Do we really need queries?

Rachel Udin · Dec 28, 2011

Move at Will.

I know this will sound like heresy--especially since I know the query letter so well and I know the inner working of the industry so well, but I really want to know what those three paragraphs of hell really do for our book. I want to know if they have a function within this industry.

Considering that a query letter is different from a blurb on the back of a book and that the majority of the slush readers really don't read them (Forgot the link for that... a person spent time and said after a while he just skipped that part and read the pages instead.), do query letters really enhance our books when we could say, send the first chapter? (or whatever is required) and just leave that space blank. I rather the onus be on the actual pages without the headaches.

If as Miss Snark said, writing sells it, then why do we have to write that section when short stories cover letters don't need it? Especially as she pointed out and others (Kristin Nelson) that there are fantastic query writers who can't pen a book to save their lives. And fantastic writers who can't do queries.

We are also told the query letters are not going to end up on the back of the book and in fact the agent often rewrites them for various publishers.

We are also told to send pages with the "query letter" which technically makes it a cover letter for a micro-partial. (If we're using English here.)

Why can't we do something such as, send the pages only to agent specification, leave out the three paragraphs of hell, list it like a Short Story cover letter and be done with it. What do those paragraphs serve us, as writers? (Maybe I should ask an agent...) Or why can't we do a one-sentence summary as the old school short story cover letters had us do?

Dear Agent,

I read X books after I met you at X con and love your selection for specific reasons that fit with my novel.

[Experience here]

_title_ is [#]-word [genre] novel.

I have attached 7 pages per your guidelines of my novel. Thank you for your time and consideration.

DONE.

I kind of understand the need for a synopsis, but only after the book is acquired... again, same quandary, great synopsis writers don't always make great novelists. Often the agent is a better synopsis/query writer than the writer is. (From what I've read) since they know the industry standard and market (or are supposed to).

Or do we do it because it's tradition and print loves tradition... (and sadomasochism, but that's another story.) I don't dare send that type of query letter with my novel because I don't want to look like I can't follow directions. But I'm very, very tempted to since the novel rides more on people liking the first chapter and the tone rather than if I can make the query letter look pretty. I would think a lot of novels are the same--we put a lot of weight on beginnings anyway.

I think, though the words used don't convey the tone I intend... so I'll spell it out here. I'm genuinely curious rather than going into rant mode about the evils of query letters. I do understand the industry, so I am not a n00b.

Mr Flibble · Dec 28, 2011

I think whether the query is read or not is personal to the agent - in the UK, it's more of a cover letter and you send three chapters, so perhaps isn't read first as much. For those agencies that are query only, well, I should think they get read

What the agent gets out of it is probably quite personal, but I can think of several things

a) It showcases, very briefly, your writing ability - that is your ability to be succinct and make a reader excited about a story.
b) It let's the agent know if it's the genre or type of book they want without having to read the pages (and the sort of book it is may not be apparent from those pages. By 'sort of book' I don't mean genre as such)
c) It makes it easy to get rid of the 90% of stuff they receive that just isn't viable for them, saving a lot of time.

There's probably loads more, but that's just off the top of my head. If I was an agent, I'd want a proper query, I think.

These Mean Streets · Dec 28, 2011

Hmmmm... How would you like it say, if you got 100 emails a day with nothing in the subject line? You have to start reading them to see if you even want to read them.

Would kinda suck, doncha think?

Polenth · Dec 28, 2011

The UK still has the cover letter and three chapters thing, but it also comes with trying to keep submission numbers down. Not many places take email submissions, for example. The US has more of a climate of making the system accessible, but as a result, there's a greater volume of submissions and a need for quick ways to filter them.

I suppose which system is best depends on you. I'd rather write a query and avoid the extra costs. But there's no reason why a US writer couldn't query in the UK.

ether · Dec 28, 2011

An agent wants to know what your book is about. They want to know your story isn't so out there and lacking a definite plot. You're presenting them with your idea, and trying to catch their interest. The first few pages of a novel aren't going to tell them more than whether or not you have decent writing. (Which is also important, obviously, yes. But it isn't the only important part.)

Besides that, queries are a hell of a lot easier to read than having to get through the first x-number of pages. I can think of many books I've loved who had the most boring openings. Had I not known ahead of time what the book was about, I never would have continued.

