Generate professional query letters
AI creates agent-ready query letters with compelling hook, synopsis, author bio, and credentials following publishing industry standards.
Generate professional query letters
River's Query Letter Generator creates professional one-page pitch letters for literary agent submission. You provide book details including working title, genre, word count, story hook, brief synopsis, and author credentials. The AI generates industry-standard query letter with compelling opening hook, concise synopsis highlighting conflict and stakes, author bio emphasizing relevant credentials, and professional closing with requested materials. Generated queries follow agent submission guidelines increasing manuscript consideration chances.
Unlike generic business letters, query letters follow specific conventions agents expect: open with hook establishing genre and appeal, provide synopsis showing narrative arc without spoiling ending, position author credentials relevant to topic or writing ability, and close professionally requesting representation. The AI understands these conventions and structures content appropriately. It knows memoir queries emphasize author's unique perspective, business book queries focus on author platform and credentials, and fiction queries require compelling voice and plot stakes.
This tool is perfect for ghostwriters submitting client manuscripts to traditional publishers, authors seeking agent representation who need professional query guidance, or writers confused by query letter conventions. If you have complete manuscript ready for agent submission but struggle distilling it into one compelling page, or if you've received form rejections suggesting query isn't working, professional query generation helps. Use it after manuscript completion when ready to pursue traditional publishing through agent representation.
What Makes Query Letters Successful
Query letters are sales documents disguised as professional correspondence. Agents receive 100-500 queries weekly. Most get 30-60 seconds of attention before rejection or request for manuscript. Your query must hook immediately, demonstrate commercial viability, prove author credibility, and follow professional standards—all in single page. Weak queries bury the hook in backstory, summarize plot exhaustively without showing stakes, emphasize irrelevant author credentials, or violate formatting conventions. Strong queries make agents think 'I need to read this manuscript' within first paragraph.
The opening paragraph is critical. Generic openings ('I am seeking representation for my memoir...') waste precious space stating the obvious. Strong openings hook with conflict or voice: 'When my business partner disappeared with $2 million, I had 72 hours to save the company or lose everything.' This immediately establishes genre (business memoir), stakes (financial ruin), and conflict (time pressure). The opening must make agent want to know what happens next. If opening is bland, agent stops reading regardless of how good synopsis or credentials are.
Common query mistakes include: wrong genre identification (calling memoir 'nonfiction novel'), inappropriate word count (150,000-word debut business book), comparing to wrong titles (citing literary fiction when yours is commercial), emphasizing irrelevant credentials (PhD in physics for parenting memoir), or exceeding one page length. Agents have specific expectations. Queries violating conventions signal amateur writers who haven't researched industry. Even excellent manuscripts get rejected if queries suggest author doesn't understand professional publishing. Following conventions demonstrates you're serious, professional writer ready for publishing partnership.
What You Get
One-page query letter following industry standards for agent submission
Compelling opening hook establishing genre, stakes, and reader appeal immediately
Concise synopsis (150-250 words) showing narrative arc, conflict, and character transformation
Author bio emphasizing credentials relevant to manuscript topic or writing ability
Professional closing requesting representation with appropriate manuscript offer
Genre-appropriate positioning (memoir, business book, self-help, etc.) with correct comparisons
How It Works
- 1Provide manuscript detailsEnter title, genre, word count, story hook, synopsis, author credentials, and comparable titles (5-10 minutes)
- 2AI generates query letterSystem creates professional one-page query following agent submission standards (5 minutes)
- 3Customize and refineReview generated query, adjust voice to match manuscript, verify all details accurate
- 4Submit to agentsPersonalize for each agent and submit following their specific guidelines
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I send same query to all agents or customize each one?
Core query content (hook, synopsis, bio) stays consistent, but ALWAYS customize opening paragraph for each agent. Reference specific clients they represent or statements they've made showing you researched them: 'I'm querying you because you represented [Author]'s [Title], which shares [your book]'s focus on [topic].' Generic queries signal mass submission without research. Personalized opening shows you're serious about working with that specific agent. Takes 5 minutes per query but dramatically increases response rates.
How long should query letter synopsis be?
150-250 words maximum for synopsis within one-page query. This is not full book summary—it's compelling taste demonstrating narrative arc and stakes. Focus on: protagonist/subject, their goal or problem, obstacles faced, and transformation or outcome. Leave readers wanting more. For memoir: your unique situation, challenge faced, journey taken, growth achieved. For business book: problem you solve, your unique solution, who benefits, credibility. Agents request full manuscript if intrigued. Synopsis goal is intrigue, not comprehensive summary.
Do I mention if manuscript is ghostwritten in query?
Generally no. Query represents credited author seeking representation for their book. Ghostwriting is production detail, not marketing point. Exception: If query explicitly positions you as ghostwriter seeking representation for your client (rare—usually client or their team handles agent submissions), then yes, clarify relationship upfront. For most ghostwriting: you write query on client's behalf, they sign it and submit as author. Agent relationship is with author, not ghostwriter. Your involvement isn't relevant to agent's representation decision.
What author credentials matter most in queries?
For memoir: life experience making story unique and credible. For business books: professional expertise, platform reach (speaking, media, social following), previous publications. For fiction: previous publications, MFA (optional), writing awards. What doesn't matter: unrelated graduate degrees, irrelevant jobs, personal information. Every credential included must answer 'Why should readers/agents care about this?' If your PhD in chemistry isn't relevant to parenting memoir you wrote, omit it. Platform matters enormously for non-fiction—agents want authors who can market books through existing audiences.
Should I include manuscript status in query?
Yes—state manuscript is complete with exact word count. Never query unfinished manuscripts except literary fiction where agents sometimes accept proposals with sample chapters. For memoir and business books: manuscript must be 100% complete before querying. Agents want to know immediately if they can read full manuscript now versus waiting months for you to finish. If manuscript isn't done, wait. Also specify if manuscript has been previously self-published or if you're querying simultaneously (multiple agents at once), as some agents want exclusivity.
How do I choose comparable titles for query?
Select 2-3 books published within last 5 years in same genre with similar themes, tone, or audience—but not so famous they're unrealistic comparisons. Good: 'Will appeal to readers of [midlist successful book] and [another relevant title].' Bad: 'The next Educated by Tara Westover' (too presumptuous). Comps show you understand market positioning and current genre landscape. Research recent books in your category agent represents or their imprint publishes. Avoid citing classics or mega-bestsellers as comparisons—choose recent successes demonstrating you know current market.
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