What a Query Letter Does

A query letter is a short, professional pitch that helps an agent or editor quickly decide whether your manuscript deserves a closer look. In this lesson, you will learn what a query letter is meant to do, who it is written for, and how it functions as a business introduction rather than a summary of everything in your book.

You will also see the core job of a query letter: to present your project clearly, signal genre and market fit, and persuade the reader to request pages. By the end, you should understand the role of the query letter in the publishing process and what it is not supposed to do.