MJNL · Dec 28, 2011

Following up with what ether said: the point of the query is to showcase your writing, your characterization, and your ability to plot all in a convenient 250 words. If there are serious problems on this level, then an agent or publisher doesn't have to waste their time with the first three chapters, which is far more time consuming.

And what would you rather have your agent doing? Spending more of their time going through new applicants, or spending more time shopping your novel? I'd personally hope most agents are more focused on their actual clientele than potential clientele. They've tried to streamline the process for a reason.

I think it's easy to decided which you'd rather do if you were in their shoes: Have to wade through maybe 5,000 to 10,000 words every time someone approached you and only get a fraction of the information that's important to you, or read 250 words and get a firm idea if those 10,000 words are worth your time or not?

jjdebenedictis · Dec 28, 2011

Your query letter is an advertisement -- an unsolicited advertisement.

You are essentially sending junk mail to agents.

Do you want every store in town to send you a full catalogue instead of a one-page flyer?

Just as you don't need a brick of paper to determine whether you want to shop at the local fly fishing store, the agent does not need a brick of paper to know whether they want to read your book.

The fact that you don't like writing query letters is an egocentric reason for suggesting the publishing industry abolish them. The agents seem to like this system just fine.

iRock · Dec 28, 2011

A query is a wealth of information for an agent:

- Is it a genre I'm even interested in representing?

- Is the word count genre-appropriate?

- Can the writer string words together in an interesting way?

- Are they literate?

- Have they written something anyone is interested in reading?

- Do they understand their own work well enough to sell it to me in a convincing way?

A query letter sets up the following question: Do I care enough to look at those included pages?

It behooves you send one - a good one.

I think you're misinterpreting what a couple of agents have said for the sake of your own argument. A good writer might send a not-so-great query, but you can bet it's a million times better than most of what's in the slush pile.

Buffysquirrel · Dec 28, 2011

For agents who require query letters, we need to use query letters. They set the rules of the game; our only choice is to play or pass.

Phaeal · Dec 28, 2011

I imagine that if agents didn't get something out of query letters, they wouldn't ask for them.

A three paragraph semi-synopsis/tease is easier to read than a chapter or even just five pages. Also many first chapters (or pages) won't give the agent an idea of what the whole book is about.

An alternative would be to ask for a one-two page synopsis and pages. The synopsis gives you a little more room to describe your story, but it's still a bitch to write.

If I were an agent, I'd ask for query and five pages. In reading the query, I'd look for two things: stellar storytelling (in miniature) and stellar writing. If I got either of those things, I'd glance at the pages.

Deleted member 42 · Dec 28, 2011

Short summary: Follow the instructions

When I got submissions that didn't follow the exceedingly clear instructions for submission, I ditched them. When you can easily have 300 submissions a day, anything that helps sort out the viable from the non-viable is a blessing.

A query letter, bluntly put, helps sort out the writers from the ordinary stalker/obsessed and criminally insane.

Kitty27 · Dec 28, 2011

I hate queries,too. I can't write a good one for love or money.
BUT they are universally required and a necessary evil. So,I keep crying and working on the demonic thing.

Agents can tell your writing style,word count,and genre from the query. It is an important tool for them so we have to obey the rules of the game.

suki · Dec 28, 2011

MJNL said:
Following up with what ether said: the point of the query is to showcase your writing, your characterization, and your ability to plot all in a convenient 250 words. If there are serious problems on this level, then an agent or publisher doesn't have to waste their time with the first three chapters, which is far more time consuming.

This.

Medievalist said:
Short summary: Follow the instructions

When I got submissions that didn't follow the exceedingly clear instructions for submission, I ditched it. When you can easily have 300 submissions a day, anything that helps sort out the viable from the non-viable is a blessing.

A query letter, bluntly put, helps sort out the writers from the ordinary stalker/obsessed and criminally insane.

And this.

For many agents, they do actually want the convenience of the plot summary in one quick bite, to see if the story even interests them. Many read enough of the query to note at least the core story/conflict as described, and if that does not appeal to them, they need not bother with the pages. And that is helpful to them. They might not get in 10 pages that this is a story about x, y or z that does not interest them. The concise and clear summary of the core conflict/story is a helpful screening tool.

For some agents, they also want to see your ability to write one. If you are signed, and even if you have interested editors, you will likely be called on again and again to write concise, clear, effective query-length bits about your book(s). It actually is a useful skill.

Others use it as a screening tool, to see if you can follow instructions, and do what is asked effectively.

