Hello, dreamers. With January fast approaching, I’m diving back into query prep. And that means the return of my long-running “Dear Sir or Madam” posts, documenting my querying journey. As of this writing, I’m already hard at work preparing for my next round of queries. Given the feedback I received on the last round, I’ve decided to make only minor adjustments to my materials for the time being. Instead, I’m focusing on my target strategy.

The positive feedback from the last round has left me with the impression that the problem (for once) isn’t my query materials or my novel; it’s who I’m sending them to. Previously, I’ve largely targeted new agents aggressively building their lists. However, I’ve begun feeling that such agents are more susceptible to industry trends. It’s understandable; when you’re new at something, obviously you’re going to follow the fashions of your industry. Build a list of clients, sell some books, learn a few things, and then you can be adventurous and try selling something more unusual. So this time around I’m targeting more established agents, in hopes of finding someone more receptive to a more innovative piece.

Longtime readers spent a good portion of the past year watching me prepare for my initial round of queries. But query prep changes a lot once you’ve gotten your feet wet. So this week, let’s explore what query prep looks like for a second (or third, or fourth) round of queries looks like.

Query Prep (Again)

So you wrote a book. Congratulations. Then you wrote a query letter, a synopsis, you put together your sample pages. You did your research on literary agents, and at long last you fired off a round of queries.

And then…nothing. Crickets.

It’s generally understood that most authors don’t find an agent on their first round of queries (or their second, statistically speaking). Few will even receive a full or even partial request. It does happen, just rarely. And that means if you’re going to the trouble of querying, you need to go in with a clear head. You need to accept that you’re in this for the long haul. Realistically, you should already be thinking about your next round of queries before you’ve even heard back on the last one.

Needless to say, query prep looks different once you’ve already sent out at least one round of queries. The good news is that now you already have the requisite materials, and (hopefully) none of them will need to be fully rewritten. That means you’re not starting from step one. But you’re still starting from step two or three. And there’s definitely a right way and a wrong way to start this.

In the end, as with all things, it all starts with your story itself.

Step One: The Post-Mortem

Alright, so we all know literature is subjective. It’s possible, sure, that you just happened to query the wrong agents. But the harsh reality is, if you fired off a round of ten or more queries and didn’t get any response beyond form rejections, something isn’t working. So before you go any further, you need to step back and fully assess everything.

I call this process the “Post-Mortem”. If you received any personalized feedback, then you’re extremely fortunate; that can help you save some time by knowing just where you need to start. If not, you’re on your own. Maybe.

This is the point where it can be very helpful to have critique partners. Even if none of your CPs have an agent or have even received full requests, it can be beneficial just to have a dispassionate pair of eyes on your work.

Step Two: The Manuscript

Like I said, it all starts with your story. A query letter can only be as good as the story it represents. I always say that, in both novels and short fiction, it’s good practice to make at least a light editing pass after every rejection. Maybe there’s nothing wrong with your story. But if you can see ways to improve it, what’s the harm in trying?

In particular, you want to focus on your opening pages, because those are the only pages most agents are certain to read. While the length of sample pages in a query varies, most agents ask for the first five pages. If you can’t hook them with those opening pages, you won’t get any requests to read more. The hook is always crucial, not only because agents need to want to read more, but because ultimately your hook will be what persuades readers to pick up your book and not put it right back down.

Starting with your manuscript is crucial because it will inform the rest of your materials. Any changes you make to the overall plot must be reflected in the synopsis, and substantial changes may alter your query letter as well.

Step Three: The Query Letter

Once you’ve made any necessary changes to your manuscript, you move on to the query letter. As I said above, major changes will necessitate changes to the QL as well. Beyond that, it’s always helpful to look for ways to make your query letter more compelling. Tighten sentences, make sure your constantly raising the stakes. Strike anything superfluous (excessive plot details, names of minor characters, etc.). Many agents won’t bother to read your sample pages if they don’t find your query letter enticing.

Step Four: The Synopsis

I usually tackle the synopsis last mainly because it’s the one of the three main query materials that isn’t always required. Many agents no longer ask for a synopsis, while others consider it optional. But if someone does ask for it, you’ll want it to be ready.

The key to writing a synopsis is to keep things moving rapidly. There’s a lot of advice out there for writing them, but I like to think of the idea synopsis as reading like the recap segment in a TV show. When writing the synopsis for my novel, I began by saying to myself, “Last time, on Seven Days on Samarkand“, and going from there.

It has to be concise. Just because you think something in the story is important doesn’t mean everyone will think so.

Step Five: Finding Agents

Once you’ve made any revisions to your query materials, it’s time to figure out where to send them. If you’ve already fired off a round of queries, your list is now shorter; some agents will say they’re open to resubmission of you’ve made significant changes to your story, but most are not. No means no, and it keeps meaning no.

This is the point where I am right now, and this is where query strategy comes into play. Finding the right agent isn’t as simple as looking for someone who reps your genre. Every agent has their likes and dislikes. As I’ve mentioned before, this is where Manuscript Wish List (MSWL) comes in handy. Most agents on MSWL go into greater detail on their pages about exactly what they’re looking for. Of course, not every agent is on MSWL. For those that are not, you might need to do some social media sleuthing, or just take a shot in the dark.

With your materials finalized and your target agents list set, you’re all ready to go. I’ll be sending my next round of queries out on January 2. To all my fellow query hopefuls, I say “Good luck”, and here’s hoping our latest round of query prep is our last.

It probably won’t be, but ours is a profession built upon hope. After all, if we didn’t think we’d succeed, we wouldn’t be doing this. – MK