Thanking in the Query Letter

I was surprised to read that. I write, "thank you for your time", too

I don't like the "Thank you for your time" thing for query letters. I look at it as any other type of business correspondence, and I wouldn't generally use that for a typical business letter. I almost always say "I look forward to hearing from you."

Kristen

I've read her blog. I've read her correspondence with agents. I don't agree with most of what she says about queries or about writing for the YA market (although I think she deleted one of her comments that was derogatory toward anyone over twenty).

It's only polite to thank an agent for their time. Something such as, "Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you." Some of her correspondence lacks professionalism, and since she posted her original query and resulting correspondence with her current agent, her agent now has a disclaimer on the bottom of her emails that says "This message and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the addressees. Any unauthorized use or dissemination is prohibited without written permission of the sender. Note: E-mails are suseptible to alteration."

Personally, I'm all for polite. Even when writing business correspondence, I automatically end with "Thank you for your time, I look forward to hearing from you." or some form therein.

Polite goes a long way, in any business. Heck, I even say Thank You whenever a cashier hands me my receipt.

I think it's entirely possible to be polite without saying "Thank you for your time."