33 Querying FAQ by Laura Galán-Wells
- Laura Galan-Wells
- Aug 22
- 15 min read
Updated: Sep 9
I am by no means a querying expert, but I did have an out of the ordinary querying journey (with 87 partial/full requests on my first novel), and as a result, experienced more scenarios than most. Additionally, my shared knowledge stems from writer support networks, blogs, podcasts, and agent interviews.Disclaimer: There is no ONE WAY to handle querying that all writers or agents would agree on, much less that would ensure success. I’ll aim to speak in terms of what I have seen most often recommended.
1/ How do I know if I’m ready to query?
This is tricky, but here are some questions to ask yourself:
Have you researched the appropriate word count for your novel’s audience and genre?
Have you worked with multiple beta readers and/or critique partners?
Have you made the suggested changes that resonate with you (including some that may be sad/difficult to implement, but that you intuitively know will improve your novel)?
Have you gone through multiple revisions?
Are your characters 3-dimensional and differentiated from each other?
Have you used emotional physicality to show emotions versus telling us what the character’s emotions are?
Have you threaded world/plot details naturally into the story versus telling us the info?
Have you removed a sizable portion of unnecessary glue/sticky/filter words?
Have settings, sensory world details, and character appearances been described?
Have you read your dialogue out loud to see if it sounds natural?
Have you polished your query letter to near perfection?
2/ Should I have a website?
It’s not necessary, but it can be an asset if you have the time. A website makes you look serious about writing, and interested agents are likely to search for yours. There is no need to pay for one at this stage. A simple, free one works. No agent would reject you for not having one, so don’t stress if you don’t.
3/ Can I query before the novel is finished?
I would advise against it. You might get a request the very first day, and while agents don’t mind if you submit later, it’s best to send when they are excited and your query is fresh in their memory.
4/ Where can I find examples of queries?
Agent Eric Smith’s post: Resources & Query Tips Agent Samantha Wekstein’s post: The Query Letter that Turned Into an Offer (psst, it’s mine)
5/ Should I list my requests from agents/editors?
Some UK agents will ask you to notify them of agent requests, but that’s not typically the case in the US. That said, giving US agents FOMO (fear of missing out) could be a good thing, especially if you have an unusually high amount of agent/editor requests. Don’t email separately about it (unless it’s a UK agent who requests that), but you could include a sentence or two in your query letter, right below the salutation.
6/ Should I mention any awards/mentorships/grants I’ve received?
Absolutely. You are the product. Hype yourself in your bio.
7/ How long should my query letter be?
Ideally under 300 words total. Lead with your hook. Give specific and unique details that wouldn't be found in anyone else's novel, and leave the agent wanting to know more. If your novel doesn't have unique elements, or an exciting hook (a one liner that might be seen on a movie poster), consider adding them before querying.
8/ Where can I get free feedback on my query?
Facebook: Sub it Club
Reddit: PubTips (read their rules carefully on how to submit a query for feedback, using the QCrit tag)
9/ How do I know if a query response is personalized?
It can be very hard to tell. A lot of times, agents have a few preset rejections that include a compliment or two, and a weakness or two. If they include something that is unique about your novel, it’s more likely to be personalized. If you search for the agent on QueryTracker.net and others have shared rejections that look awfully similar to yours, it might not be personalized.
10/ Should I include content warnings?
This is optional, but most agents appreciate them, and more and more writers are including them, usually at the end of the query letter. Resource: List of Trigger and Content Warnings
11/ Any organizational tips before querying?
Create your own bookmarks folder on your desktop browser with:
Your query
Your one page synopsis
Your two page synopsis
Your first 5/10/20/25 pages
Your full manuscript
A document with the answers to FAQ like: Who do you think is the audience of this book? What books would yours sit next to? What was your inspiration for writing this book?
Your spreadsheet (even if you also use QueryTracker.net) with rows such as Agent, Notes, Agency, Date Received/Rejected/Requested, Feedback
12/ Should I query in batches?
Many writers do a rolling system. For example, they send out 10-20 queries, and then each time they get a rejection, they send a new one to replace it. In the olden days (pre-pandemic), the advice was to send a batch of 10, and then wait to get feedback from all of them to gauge whether a revision might be in order before querying the next batch. Unfortunately, the rates of agents sending form rejections or ghosting are much higher nowadays, and it can even take up to a year or longer to hear back, so many writers query as many agents as they can as fast as they can (it's a very time-consuming endeavor) once they're sure they have a polished product.
