to the attention of

Put the "to the attention" part in the subject line.

Do the actual e-mail as you would typically.

[Query]Gone With the North Wind. Att: Betty Anne Smith

That's what I would do anyway.

In this case I usually type in the subject line of the email:

Query for Specific Agent: Title

and then in the body

Dear Mr Agent,

ap123 said:

In this case I usually type in the subject line of the email:

Query for Specific Agent: Title

and then in the body

Dear Mr Agent,

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Yeah, I've used the 'Query for [AGENT NAME], [YA Fantasy] [TITLE]' format in the past.

I don't think the specific wording matters as long as you clearly indicate who it's for. If it specifies a keyword then there's probably an automatic rule in place, but if it's just a general 'put it for the attention of this agent' guideline there's usually a real person (usually the intern!) scanning the e-mails who'll pop it in the right folder.

I think you're making it more complicated than it was intended. Here's what you do:

Subject line:
Query: title

Start of body of email:
Dear Agent Name:

I think the intent is just to indicate that they would like you to indicate which agent you're targeting when submissions go to a group email address. It's standard advice to choose one agent at a place and submit only to him/her by name, rather than a "to whom it may concern" sort of thing. Although, some agencies don't really give that option, and insist that all submissions just be sent generically, and someone at the agency will choose who gets the query. I think the instructions quote are just to let you know they want you to target the query.

ETA: I think most email programs give you the first few words of the body of the email as a preview these days, so the "dear agent" bit will be visible.

ave said:

Thanks everyone. It's my first query, so I don't want to do something stupid right off the bat

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GL with that first query!

GinJones said:

ETA: I think most email programs give you the first few words of the body of the email as a preview these days, so the "dear agent" bit will be visible.

Click to expand...

That used to be a security risk and people in an office environment were sometimes told to turn reading pane off. It's much less of one now, I believe.

A lot of people don't using the reading pane anyway. I don't.

alleycat said:

A lot of people don't using the reading pane anyway. I don't.

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I don't, either. I've always been told you can get malware and stuff, that way. I don't know what the "stuff" is, but I'm technophobic enough not to take any chances I can just as easily avoid. I'd rather decide for myself which emails I open than have my email client software deciding it for me.

FWIW, I really dont undersatnd why an agent with a dedicated email address needs it "attention" to them. (I totally do with an agency-wide slush address). I always find it mildly amusing when people query me at-- literally-- MandyHubbardQueries at Gmail-- and are all ATTENTION MANDY.

I guess we're all different! Good luck on your queries.