The query letter is the first stage of the book publication process. Learn how to write it right. By ghostwriters Barry Fox and Nadine Taylor.

1. How to Write a
Winning Query Letter
10 essential steps
By Barry Fox & Nadine Taylor
Ghostwriters of memoirs, business books, and more
www.BarryFox.us

2. The query letter – first step
in the publishing process
A query letter is a written request that an agent
represent your book.
We’re Barry Fox and Nadine Taylor, ghostwriters
of bestselling business books, memoirs and
more.
Many of our clients have asked us how to write a
successful query letter. We’ve written many, so
we know the ropes. Here’s what we tell them…

3. Keep it short!
Before you start, be aware that one page is
plenty. Attention spans are short.
Be concise and zero in on what’s most
interesting and saleable about your book and
yourself.
As literary agent Andrea Brown says, “A query
letter should be like a skirt. Long enough to
cover everything, but short enough to be
exciting.”

4. #1 – Open with the proper greeting
Always begin with a standard greeting, as in “Dear Ms.
Smith” or “Dear John White.”
Address your query to a specific agent at a specific
literary agency - and spell his or her name properly.
Agents are unimpressed with query letters that are
addressed to someone else, to the agency as a whole,
or “To Whom It May Concern.”

5. #2 – Give a little taste of your
writing style
Utilize your book’s writing style throughout the query
letter.
Don’t just say that your book will be funny or
dramatic, show a bit of humor or drama in the query.
If it’s a serious book, adopt a more serious tone in
the query letter.
But don’t go overboard. Remember, the query is a
business letter.

6. #3 – Lay out the book’s hook
The hook is an intriguing statement that answers three
key questions:
• What’s different about this book?
• Who cares?
• What will I gain by reading it?
For example, “Medical doctors are terrible at picking
cost-effective treatments, a failing which accounts for
an annual $20 billion in excess medical costs.”
What’s different? It’s a surprising charge leveled at
doctors. Who cares? We who pay for it. And what will I
gain? A way to cut unnecessary medical expenses.

7. #4 – Present the book’s basic details
Clearly spell out the basic book information:
• title
• subtitle (if any)
• word count
• genre
• target audience (who will buy your book and why)
For example, “I’m seeking representation for The
Financially Strapped Millennial’s Retirement Manual, a
65,000 word guide to financial success for millennials
who are struggling to pay their rent, yet hope to retire
comfortably at a relatively young age.”

8. #5 – Explain why you’re contacting
this agent
Be sure to mention why you’re querying this particular
agent. You don’t want the agent to feel like she’s just
another name!
Perhaps it’s because the agent represents books similar
to yours, or has mentioned liking your type of book in a
Twitter feed.
You might say, “I’m contacting you because your
‘manuscript wish list’ said…” or “In your Twitter feed,
you said that you liked books in this genre…”

9. #6 – Identify your target audience
Briefly explain who the book is written for.
Don’t say it’s for “everyone who drives a car” or
“everyone who thinks that Wall Street is harming
Main Street.”
Instead, identify your target audience precisely,
showing the agent that you know exactly who
you’re writing for and have aimed your book at
them.
For example, “This book is for the 5 million
millennials who live paycheck to paycheck and are
stuck living with their parents.”

10. #7 – Describe your author platform
Your “author platform” is made up of all the ways you
will connect with your target audience.
This includes your social media engagement, all of your
relevant radio and TV appearances, speeches that
you’ve given, and so on.
Mention only the highlights of your author platform; the
details will be spelled out in your book proposal.
For more on this, see “How to Build Your Author
Platform – 8 Key Steps.”

11. #8 – Tell how you’ll help sell the book
Briefly explain what you will do to promote and sell your
book.
This can include:
• upcoming shows or lectures you’ve already booked
• articles by or about you scheduled to appear around
the time your book is released
• VIPs who will endorse your book
• groups that will support it
…and anything else that demonstrates how you’ll help
sell a lot of copies.

12. #9 – Briefly describe who you are
Explain who you are and why you’re qualified to write
this book.
For example, “I’m a professor at Harvard University…”
or “As a financial advisor with 30 years of experience…”
or “Having raised two children with disabilities…”
If relevant, you can also touch upon your education,
professional publications, inventions, awards you’ve
received, and anything else that qualifies you to write
this book.

13. #10 – Wrap it up with a proper closing
Close the letter by thanking the agent for reading your
query.
Don’ts:
• Don’t hint that you expect to hear back within a
certain period of time.
• Don’t say you’ll be coming to town and would like to
meet with her.
• Don’t talk about your dreams of landing on the
bestseller list.
• Don’t mention that you have 16 more ideas.
Just thank the agent and sign off!

14. Do You Need Help Writing
Your Book?
We’re Barry Fox and Nadine Taylor, bestselling
professional ghostwriters of business books,
memoirs and more.
Check out our Testimonials Page to find out what
clients have said about working with us, then
call us at 818-917-5362.
We’d love to talk to you about your exciting
book project!