feel a sense of accomplishment after completing your manuscript? If yes, that is great because you must be prepared for the next challenging aspect of your book publishing journey.
Now, it is time for you to write a show-stealing query letter. A query letter is your opportunity to make an impression on your potential literary agent. The right approach can help you make or break your chances of being reached out.
Here are some common mistakes you must avoid while writing a query letter.
- Do not Query with an Incomplete Manuscript
Most authors can agree that they start looking up how to write a query letter a lot before their manuscript is even complete. While it is okay to look for what lies ahead and prepare yourself for it mentally, you must never send a query letter before your manuscript is complete.
Yes, literary agents can take weeks to get back to you but there is also a chance that they will get back just in a few days. What will you do if your manuscript is not ready for review? Of course, they will lose interest, thinking that you are not professional enough.
You can save yourself from embarrassment and missing out on the chance to work with a great publishing house by completing your manuscript beforehand.
- Do Not Reach the Wrong Agents
The requirements of agents can vary from one another. You cannot rely on a generic approach to please every agent you reach out to. If you are sending your query letter to an uninterested literary agent, you may be wasting their and your time.
Instead of wasting your time on getting in touch with the wrong agents, it is better to spend some time finding the right agents for your manuscripts.
Make sure that the agents you reach have mentioned that they are open to queries on their websites.
- Do Not Get Their Name Wrong
One of the most common things that irritates a literary agent is when a query letter reaches them with a wrong name. Whether you get their pronouns wrong or misspell their name, a simple mistake can reduce your chances of being reached back.
Before you reach out to the literary agents, make sure to look them up online. You can look for their preferred titles, spellings of their name, and interests that can help you start a conversation with them in your query letter.
The more accurate information you have about your literary agent, the lesser the chances of mistakes.
- Do Not Get Too Personal
While it is never a bad idea to know as many details about your literary agent as possible, it is important to remember that you never get too personal with them. Even if you want to make the introductory lines personalized, make sure that you always keep a hint of professionalism included in the conversation.
Always remember that the agent is not your friend. You are looking forward to creating a professional relationship with them. Your only focus must be on impressing them with what you have to offer so that they can be inclined to read your book.
- Do Not Ignore Submission Guidelines
Every literary agent has guidelines for the submission of a manuscript. These guidelines may be on the basis that there are differences that separate one literary agent from another. You cannot take these guidelines lightly.
Remember that the literary agent has put a lot of thought into creating these guidelines. If you ignore these guidelines, it can be considered the equivalent of hurting them. Of course, it can make them think of you as someone who lacks discipline.
You must take your time to read their guidelines and provide them with exactly what they are asking for. You do not have to go a mile ahead to win over their heart, either. Just providing them with what they asked for is enough.
- Do Not Overlook the Length Limit
The rules for writing a query letter are very simple, and the only way to complicate them is by overthinking these rules. While writing a query letter, you must be at ease. Start with a single simple page with a single space and only 250-300 words written on it.
A query letter longer than 300 words must be edited to ensure that the literary author is focused while reading. It should not be too short either to make the author feel as if you did not care enough. Find the right balance to ensure that the way your query letter looks does not turn the reader away.
- Do not Write in the Voice of Your Characters
Writing a query letter is not a test of your creativity. You do not have to be the first one to win the craft exercises to show the literary agent that you are the one they should work with. Instead, this approach may only frustrate them.
Using the voice of your characters may distract the literary agent from what you are trying to communicate. They do not want to know about your characters at this stage. If they do, be sure that they will ask you for a manuscript.
- Do Not Write a Summary
A query letter is not a summary of what your book is all about. You do not have to tell the literary agent about everything that happens at this stage. Many experts say that a single line must be enough for you to tell your literary agent but the book. If you are not able to do so, you may not be ready to send a query letter.
Being a critical part of your sales pitch, you can use a hook regarding your book to lure the reader in and keep them asking for more. A well-crafted query letter hook can communicate what your book is all about and create an ever-lasting impact on the literary agent.
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