13/ What is a good request rate?
When I last peeked at QueryTracker.net, the average request rate was 6%. Don’t get nervous if you see much higher percentages stated as good request rates. Those may be from pre-pandemic, an unusually hooky book (it has a unique elevator pitch that immediately grabs your attention), or some other anomaly. It’s also possible that your query letter could use another look, or that your sample pages could need refinement, but keep in mind that you are competing with hundreds of other talented writers. A lot of this game is luck---finding that one person who clicks with your book at the right time.
14/ Where can I research agents?
Search #MSWL on Twitter/X
Google each agent and search for interviews on podcasts or Youtube
Agents often have a manuscript wish list on their agency website
Writer groups on Discord, Reddit, and Facebook
Note that even if an agent’s manuscript wish list seems like a great match, it may still be a rejection. The same concept can be done a thousand different ways. It’s why you also shouldn’t panic if another writer has a similar concept to yours (this happens ALL the time, there are only so many possible combinations). The main thing is going to be your voice… Either they like it or they don’t, and they often know quickly. And then there are countless variables beyond that they could be looking at.
15/ How do I decide which agents to query first?
You could look at how long agents take to respond (via QueryTracker.net) and do only fast responders for a first test round. The thinking is that if you get early repeated feedback you vibe with and decide to revise, or an R&R, the slower responders (6 months to 1 year or longer) might still not have gotten to your work yet and you can send them a new version (though that is likely to reset you to the end of their queue). But as stated above, less and less agents have been giving personalized query rejections over time, so it might not be worth trying to do rounds.
When choosing which agent to query first within an agency, you may have to go with your intuition (unless you are in a writer group and can ask around). Variables could include how fast they take to respond on average, whether they respond to most/all of their queries, and their wish list.
16/ Should you query a second manuscript at the same time as the first?
Why not, go for it! The logistics can get complicated (which is why I recommend keeping your own spreadsheet), but it could land you an agent sooner.
17/ Is getting a lot of form rejections a bad sign?
I did a very informal poll on Twitter the summer of 2024, and roughly half of respondents had zero personalized query rejections, while roughly half got 5-10% personalized query rejections. It is perfectly normal to not get personalized query rejections. It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with your novel. That said, if you get the same personalized feedback more than once, and it resonates with you, it might be something to keep in mind should you choose to revise down the line.
18/ Is there a best time of the year to query?
Anytime the agent is open to queries. They could close to queries at any time, so get in while you can. People get offers from agents every month of the year.
19/ Can you query more than one agent at the same agency?
Usually yes, just not at the same time. Some agencies will have limits such as NFONFA (no from one means no from all).
Note that Query Manager shows agents who you’ve queried from their agency. Make sure that you’ve withdrawn a query before submitting to another. I had a case where an agent notified me that they were auto rejecting all of their fulls for life reasons, and then another agent I queried to take their place (it was a NFONFA agency) thought I was trying to cheat the system. I’ve seen this happen to others and it’s upsetting when you have no way to explain to the agent so be aware that can happen.
A similar situation is when the agency all shares one email. Look carefully to see what their rules are. When they say you can email the agency at large or a specific agent, it seems as if people are more likely to get requests when they specify an agent. Generally I found these very awkward when I had any unusual situations like pitch requests, referrals, or R&Rs. Emails to a group email were more likely to go unanswered. Best case scenario is an agent from such an agency gives you their direct email ASAP.
20/ Should I reply when rejected?
Generally not if it’s a query rejection, but it might be nice to send a quick thank you if the agent has read your partial/full and given personalized feedback. Some agents have said they appreciate a quick note, but it isn't expected. It is entirely up to you.
21/ How do you ask a question if Query Manager has the note option closed?
Sometimes agents have the option toggled off and don’t realize, or close out a QM in a way that you can’t ask your question. This can be a bit pressing if they offer you an R&R (revise and resubmit) and you want to ask a clarifying question or need to know how to send it to them.