Regardless, if I were an agent, I would require queries. After several years critiquing in QLH I can see they serve several purposes, some related to the writing, others related to a bit of insight into the writer.

~suki

LindaJeanne · Dec 28, 2011

Rachel Udin said:
that the majority of the slush readers really don't read them (Forgot the link for that... a person spent time and said after a while he just skipped that part and read the pages instead.),

So, did this link actually give statistics about the "majority", or was it just an anecdote with a sample size of one?

Rachel Udin said:
do query letters really enhance our books when we could say, send the first chapter?

As others pointed out, you can't tell what the book as a whole is about from just the first chapter. (Or, if the book is so predictable that you can tell, why would anyone buy it?)

Rachel Udin said:
(or whatever is required)

Usually, a query is required. Per most guidelines I've read.

Rachel Udin said:
We are also told to send pages with the "query letter"

If the query letter doesn't have atrocious grammar (I'm told a frightening percentage do), is for the correct genre (apparently, quite a few aren't), and grabs the agent's interest, then they can read the pages. Otherwise, they move on to the next.

gothicangel · Dec 28, 2011

Buffysquirrel said:
For agents who require query letters, we need to use query letters. They set the rules of the game; our only choice is to play or pass.

This.

It's like applying for a job, mortgage/credit card. university place. If you don't follow the instructions correctly expect the waste-paper bin.

Rachel Udin · Dec 28, 2011

iRock said:
A query is a wealth of information for an agent:

- Is it a genre I'm even interested in representing?

You get that without the three paragraphs of hell. (See example query letter)

- Is the word count genre-appropriate?

Also gotten with the 3 paragraphs of hell. (See example query letter)

- Can the writer string words together in an interesting way?

Gotten from the pages.

- Are they literate?

Gotten from the pages.

- Have they written something anyone is interested in reading?

Gotten from the pages.

- Do they understand their own work well enough to sell it to me in a convincing way?

Can do that in a sentence. You should be able to. Anne McCaffrey said any story should be able to be condensed into 20 words or less.

A query letter sets up the following question: Do I care enough to look at those included pages?

It behooves you send one - a good one.

I think you're misinterpreting what a couple of agents have said for the sake of your own argument. A good writer might send a not-so-great query, but you can bet it's a million times better than most of what's in the slush pile.
I can challenge that. http://www.courtneymilan.com/ramblings/2009/01/06/query-letter-outtakes/ was also linked on Kristin Nelson's Blog. Kristin Nelson even went as far to say have someone else write it for you.

Missed the point. Short stories do well without having to do paragraphs telling what the story is. Pages get dumped out of slush by the first three sentences. Why can't a partial be taken from that? (Same turn around time on rejections too... usually... though with the budget restrictions I did notice that it lengthened a bit, but so did the agent reply-turnaround...)

As many-an-agent has said, the query letter and the ability to write one doesn't prove the ability of a writer to make a story. (And I did read entire blogs to get this far. Wasn't selective reading.)

Short stories and novellas to magazines do just fine without requiring a summary at all. The merit and onus is on the pages. What makes the novel such a different animal when the buyer is going to buy on a similar principle (plus a cover, i.e. marketing material.)? If you can't tell what genre it is and the tone from the first chapter--there are issues that run very deep. (or has SYW lead me wrong?) If you can't get the tone in within the first 200 words, it's not going to sell to most readers... most browsers take the first chapter and the back blurb and then decide to buy the book or not when they are out without any friends. (Some skim the ending). If they hit something that they dislike, they drop it.

And I do believe that some things are done just because they are tradition... so is this tradition necessary? I do pretty well myself skimming through stories by pages rather than by query letters. I stop when I find something I don't like. I continue beyond that point because I want to see what went terribly wrong and I want to understand it. (Or the Share your Work words, "I stopped here.")

BTW, a lot of agents also have their interns read the slush... a few elect not to... their choice. The thing about skipping the cover letter, came from an intern who was there for a week--still can't find that link.

I also don't buy that if you send three chapters the agent is obligated to read them all. I don't do that with published books and I'm not arrogant enough to think that any agent will do that with my pages either, especially if the first few paragraphs aren't up to snuff.

I can buy to some effect the ability of the writer to elevator pitch their book, but usually publicists, the agent, editor, and writer work on it together and it's not a whole three paragraphs when one is in a bookstore (Terry Brooks and Uncle Jim if memory serves). What's the point if the book hasn't sold yet?

