Do you put "dear mr. so-and-so" on an email query?

oasis · Sep 12, 2009

For a specific agent, do you put a "dear mr. so-and-so" on the email query, or do you go straight to the hook?

it's for a fantasy novel.

i just think doing that it is both superfluous, and it takes away from the drama of the hook--but i always have my doubts: maybe it's too rude thoughts?

katiemac · Sep 12, 2009

Always address the agent with "Dear" and his or her last name. Make sure you spell it right. It's still a business letter.

Sophia · Sep 12, 2009

Of course! It's still a correspondence. I'm not 100% sure, though - it could be that business etiquette has changed recently.

katiemac · Sep 12, 2009

ElaraSophia said:
Of course! It's still a correspondence. I'm not 100% sure, though - it could be that business etiquette has changed recently.

The only etiquette I know that has changed is you don't need to include the letterhead format... You know, address, phone number, e-mail, etc. before your greeting.

Think of this way, too--If you include a greeting, the agent knows you're sending it to them. It didn't end up there by accident. You purposely set out to e-mail them and are not mass-mailing a bunch of agents in hopes of snagging one.

Sophia · Sep 12, 2009

katiemac said:
The only etiquette I know that has changed is you don't need to include the letterhead format... You know, address, phone number, e-mail, etc. before your greeting.

Thanks, Katie! I didn't know that about the address, etc. The greeting I would definitely always include, for the reason you gave, as well as because it feels more personal to do so.

katiemac · Sep 12, 2009

Thanks, Katie! I didn't know that about the address, etc.

I don't know if it's something all agents prefer, but I've seen a couple agents say lately that it just wastes space in the e-mail window. Imagine agents are reading queries on Blackberries and iPhones these days--much smaller windows and they're doing a lot more scrolling to get to the meat of your query if you clog up the beginning with usual business letter format. Makes sense to me just to leave it out. They know their address. Stick all of your contact information below your signature.

But of course, keep the greeting.

hanniella · Sep 12, 2009

You should definitely put Dear mr/ms surname, but you don't put the address on. You should sign with 'kind regards' or 'many thanks' instead of yours sincerely/faithfully.

maestrowork · Sep 12, 2009

Email is still a business correspondence. Do what you would normally do with a business letter. Email doesn't mean you can now be rude.

oasis · Sep 12, 2009

.

thanks everyone.

hanniella said:
You should definitely put Dear mr/ms surname, but you don't put the address on. You should sign with 'kind regards' or 'many thanks' instead of yours sincerely/faithfully.

why not sincerely? (that's my subsequent ending thingy)

katiemac · Sep 12, 2009

I think hanniella means the combination "yours sincerely". The only negative I have for that is it seems a bit old fashioned.

I use sincerely. I also use best or best regards.

Kathleen42 · Sep 12, 2009

katiemac said:
They know their address. Stick all of your contact information below your signature.

But of course, keep the greeting.

I do this. I figure, if it's good enough for every client I've worked with, it won't anger an agent.

Kathleen42 · Sep 12, 2009

katiemac said:
I think hanniella means the combination "yours sincerely". The only negative I have for that is it seems a bit old fashioned.

I use sincerely. I also use best or best regards.

I just use "Regards" but that's how I sign all my business correspondence. Maybe there's a reason the personality test they made us take at my last job indicated that I was "aloof".

Libbie · Sep 12, 2009

Yes, use it, as others have said. It's polite. However, be sure whether you've got a Mr. or a Ms. (not Mrs. -- you don't know whether she's married, and Ms. works for married or unmarried women) before you address the letter. Some people have unisex names like Chris or Pat or Shannon or Corey, and you can never assume. If there isn't an agent bio where you can clearly tell it's a man or a woman, then it's acceptable (although somewhat less formal) to address it "Dear [First Name]".

RJK · Sep 13, 2009

Standard business correspondence starts with Dear Mr./Ms. ___, and ends with Sincerely.
Why give an agent another reason to reject your query by deviating from that?

Do you put "dear mr. so-and-so" on an email query?

oasis

katiemac

Five by Five

Sophia

katiemac

Five by Five

Sophia

katiemac

Five by Five

hanniella

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

oasis

katiemac

Five by Five

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

Libbie

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

RJK

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