In these cases, writers sometimes have luck sending a direct message on Twitter/Instagram/Bluesky, or replying to a Twitter/Instagram/Bluesky post asking the agent if they can ask a quick question. ONLY if you are absolutely sure the agent would want to hear from you again, you may also try a direct email if it’s listed on their website (or searchable elsewhere). I have had to do this a few times after something was closed out on QM, and each time, the agent acknowledged that they had forgotten to provide their direct email.
22/ Should I query an agent who rejected me with the next project?
When asked, agents tend to say that you should send future novels. A past novel may have been wrong for their list at that point in time. And especially if it was a query rejection, and even possibly with a partial/full rejection, they may not have read too far in. But it may be safer to try a different agent at the agency just in case it was a voice or writing style mismatch.
23/ Should I mention if they’ve rejected my previous novel’s query/partial/full?
Agents tend to say that there’s no need to mention they rejected a past project because it doesn’t make them more or less likely to reject your current one, but some writers feel an agent may be biased against them if they know they’ve rejected before, and prefer to leave it out. An exception to that would be if the agent gave you a personalized rejection and invited you to submit future work, then definitely mention that at the top of your query letter, right below the salutation.
On a personal note, I began querying my second novel before I got an offer on my first, which resulted in some complicated email exchanges. Two of the agents who had requested and rejected my first novel and then requested my second novel prewarned me that they still wouldn’t want to rep my first novel if they took on the second. And a third divulged the same after I specifically asked. So this can be good information to have, and I wouldn’t have gotten it if I hadn’t reminded them that they rejected an earlier novel.
That said, many agents are happy to work on your backlist (books you’ve written in the past) down the line. It’s very individual, and warrants asking about.
24/ If I have a pen name do I have to query with my legal name?
No, you don’t have to reveal your legal name until it’s time to sign a contract. Some choose to include theirs in their query letter bio, but you can save the information until after you get an offer. Do whatever feels comfortable.
25/ Should I use the agent’s first name or last name?
It is safest to use 'Dear First Name' so you don’t accidentally use the wrong honorific/pronouns.
26/ Should I personalize each query?
Some do in the hopes it makes the agent read more attentively. Others feel it does not make enough of a difference to justify the extra time, and may make you too emotionally invested in an agent who, odds are, will reject regardless of personalization.
Agents are split on this as well. Some say they like personalization that is specific (perhaps referencing a client of theirs or something from their wish list), but not at a stalker level (don't reference something they posted on Instagram four years ago). Others say it makes no difference to them and you should save your time.
27/ Is it over if I make a mistake?
Don’t fret! Agents make mistakes too when communicating with writers or fellow publishing professionals. Mistakes are part of being human and most agents will graciously brush it off if you apologize (or even if you don't). Note that many agents have said there is no need to email them about typos. Most agents will very graciously forgive you whatever error. And if they don’t, then IMO you probably don’t want to work with them. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. That’s just part of being human.
Here are some accidental mistakes I’ve made while querying:
Called an agent the wrong name
Called a different agent the wrong name
Queried two agents at the same agency
Queried an agent whose QM was linked on a website but they were actually closed
Due to a spreadsheet entry error, I offered my revision to an agent who had never even requested my full in the first place. I referenced her past full request that didn’t exist because she rejected my query (to this day I’m paranoid that she thinks I tried to pull one over on her)
Sent multiple agents a copy of my manuscript with my critique partner’s comments still attached.
28/ How is querying different pre-pandemic to now?
This predates me because I began querying in 2021 (too early, though I didn’t realize it at the time) and got an agent in 2022, but if you were querying in the before times and are just coming back to it, form rejections are more likely on both queries and partial/full rejections, and it is more likely for queries, partials/fulls, and even R&Rs (!!!) to never get a response. Aka ghosting.
29/ Is it true you need to hire an editor post-pandemic to get an agent?
As a general rule, I would say no, in that you can find many free resources, use beta readers (people who read your novel and leave comments) and critique partners (a fellow writer you exchange work with and give feedback at a deeper level), read craft books, pour through the Chicago Manual of Style, check spellings in Merriam-Webster (the dictionary of choice in publishing), and heavily revise your novel multiple times. Some agents are editorial and are okay with novels not getting them in a shelf-ready state (though they would still want them as polished as possible), while others expect the novel in a state that is ready to go straight on submission to editors.
