Double Spaced Query: Absolute Rule?

[Marina Snow]

Greetings. I find it to be impossible to fit all that an agent needs to know about my book into a single page, double-spaced query letter. I can do one page with single spaces.

Will my letter be rejected out right if I use single spaces?

Thank you so much.

Marina

[Ziljon]

From Agentquery.com on how to write query letters:

Other Random Tips:

The Do’s:

Do address your query specifically to an agent. There are lots of greetings from which to choose. Here are your options in order of best to worst:

Attn. Ms. Shermanstein:
Dear Adrian Shermanstein:
Dear Ms. Shermanstein:
Dear Ms. Shermanstein,
Dear Adrian,
Yo Adrian,

Do state the title of your book.
Do mention the word count and genre of your book. Novels should be 80,000 to 100,00 words. Young adult novels can be significantly less: 40,000-60,000 words. Suavely insert word count and genre at the end of your first “hook” paragraph.
Do mention exactly why you’re approaching Ms. Agent. Try to compare your book with other books that Ms. Agent has represented in the past.
Do adopt a professional, serious tone.
Do keep your query to one-page only.
Do format your query using standard business letter alignment and spacing. That means: Single spaced. 12 point font. Everything aligned along the left margin. No paragraph indentations, but a space between each paragraph. One-page only!
Do list your phone number, mailing address, and email address
Do include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with all snail mail submissions.
Do have a pair of "fresh eyes" proofread for typos and grammar mistakes.

[Kasey Mackenzie]

Query letters are one of the few things in this industry that you should single-space, so feel free! =)

[Marina Snow]

Thank you Ziljon for the reply. I appreciate it. It's good to know that I need to use block style. I had been using indentations, with no space between paragraphs.

Thanks again.

[Marina Snow]

Thank you. Do you agree on the block style, as Ziljon suggested?

[Stacia Kane]

Block style is what I've always done. :)

[Julie Worth]

I use block style, single space, and TNR for the query and synopsis. The MS should be double spaced with indented paragraphs.

[Irysangel]

Block style is a standard business letter format. You are sending a business letter. :) I also use TNR - to me, queries in courier just seem bizarre. I've never had a comment for or against, though.

[Marina Snow]

Thank you all SO MUCH. Have a beautiful day!

[EncrustedDaddy]

I prefer to use crayon and write in a spiral that starts around the edges of the page and ends in the center.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

[jamiehall]

The general rule is that double-spacing is for things that will likely have comments written on them and/or edited. You don't expect an agent to edit your query, so you don't double-space it.

[KikiteNeko]

I'll just add to the list of people telling you to single-space it. Queries and synopses are single spaced, because your query letter is a business letter. It should be formatted pretty much just like an office memo.