How to Find and Query Literary Agents

Your agent list should be built before you write a single query. Use QueryTracker, Publishers Marketplace, and the Manuscript Wishlist (MSWL) to find agents who actively represent your genre and are open to queries. Follow agents on social media to understand their taste and current wishlist.

Look at the acknowledgments pages of books similar to yours and find the agents who represented them. Cross-reference those names against the databases. Prioritize agents with recent sales in your category. An agent who hasn't sold a book in your genre in three years may not have the right relationships to place yours.

The first sentence of your query is everything. It should hook the agent the same way your opening chapter hooks a reader. Name your protagonist, their want, the conflict blocking them, and the stakes—all in two to three sentences. Then expand into a 200–250 word plot summary that covers the same ground in more detail without spoiling the ending.

What doesn't work: starting with rhetorical questions (“Have you ever wondered what it's like to…”), comparing your book to classics (“In the tradition of Hemingway”), or describing your book as “a page-turner that readers won't be able to put down.” Those phrases signal a writer who hasn't studied the market.

Many agents ask for a synopsis along with the query. A synopsis is a full plot summary that includes spoilers and covers all major story beats. It's typically one to two pages single-spaced. It's not a back-cover blurb. It tells the agent how the story ends and whether the plot holds together.

Write your synopsis in present tense. Introduce major characters by name in caps the first time. Focus on the main plot and major subplots—skip minor characters and tangential scenes. The synopsis is evidence that your plot is coherent, your ending is earned, and your pacing makes sense. A weak synopsis for a strong manuscript can still cost you a request.

Agents consistently say they appreciate personalization but can tell when it's fabricated. Only personalize if you have a genuine reason. You represented a book I love and think my manuscript would fit alongside it on your list. I heard your MSWL post and my book matches what you described. I met you at a conference and you suggested I query you. These are real reasons.

Do not personalize by saying “I read your website and you represent great books.” That's not personalization. If you don't have a genuine connection, skip it and let your book description carry the letter. Most successful queries are not personalized at all—they're just well-written.

Every working author who went the traditional route has a rejection pile. Hundreds of queries sent, form rejections, the occasional helpful note, and the long silence of agents who never replied. Rejections are not assessments of your talent. They're decisions based on market fit, timing, agent capacity, and taste.

What you can do with them: look for patterns. If multiple agents say the same thing—pacing issues, genre confusion, unclear stakes—take that seriously. If rejections are generic form responses, they tell you nothing except to keep going. Give yourself one day to feel bad, then revise or keep sending. The writers who get agents are the ones who didn't stop querying.

When an agent offers representation, you have 24 to 48 hours to notify any other agents who have your full or partial manuscript. Most agents respect this timeline and will read quickly if you tell them you have an offer. This is called “going on submission” from the agent side, but first you need to evaluate the offer itself.

Talk to the offering agent on the phone before accepting. Ask about their editorial vision for your book, their submission strategy, how they communicate with clients, and how long they've been agenting. Ask for references from current clients. A good agent is a long-term career partner, not just a door-opener. Take the call seriously.