I admit I'm playing devil's advocate at this point, more for asking to dig for deeper reasons of its existence, though I would like to know when it started up... since I'm pretty sure the late 1800's didn't have partials. (L.M. Montgomery stated she just sent pages. Canadian, I know, but it was backed up by Mark Twain, Dickens and what little I gathered of Laura Ingalls Wilder.) You just sent the thing with a cover letter, no summary. I suspect the 1920's had something to do with it... though agents didn't come around until later if what I read is correct. But that's more of my obsession with tracking history of the publishing industry rather than my original question.

I should note it won't really solve the issue if someone says they aren't needed either... I'm more interested in the reasons that it exists beyond tradition and if they really do still serve a good function beyond tradition when pages could fill the gap and really do prove market ability. And tradition for the sake of tradition doesn't mean it's the best choice. TED talks... most of them.

BTW, job cover letters do not require people to give a summary of how they think they will work with that employer in such definitive terms. You talk about solid experience, not 3 paragraphs of things you know you will do on the job. =P I don't think the three paragraphs are analogous to that other than proving that you can follow directions, which can be achieved without the three paragraphs of hell.

Query letters are good for one thing--I think, that's telling the writer what they think the story is in their own head, but not necessarily what is on paper. (Also for editing the novel, but that's another debate.) But does it function the same for the agent/editor, especially when the pages don't match the query?

Terie · Dec 28, 2011

A query letter is the equivalent of a resume/CV/job application.

Expecting agents and editors to read several pages instead of several paragraphs is much like expecting companies to interview every single person who wants a job, rather than perusing a short document to choose interviewees. It's simply not practical in terms of cost (time) vs benefit.

suki · Dec 28, 2011

Rachel Udin said:
Missed the point. Short stories do well without having to do paragraphs telling what the story is. Pages get dumped out of slush by the first three sentences. Why can't a partial be taken from that? (Same turn around time on rejections too... usually... though with the budget restrictions I did notice that it lengthened a bit, but so did the agent reply-turnaround...)

Because with a 50,000+ word book, you might not know in the first 15,000 words that the revelation in chapter 16 is about molestation, or ghosts, or unicorns, or the character becomes an alcoholic and goes on a bender, or, worse, that none of that happens and the last 35,000 words are a long slog of navel gazing.... and if there is a query with an accurate pitch of the plot/core conflict, then the agent has some idea of what to expect and can guess sooner that this is not for them - often from the query. You seem to be ignoring that many, many, many queries are rejected without any pages being read because the plot/core conflict does not appeal to the agent - and they might not understand that from the pages. they might like the 10 pages, or even 3 chapters, just fine, but then run into the plot element that ruins it for them - and they've wasted their time on those pages.

If you can't tell what genre it is and the tone from the first chapter--there are issues that run very deep. (or has SYW lead me wrong?) If you can't get the tone in within the first 200 words, it's not going to sell to most readers... most browsers take the first chapter and the back blurb and then decide to buy the book or not when they are out without any friends. (Some skim the ending). If they hit something that they dislike, they drop it.

Ah, but it's not tone or voice or character that the query pitch can help screen, it's plot/conflict. And that you often can't get from the first few chapters. You might not hit the plot element that is a deal breaker until later in the book.

And I do believe that some things are done just because they are tradition... so is this tradition necessary?

I disagree that queries are merely tradition, as it seems many others do

Query letters are good for one thing--I think, that's telling the writer what they think the story is in their own head, but not necessarily what is on paper. (Also for editing the novel, but that's another debate.) But does it function the same for the agent/editor, especially when the pages don't match the query?

But this is telling, too. If the pitch looks great, and the agent (or editor, for that matter) starts reading and it doesn't match at all, or live up to expectations, it actually says something and gives insight into the writer, too.

An effective, and accurate, query should pitch the core conflict/plot of the book. And that is extremely helpful to many agents. All? No, I'd guess not. But many? yeah, i think so.

And yes, flawed or downright misrepresenting queries likely land in agent in-boxes all the time. And I imagine it is frustrating to start reading and realize the query doesn't match the book at all. But I'd guess not nearly as frustrating as reading 25,000 words into a story and then hitting a deal breaker of a plot point. That is a waste of time.

I realize you are playing devil's adviocate, but I feel like you are hung up on the idea that queries are merely there because of tradition, and I think that is a flawed premise. IMO, they serve a real purpose.

