Agency's letterhead in E-Query?

Sydneyd

Aye, ye scurvy dog!
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
6,565
Reaction score
2,237
Location
Portland
Hey all, I looked for the answer, could not find. So I ask.

When sending an e-query do you start it with the agent and agency's letter head? For Example:

Ms. Agent
Agency name
Agency Address

Dear Ms. Agent:

Now, I think this is nice to do, because it shows that you know who you are querying, but I also think it takes up space, and the agent knows who they are and where they work. What do you think?
 

PinkAmy

New kid, be gentle!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 21, 2010
Messages
2,758
Reaction score
423
Location
Philadelphia
I started all mine
Dear Ms. Agent
without the business snail mail letter approach. I can't remember why-- but I know I looked up various sources to be sure whether or not to make the email look snail-mail-ish.
 

amergina

Pittsburgh Strong
Staff member
Moderator
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 20, 2007
Messages
15,599
Reaction score
2,471
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Website
www.annazabo.com
I put:

Agent name
Agency name

Dear Ms. (or Mr.) Agent

I don't think you have to do that, but I don't think it's one of those things that will cause an insta-reject or anything.

(Part of me doing it is for me--I can see the agent and agency in one line of my gmail without having to open the mail.)
 

Erin

Listening to my other selves
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 3, 2007
Messages
1,638
Reaction score
363
Location
California
Website
www.erinrichards.com
I do the same thing as PinkAmy now, after doing research for best email approach. There's no need to include full name & agency name, etc.

Then I put all my contact info at the end after my "e-signature."
 

Sydneyd

Aye, ye scurvy dog!
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
6,565
Reaction score
2,237
Location
Portland
Thanks all! This is great news.
 

JSSchley

Have Harp Will Travel
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
929
Reaction score
103
Location
in ur B&N...facin out AWers bookz...
Website
www.jessicaschley.com
Janet Reid is always complaining about headers on Query Shark and she makes a very important point.

It's likely that your query will be read on a Blackberry or iPhone. So you want as much of the letter to show in that tiny window as you can. "Dear Agent" leaves 6-15 lines of text still viewable on the agent's device--the more header info there is, the less info about your brilliant book they can see right away.
 

waylander

Who's going for a beer?
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Messages
8,279
Reaction score
1,567
Age
65
Location
London, UK
I started all mine
Dear Ms. Agent
without the business snail mail letter approach. I can't remember why-- but I know I looked up various sources to be sure whether or not to make the email look snail-mail-ish.

What she said
 

Danthia

Janet Reid is always complaining about headers on Query Shark and she makes a very important point.

It's likely that your query will be read on a Blackberry or iPhone. So you want as much of the letter to show in that tiny window as you can. "Dear Agent" leaves 6-15 lines of text still viewable on the agent's device--the more header info there is, the less info about your brilliant book they can see right away.

This :) For these reasons.
 

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 24, 2007
Messages
8,049
Reaction score
770
Location
Clearlake Park, CA
Website
www.strokingthepen.com
Hey all, I looked for the answer, could not find. So I ask.

When sending an e-query do you start it with the agent and agency's letter head? For Example:

Ms. Agent
Agency name
Agency Address

Dear Ms. Agent:

Now, I think this is nice to do, because it shows that you know who you are querying, but I also think it takes up space, and the agent knows who they are and where they work. What do you think?

Not in an equry- just dear Ms. or Mr. Whomever.
 

Sydneyd

Aye, ye scurvy dog!
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
6,565
Reaction score
2,237
Location
Portland
Thanks all! I feel a little foolish now that I think of all that time I spent painstakingly making sure the zipcode was correct.