How to query in 2024 and 2025
The
How to query
Before I tell you anything, I’m going to tell you this. Querying is an art, not a science. What works for one person won’t work for another. Everything in this list is a guideline, not a rule. That is to say, if you try something and it’s not working…try something else. What I’ve captured here is just the collected wisdom I’ve gathered from friends and through my own journey starting December 2019 and ending in May 2023. To read more about my query journey, check out my How I Got My Agent post.
And now…
The guidelines and suggestions
1. Use multiple sources of information to find your agents
Make a list. Ask everyone you know for dirt. Ask current and past clients if you can. Unfortunately, querying works in whisper networks, so you have to do a little work to dig up useful information on agents to avoid.
As for agents to query, check their agency website. Check their mswl.com entries. Check their social media, especially MSWL posts. Check interviews they’ve done. Pick agents who fit your novel.
2. Pick as many agents as you’d reasonably want to work with
Gather all of your agents together. If you have ten, that’s probably way too few. If you have 100, that’s probably too many. Find a sweet spot where you have lots of choices but you’d be genuinely excited to work with each and every one.
3. Don’t self-reject
Big name agent? Query them. Not sure if your novel counts exactly for their MSWL item? Query them. Don’t send something that’s a clear and hard NO, but if you’re just unsure? Query them! Let them reject you. Don’t reject yourself.
4. Don’t worry about batches
This is a ymmv but from what I’ve heard over the last year or so, very few people are receiving any kind of feedback on queries or pages. Batching might be good if you’re not confident about your query (no requests in 15, for example, could be a sign to retool your query or pages) but if you’re confident in your query and pages, I wouldn’t bother batching. Everything takes so long that it’s just going to slow you down.
5. Expect to wait a long time
CNR (closed no response) queries occur when the agent just never responds to you. This is becoming harder and harder to gauge with some agents taking a year or more to reply to queries. Use sites like querytracker.com to help you gauge standard response times, as well as agency submission guidelines.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Make sure you read all agency materials first. But if you have a special question (like “Hey, you liked my pitch but your other agent already rejected me! Can I query you?”) don’t be afraid to ask the agent through social media. If you’re polite, they should be too. If they’re not, that’s diagnostic.
7. Don’t avoid agents who ask for synopses
They’re really not that hard to write! Check out Susan Dennard’s One Page Synopsis worksheet and write up a simple one. Don’t cut off a bridge just because you have to write one more thing. But seriously, I’ve had people tell me this. Don’t do it!
Good luck!
As I said above, none of these things are hard and fast rules. Your querying style will vary. But hopefully it helps you get started!
If you have other questions, ask them in the comments!