On a biased note, as an editor myself (and Tessera Editorial alumnus) doing developmental/structural editing, line editing, copy editing, and sensitivity/authenticity reading, I know there are some who would benefit from some degree of editing prior to querying/self-publishing, because they have been among my clients. Some prefer to budget for editing, knowing the amount of time it would take to do/learn on their own. And what they learn from an editor’s notes and suggestions can then be applied to future projects. If your budget does not allow for paid editing, there are many free resources you can work through. It is common for a writer to spend months revising a novel prior to querying. Be sure to take that time. I promise it will pay off!
On a personal note, even though I read craft books, had beta readers and critique partners, and revised my first novel multiple times prior to querying it, it definitely needed more work, but I didn't know what I didn't know. I started to query it too soon. I was lucky to get a free partial developmental edit from Carly Hayward (of RevPit fame) via her team’s Light Up Voices. You can see my testimonial of Carly’s edit here. I spent 100+ hours implementing her developmental editing suggestions, so that should tell you how much valuable feedback she gave me, and how long a round of revision can take.
If you are very, very lucky, you may be able to score a spot in a mentorship program, such as the aforementioned RevPit, or RoundTableMentor.com (which I’ve mentored with in 2024 and 2025). I say lucky because as a mentor, I can tell you that you see so many projects you know you would love, but you can only pick one. Like querying, it is primarily a game of luck.
Even as an editor and mentor, and with years of writing under my belt now, I rely on beta readers, critique partners, and my very editorial agent to give me valuable feedback on my novels. There will always be aspects you will not realize need improvement because you are too close to the work.
30/ When do you give up on a query?
Check QueryTracker.net to see the agent’s average response times. Has the agent responded to people who have queried before or after you? Note that not all agents read in order. For example, some read one age group or genre at a time. If your query looks skipped, it might be in a maybe pile, with the agent waiting until they have enough time to read your sample pages. Some agents may take a year or longer to get to your query.
Some writers choose an arbitrary amount of time like 3 months or 6 months or 9 months to close out a query (this can be done via email or QM), then move on to querying someone different at the agency. If there is nobody else to query at the agency, you might as well leave it open indefinitely (how I got a full request two years after I got an agent).
Consider that any open query is someone you can notify if you get an offer in the future, or if you ever find yourself in a position of needing a new agent. And some agents will not respond to a query unless you notify them of an offer. This can include agents that seemingly don’t reply to anyone, so most writers don’t even bother querying them. If they’re the only one who’s a good match at an agency, it's worth sending them your query so you can notify them of an offer if needed.
31/ When should I nudge an agent?
Some agents/agencies specifically say to nudge after a certain amount of time. If they don’t, I suggest nudging at the six month mark, and then every three months afterwards.
An example: “I sent you TITLE on DATE. I am unsure if you have had time to take a look, or if it’s a no response means no situation? I did not want to query a different agent at AGENCY without checking in with you at the X month mark.”
32/ What do I send if they request a partial/full?
Most agents want the manuscript in .docx form so default to this if they don’t specify. Some want it in .pdf form but that is rare and they would specify.
If they ask for fifty pages, that is considered a partial request. If they don’t specify how much to send, send the full manuscript. If in doubt, send the full manuscript.
If they ask for a synopsis, attach that separately if emailing, unless they specify that they want it in the body of the email. If they don’t specify the length, send a single spaced one that is one page long.
Some writers will include their query letter on the first page of the partial/full manuscript they send in to remind the agent of what they requested should they read it way down the line. This is also a good place to include content warnings.
33/ How do I know when to shelve a book?
A common minimum benchmark is to aim for 100 query rejections, and some writers award themselves gold stars on a chart (or similar) until they reach that goal. That said, some genre/age combos don’t have 100 experienced/well-trained agents (agencies differ in how much mentorship their agents get), and you should never feel pressured to continue querying if you need a break or feel done for whatever reason.
Shelving is a difficult decision, but it’s not always the end. You could do a major revision at some future date when there are lots of new agents, and ask agents who rejected if they’d like a second look. A future agent or editor might ask to see your backlist. You could submit it to small presses, or self-publish.
***
Thank you for reading! I hope some of this was helpful. If in doubt, go with your gut and remember there are no rules in querying! Only suggestions :)
Make your querying journey as unique as you are.
Feel free to also read my blog posts: How I Got My Agent (After 86 Requests) R&R Revise & Resubmit FAQ.
Comments