~suki

MJNL · Dec 28, 2011

Quote: Do they understand their own work well enough to sell it to me in a convincing way?

Can do that in a sentence. You should be able to. Anne McCaffrey said any story should be able to be condensed into 20 words or less.

/quote.

Then I don't see what the problem is with someone asking you to write three paragraphs.

I still don't think you understand how it streamlines the process and reduces both the amount of time an agent spends on a submission and the amount of crap they get.

Polenth · Dec 28, 2011

I don't see query letters as traditional. I see them as a modern reaction to increased submissions volume. Trying to argue them only being used due to tradition is coming from a completely different worldview. And one I don't think has much historical basis, as old writers talk about sending off whole manuscripts.

There are other ways to impose filters. Like I said before, the UK does it by making it hard to submit in the first place. Higher mailing costs stop a lot of people. Closing to unsolicited submissions stops even more.

The question is whether a writer would rather the filter is placed on something outside their control (like finances or lacking someone to recommend them to an agent) or something they can control (their query letter). People will go both ways. If you have a well-paid job or you know the right people, it may be the UK is a better option for you, as you can skip the query letter. But for someone like me, with no contacts and limited disposable income, the query letter is better than the alternative filters.

LindaJeanne · Dec 28, 2011

Rachel Udin said:
BTW, a lot of agents also have their interns read the slush... a few elect not to... their choice. The thing about skipping the cover letter, came from an intern who was there for a week--still can't find that link.

I'm not sure how you got from "an intern who was there for a week" to "the majority of slush-readers".

And yes, many agents have assistants help with the slush -- I don't see how this is relevant to whether the queries are being read, and whether they are helpful to the "slush-reader".

ether · Dec 28, 2011

Yes, your sample letter shows genre, word-count, etc. But queries tell what the book is about. Suki said it all perfectly. How is an agent going to know from the first few pages/chapters about that neat plot twist, or things that aren't revealed until halfway through?

No, a query won't necessarily tell of a writer's ability to...well, write. Because some get help from others to perfect their letters, or have someone else write their query all together. (Honestly, I don't think even the majority does, though.) But a query does help prove you know precisely what your story is about. It shows focus. It shows beginning, it shows conflict, it shows resolution. I see in QLH all the time where someone revises and revises a query a hundred times, and just can't get the focus of their story down. It's a problem with the manuscript itself, and it shows in that query. Agents pick up on that. 'This is too contrived. This is too cliche. This isn't exciting. This has way too much going on and I don't know what the central plot/focus of the book is.' Etc.

What it comes down to is that it isn't our choice. If queries didn't make 99% of agents' lives easier, they would change their process. And, if the agent wants a query letter because it makes their job easier? Great. Then write one.

Kitty27 · Dec 28, 2011

We have to do the horrid things. That is no other way out. Queries make me break out in hives and cry. I really hate on writers who have query skills that are awesome. I have seen queries on AW that made me quietly put my sorry query away and start over because they were so awesome. But I also try to learn from those awesome folks.

I still hate on them,though.

We know the game going in. That letter from hell is a requirement of the business. Therefore,we have to continue to write them. Other posters have summed it up far better than I could. A query accomplishes so much and saves an agent a LOT of time. I've seen the query stats for some agents and they are staggering. Could you imagine trying to read the same amount of partials?

A query does the job well enough and saves the agent a LOT of time.

jjdebenedictis · Dec 28, 2011

I'm pretty sure the late 1800's didn't have partials. (L.M. Montgomery stated she just sent pages. Canadian, I know, but it was backed up by Mark Twain, Dickens and what little I gathered of Laura Ingalls Wilder.) You just sent the thing with a cover letter, no summary.

And that would imply the query letter is a better way to handle things, wouldn't it? Generally, people don't try to make the system worse. Over time, they figure out how to improve it.

I read the back-flap of books before I open them up. I also write query letters that attempt to sound like the back-flap of books. I really don't understand why anyone would call a blurb, of any sort, a useless creation. As a customer, I view the blurb as a key tool for determining whether a certain book would appeal to me.

Buffysquirrel · Dec 28, 2011

Going by my experience of slushing short stories, I would say you can usually tell whether or not you want to read on by the fourth paragraph (or sooner). I don't think it's a coincidence that query letters are about that length.

Do we really need queries?

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

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