A few quick Questions about Queries

[brandisb]

Okay so I've been looking at the how the query's are supposed to be laid out. my question is where do you put your name, address, number..etc? Seems silly to ask that but anyway. Also which way seems to work better?

Dear agent,

xxx stuff about agent

xxx book summary

xxx stuff about writer

or something like this..

Dear agent,

xxx book summary

xxx stuff about writer

xx stuff about agent...

I don't know. This is all so confusing for one page!

And last but not least....  how often should I expect an agent to come back with "I need a synopsis"

Gosh I think that's all lol 

[farseer]

Are you talking about snail mail or email queries?
If it was snail mail my inclination would be to lay it out like a business letter.

For email I don't bother with contact details, I just add my email addy to my signature. Although, since I live in New Zealand, I always add the fact I am outside the US.

If I get a full request my first page includes all my relevant contact information.

Synopsis are a different creature, it depends what each agent wants. You need to read the submission guidelines for each agent you intend to query.
Some want a synopsis as part of the query, some might ask for it when requesting partials/fulls and others don't ask for one at all 

[JeanneG]

Here is what I do for email queries. Others may take a different approach.

Dear AgentName,

(Maybe some stuff about agent)
Pitch (which is a little different than a book summary) Think sales pitch. You are teasing the agent with characters, situation, and complications, trying to make them want to know what is going to happen next.

Title of book, genre, word count. (Sometimes I put stuff about agent here instead.)

Bio

Best Regards,
My Name
email
address
phone #s
(sometimes I add links to my website and blog)

That's it. I rarely include anything about the agent unless it's really specific, such as I won a pitch contest or met them at a conference. In my experience, most agents just want to read your pitch to see if it's something they're interested in.

Unless they ask for a synopsis in their guidelines, I wouldn't worry about it. You may get asked for a synopsis, however, if they request a partial. I've had that happen a few times.

JeanneG

[archetype]

I always include a phone number in my signature when I'm emailing agents -- once in a while you'll get one who really likes something and finds it easier to call rather than email back.

[ChokeCherry]

I always include my address, phone and email after my 'signature'. Like farseer, I live out of the country, and assume that they'll notice that when they see the entire address. (If I didn't mention it in the bio)

[brandisb]

Thanks all!! That clears things up a bit. 

[MelanieRGolden]

Hey there!

Generally for email queries, this is the format I use.


Dear AGENT,

-Hook

-Short summary (1-2 paragraphs)

-Book conclusion with word count, title, genre

-about you, publishing creds, etc.

Thank you for your consideration,

Your Name

Of course, it varies, but thats the gist of it. I don't usually like adding an agent blurb because it takes too much time and most agents don't really need the ego boost. I suggest looking around at sample queries. There are a lot of good ones in this very forum.

Melanie