Have you given yourself enough time to feel accomplished 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 before their manuscript is complete. While it is okay to look for what lies ahead and prepare yourself mentally for it, you must only send a query letter after your manuscript is complete.
Yes, literary agents can take weeks to respond, but there is also a chance they will respond in just a few days. What will you do if your manuscript is not ready for review? Of course, they will lose interest, thinking you are not professional enough.
Completing your manuscript beforehand can save you embarrassment and prevent you from missing out on the chance to work with a great publishing house.
Do Not Reach the Wrong Agents
Agents’ requirements can vary. You must rely on something other than a generic approach to please every agent you contact.
If you send your query letter to an uninterested literary agent, you may be wasting their time and theirs.
It is better to find the right agents for your manuscripts than to contact the wrong agents.
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 again.
Before you contact the literary agents, make sure to look them up online. You can look for their preferred titles, spellings of their names, 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 knowing as many details about your literary agent as possible is never a bad idea, it is important to remember that you should never get too personal with them.
Even if you want to personalize the introductory lines, make sure that you always keep a hint of professionalism 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 submitting a manuscript. These guidelines may be based on 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.
Ignoring them can be considered the equivalent of hurting them, and it can make them think of you as lacking discipline.
You must 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 hearts, 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 them.
While writing a query letter, you must be at ease. Start with a single page with a single space and only 250-300 words written on it.
A query letter over 300 words must be edited to ensure the literary author is focused while reading.
It should be a manageable length, too, 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, but 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 your book’s content. You do not have to tell the literary agent about everything that happens at this stage.
Many experts say a single line must be enough to tell your literary agent about the book. If you cannot, 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 the story of your book and create an everlasting impact on the literary agent.
