Queries… The Truth in Numbers

There comes a time in a writer’s life when they need to send a query to a publisher or agent to help move their published book dreams to reality. This can be an interesting and frightening time, full of angst. How do you write a one sentence hook that accurately summarizes your book and intrigues an editor/agent? How do you make your letter stand out? How do you know which no-nos to avoid? How do you allow your writer’s voice to come out in a business letter? How do you subtly add in the facts that you have garnered in your research of said agent or publisher? How, how, how?

(Four words for you on this one: research, AgentQuery Connect, and critiques.)

Once you figure you have that down in spades, you start sending the letters off. Then you wait. And wait. Your heart skips a beat whenever you open your email or see an envelope in your mailbox from an unfamiliar address. Eeek! Is it rejection or a request for more?

More often than not, it is likely a polite form letter saying ‘no.’ But then sometimes it is a ‘please send more, you’ve got my interest.’ And then you heart does a huge pitty-pitty-boom-boom that makes your heart do all sorts of funky beats and your head spin. Could this be it? Could this be the moment?

Good question. What are your odds? Folks in the industry have said that about 1 in 100 writers land an agent. Of those with an agent, about half of them manage to get their first book published. Gack! You mean it isn’t a sure thing once you’ve landed an agent. Sadly, no.

Back to queries. What is a good request rate on a good query letter? The numbers range from 10-30%. Seems like a lot doesn’t it? It is! (This number *does* vary a bit by genre.) Your query needs to be FABulous.

A little food for thought: The average agent can receive up to 100 queries a day. Every day. Sometimes more. Sometimes less. Of that 100, maybe one or two of those moves them enough to ask for a partial. If that is you, you are in the top percentile, aren’t you? And that feels pretty good.

A little more food for thought: About 70-80% of those queries you’re competing against, aren’t  that good. They aren’t serious, the queries don’t make sense, don’t talk about the book, are full of errors, or commit majorly heinous query faux pas (like bulk sends) and often are quickly and easily discarded.

So… If you aren’t snagging a request it means your query isn’t doing its job, OR your story is lacking something which shows in the query. For example, even if you have a stellar query, if you are late to a trend that is in its death throes… well, good luck and don’t expect a lot of requests.

A tip: Cold queries aren’t the only way to get an agent. Think blog contests where agents are involved, think conferences, think agent chats, think making yourself an online writerly commodity (what does that mean? Think moderator on writing sites, that sort of thing!). Find a way to make a connection with an agent. Think of a way to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Think of a way to show you are a professional. Think, think, think….

When you feel ready to query, there are lots of helpful sites (forums, agent blogs, agency websites, and a whole lot more!) out there to help you figure out how to put your best foot forward–and I urge you to make use of them. Make sure your writing is the absolute best it can be–there is no point using up your queries on the ‘best’ agents if you aren’t ready. Test that query. Do runs of 10 or so at a time. All rejections? Take a second look. Have someone else take another look. (Don’t forget to look at the first chapter you are sending along with it.) Make use of your resources and best of luck!