The Query Letter that Landed a Literary Agent (+ Tips for Writing Your Own)

Megan Riann
Jun 13
6 min read

Megan Riann, a young woman, smiles while holding a floral journal in front of a white bookshelf.

Literary agents are the middlemen between authors and publishing houses. Signing with one is a huge and necessary step toward traditionally publishing your novel.

Your literary agent will pitch your book to editors, negotiate your contract, and be your #1 industry supporter. For more on the role of a literary agent, read this article. For an explanation of querying, read this article.

Below is the query letter that landed my literary agent. I break down each section and explain why I believe it worked, so you can feel equipped to write your own. Read this other blog post for details on my querying journey and how many agents requested.

The Full Query Letter

Dear [Agent Full Name],

I am excited to share my young adult contemporary romance, PRONOUNCING LOVE. At 72,000 words, PRONOUNCING LOVE combines the celebrity romance of Axie Oh’s XOXO with the ambitious protagonist of Ann Liang’s This Time It’s Real. [Personalization]

Seventeen-year-old Isadora Andrada has failed. The arrival of her final grant rejection shatters her summer plans to study linguistics in the Philippines. She’s stuck waiting tables while her older sister lounges on faraway beaches, ignoring her calls. Until a video of Isadora kissing the newest television heartthrob, Mateo Wilbur, goes viral, and suddenly everyone wants her attention. No one knows they kissed weeks before he was cast and that they aren’t even friends.

Isadora prepares to announce the truth when Mateo asks her to play along. If they can convince the gossip columns that they’re in love, he can avoid his clingy co-star and keep media attention where he wants it—whatever that means. In return, he’ll fund her dream research trip. Isadora cautiously agrees.

Between picturesque dates and a red-carpet premiere, Isadora sees the unedited Mateo. The Mateo who quotes The Princess Bride, matches her passionate personality, and teeters between Filipino and American cultures just like her. But when family secrets and incriminating screenshots find the spotlight, Isadora must decide what her relationship with Mateo is worth. After all, given the choice between love and success, there’s only one right answer.

This story draws on my experiences as a biracial Filipina. I studied creative writing, Spanish, and professional & technical writing at [University], and I currently work at [Big 5 Publisher]. I enjoy international travel but am more often found going on long walks.

Thank you for your consideration.

Megan [Real Last Name] (writing as Megan Riann)

[Email]

www.authormeganriann.com

[Phone number]

Now, let's break it down!

The Intro

Dear Agent,

This section lays out several key facts about my novel:

Genre (young adult contemporary romance)
Working Title (PRONOUNCING LOVE)
Word Count (72,000 words)
Comparative titles and their similarities (the celebrity romance of Axie Oh’s XOXO and the ambitious protagonist of Ann Liang’s This Time It’s Real)

That's a lot to pack into one paragraph! Play around with structure and flow. Though some recommend including this info later in the query, I thought this served as a nice warm-up for the agent. They knew immediately what I was there for.

The [Personalization] section changed with every query. As discussed in this blog post, I wanted each agent to know I'd done my research and genuinely thought we'd be a good fit. Here are examples of personalizations I used from queries that got full requests:

"Your excitement over Jenny Han immediately caught my attention, since the romantic small gestures my characters share between more dramatic moments are reminiscent of To All the Boys I've Loved Before."
"Since Dungeons and Drama is listed as a recent favorite on your MSWL, I hope you enjoy the fake dating and exploration of friendship in my story."
"Your recent MSWL request for sweet romances and BIPOC stories caught my attention, and I was happy to see you opening for queries."

The Book

These 2-3 paragraphs should read like the back of a book, and they cannot spoil the ending. This was the most intimidating part, and it's what I rewrote the most. It boils down to establishing these things about your story:

Character (Seventeen-year-old Isadora Andrada)
Status quo/character's problematic life (grant rejection, failed summer plans, waiting tables, an older sister who ignores her)
Catalyst or what changes the status quo (a video of Isadora kissing the newest television heartthrob, Mateo Wilbur, goes viral, and he asks her to fake date)
Fun + Games or what the bulk of the plot is about (picturesque dates and a red-carpet premiere, getting to know Mateo, romance)
Hint at the twists (family secrets and incriminating screenshots)
Establish big stakes (he’ll fund her dream research trip if they fool the public, she can only have a relationship or success)

Thankfully, this was a contemporary romance, so I didn't have to invest much in worldbuilding. Fantasy/sci-fi will need to spend some words there. Your story's genre, tone, and plot will dictate where you add the most detail.

This is about hooking the agent. They need to care about your character, know what they're working toward, and understand what's at stake if they fail. It should sound fun and unique—get specific with what matters to your characters. I got great inspiration and advice from Jessica Brody's Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a nonfiction book that addresses story structure and how to write pitches.

I received great critiques on QTCritiques.com, and I recommend workshopping this part of your query more than anything else. If an agent doesn't understand or connect with your pitch, it's game over!

The Bio

This story draws on my experiences as a biracial Filipina. I studied creative writing, Spanish, and professional & technical writing at [University name], and I currently work at [Big 5 Publisher]. I enjoy international travel but am more often found going on long walks.

Don't sweat this one too much. Here are some basics to cover your bases:

Experiences that qualify you to write the book (I'm a biracial Filipina)
Relevant education/classes/awards/fellowships (studied creative writing, Spanish, and professional & technical writing)
Previous big publications (none! I've been published in small magazines, but nothing I thought might intrigue an agent)
Relevant job experience/volunteering (I currently work at [Big 5 Publisher])
Fun fact about yourself (optional but humanizing!)

If you don't have much relevant experience, keep it short. You don't need to explain where the idea came from or why the world desperately needs your story.

I needed three sentences, but one could serve just fine. Unless stated otherwise, agents will assume this is your debut novel.

The Outro

Thank you for your consideration.

Megan [Real Last Name] (writing as Megan Riann)

[Email]

www.authormeganriann.com

[Phone number]

Someone typing on a computer and an illegible handwritten note overlaid with text: The Query Letter That Landed a Literary Agent. My Successful Query Letter plus Tips for Writing Your Own

This section is simple: Thank the agent, sign your name, and include contact info. Some agents ask for social media handles here as well.

I included my legal name and my pen name in my sign-off. I wanted agents to know both, but there wasn't a need to explain the "why" behind my pen name in the query.

If I submitted a query via email, I included a sentence before the thank you to let them know what materials I was sending. Something like "I've pasted the first ten pages of my manuscript below according to your guidelines."

There you have it! I hope this was helpful. Querying is tough, but you're tougher! Don't be afraid to ask others for critiques and workshop multiple drafts.

If there's anything you'd like me to answer about my querying process, please comment or DM me. See this blog post for the breakdown of my querying journey and agent requests.