If you're emailing a query to an agent, are you still supposed to follow business-letter form and put the agent's name, company and address at the top of the page? It seems unnecessary.
query question
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Jennifer_Laughran
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Possibly. Agents don't like unnecessary stuff in a query letter - especially in an e-query. The point of e-queries is that they are short, quick, and easy to read. Adding their address - when they clearly KNOW their own address - is pointless. Definitely add your own information at the bottom of the letter, though.
Depends on the agent. Some read based on what they see when they open the email and get a snapshot of the query. If you waste 12 of the 16-20 lines (with information and spaces between) then there's nothing compelling there for them to see. Maybe one sentence.
Form rejection.
eta: Go read Janet Reid's QueryShark posts.
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Jennifer_Laughran
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I don't think it hurts your chances, it is just a little bit of a chuckle or raised eyebrow. Like people who put "I have enclosed the first ten pages." Enclosed them? In what? This is an email! That makes me think you've just copied and pasted the letter that you sent people snail-mail without rereading it or rewording it for me at all.
I also don't need the date (it is on your timestamp).
I also don't need the date (it is on your timestamp).
If you look at I am seeking representation ...(
1 2), especially post 39 and beyond, you'll see some discussion about this. One of the issues is how do you use the real estate that you're given.
Best of luck,
Jim Clark-Dawe
Best of luck,
Jim Clark-Dawe
I put the agent's address and my address at the top of an e-mail and received a request for my manuscript from a top agent. If an agent is so picky as to not want to read your query because you've included addresses at the top...yikes. Besides, if the agent prints the e-mail, all the necessary information is visible. As stated, though, make sure you use the correct jargon such as "attached" versus "enclosed." Or, "below is the information you requested."
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Huh, I had it on every single query I sent out. Got 5 full requests and my agent, so it can't matter too much. I thought I read to format it like a business letter, and a lot of submission guidelines specified it that way. I guess I never thought to make it less formal just because it was email.
I remember way back when agents first started accepting email queries, writers were told to stick with the snail-mail tried-and-true form of a business letter when composing an email. After I did that a few times, I dropped it. It didn't make sense. Just make sure you have your contact info, esp.phone #. I had an agent who called after receiving my query and first ten pages pasted into the email. He was working late and wanted to get the rest of the ms. that night. And to talk to me, to see if I was a sane person. 
And as Jennifer Laughran said, the date and time is already included in the email.
And as Jennifer Laughran said, the date and time is already included in the email.
So, Stormie, did you convince him you are sane, or was he looking toward the other option? Just kidding!
More important - what was the outcome?
More important - what was the outcome?
In most cases I don't think it would hurt your chances but I think it looks a bit odd.
Then again, I send professional emails on a daily basis so I'm used to that format.
Then again, I send professional emails on a daily basis so I'm used to that format.
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Well I did it so I could print them out and know who I sent what to and in case they asked me to send a partial or fulls by snail mail i had everything together...My agent never said it turned her off... but I do think it's a tad pointless to agonize over it- Your hook and pages are the thing that's important...