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The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents: From Rejection to Representation in 8 Steps
The confusion and guessing games of the querying process end here. From two industry experts who built and work with the tools literary agents use daily, a step-by-step, proven guide for turning queries into representation, backed by real data and exclusive insights from over four million queries.
For the first time ever, aspiring authors have access to unprecedented querying data that transforms guesswork into strategic action. More than 500,000 authors have used QueryTracker and QueryManager to send queries, creating the largest database of querying interactions in publishing history. This treasure trove of real-world data reveals exactly what works—and what doesn’t—when approaching literary agents.
Gone are the days of relying on contradictory online advice or outdated industry wisdom. Written by industry experts Alyssa Matesic, a developmental editor with Big Five publishing experience, and Patrick McDonald, creator of the industry’s leading querying platforms, this comprehensive guide walks you through every step of the querying journey, from knowing when you’re ready to query to interpreting rejections and everything in between.
Through this essential resource, you’ll master the complete querying process and gain the practical tools
Write compelling query letters that stand out in crowded inboxes using proven techniques from successful queries Identify and target the right agents for your specific book using data-driven selection methods Set realistic expectations for response times, rejection rates, and the overall timeline to representation Navigate agent interactions professionally and strategically throughout the entire process Interpret rejections constructively and know when and how to revise your approach
Immediately applicable and encouraging throughout, this essential guide transforms the dreaded “querying trenches” into a navigable pathway to your publishing dreams.
For the first time ever, aspiring authors have access to unprecedented querying data that transforms guesswork into strategic action. More than 500,000 authors have used QueryTracker and QueryManager to send queries, creating the largest database of querying interactions in publishing history. This treasure trove of real-world data reveals exactly what works—and what doesn’t—when approaching literary agents.
Gone are the days of relying on contradictory online advice or outdated industry wisdom. Written by industry experts Alyssa Matesic, a developmental editor with Big Five publishing experience, and Patrick McDonald, creator of the industry’s leading querying platforms, this comprehensive guide walks you through every step of the querying journey, from knowing when you’re ready to query to interpreting rejections and everything in between.
Through this essential resource, you’ll master the complete querying process and gain the practical tools
Write compelling query letters that stand out in crowded inboxes using proven techniques from successful queries Identify and target the right agents for your specific book using data-driven selection methods Set realistic expectations for response times, rejection rates, and the overall timeline to representation Navigate agent interactions professionally and strategically throughout the entire process Interpret rejections constructively and know when and how to revise your approach
Immediately applicable and encouraging throughout, this essential guide transforms the dreaded “querying trenches” into a navigable pathway to your publishing dreams.
- GenresWritingNonfictionCrafts
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2026
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June 24, 2026I read this from the perspective of an agented author who hopes to never have to query again, but gives a lot of querying advice to unagented authors.
Overall, this is a very solid and useful guide that I would definitely recommend to querying authors seeking an overview of the process, albeit rather biased towards QueryTracker over email queries (understandable given who the authors are, and tbh, I did greatly prefer to use QT when possible as a querying author). I thought the graphs and data were particularly interesting. However, I have a few quibbles with it that prevent me from recommending it 100%.
First, the authors repeatedly say that queriers should expect feedback from agents and should therefore batch queries. This advice was already out of date five years ago.
Second, and more significantly, I'm immensely disappointed that they actually recommended using ChatGPT to "research" comp titles. Not only is generative AI usage unethical, directly harming the authors whose data the authors of this book are using, but chatbots are also well-known to hallucinate titles. Even without the ethical concerns, this is extremely poor advice.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.
Overall, this is a very solid and useful guide that I would definitely recommend to querying authors seeking an overview of the process, albeit rather biased towards QueryTracker over email queries (understandable given who the authors are, and tbh, I did greatly prefer to use QT when possible as a querying author). I thought the graphs and data were particularly interesting. However, I have a few quibbles with it that prevent me from recommending it 100%.
First, the authors repeatedly say that queriers should expect feedback from agents and should therefore batch queries. This advice was already out of date five years ago.
Second, and more significantly, I'm immensely disappointed that they actually recommended using ChatGPT to "research" comp titles. Not only is generative AI usage unethical, directly harming the authors whose data the authors of this book are using, but chatbots are also well-known to hallucinate titles. Even without the ethical concerns, this is extremely poor advice.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.
Want to Read
April 14, 2026alyssa matesic is an INCREDIBLE advice giver when it comes to publishing and writing ... i WILL be reading this. if ur a writer put this in your tbr now
August 29, 2026
A book that lives up to its name, for better and worse, unfortunately. The pros: the authors are experts who have created a lot of helpful material (Alyssa Matesic) and products (Patrick McDonald) that any querying author should be familiar with and use regularly. This book is authoritative and based on data, not on anyone's gut feelings. The data is genuinely enlightening and sheds light on the querying process in a way that many blogs and book coaches and magazines just can't match. It brings QueryTracker's and QueryManager's data out into the open in a way those other sources just can't match. Honestly, Writer's Digest isn't going to be able to compete. Any advice based on anecdotes should be turned down in favor of this book. If that makes it worth your money, then you can stop reading this review.
However, because most of the reviews I'm seeing are positive, I feel compelled to be the bad guy and mention what else makes this guide to querying literary agents a bit too modern.
First off, this guide is mostly for beginners. That makes sense, it's the widest audience, but neither the title nor the book description make that clear. The endorsements on the back basically say any author can benefit from it, and that's true when interpreted fairly broadly. As just one example, this book has in-text boxes explaining self-explanatory terms that any querying author already knows. For example "full request" and "partial request" should be overtly clear to anyone with enough grasp of English to write a novel. If you haven't picked up what a "slush pile" is then you need to join a writing group immediately. You certainly shouldn't be querying.
As another example, the authors repeatedly state that you WILL get rejections. Don't be a baby. I just don't get who that kind of paternalistic tone appeals to, at least among adults. If this book weren't full of useful data, I'd think it was written for teenagers who want to try their hands at querying. The good ol' Writer's Market took it for granted that authors understood the cold hard reality and got on to the useful information.
Another thing that shows this book is aimed at beginners is who the authors think is an experienced author. "If you've queried significantly (30+ queries)..." begins the end of the introduction. Dude, those are rookie numbers. I know successful authors who've received over 300 rejections. An average amount among friends from my earliest author days was 135 queries before getting an agent. And that was peak GoT-time when Grimdark fantasy deals were being handed out in cereal boxes. If you've been querying book after book or have had a literary agent before, this book might still be worth the money, but don't expect too much.
Finally there's the glaring omission from the data itself: there is no mention of market trends, variation in popularity between genres (among writers or among agents, publishing houses, or book consumers), or shifts in these variables and how such shifts might affect the success of a query. There is one mention of marketability in the entire book. One. Not even in the main text. It's a category in one of the graphs in the appendix, with no discussion by the authors. This might be because the authors want querying writers to focus on things they can control, but if the biggest factor in book sales is something the writer can't control, that deserves at least a mention and probably quite a bit more. I kinda just don't understand why this HUGE factor is omitted completely (and the authors would have to argue pretty hard that it wasn't completely omitted). The book market in terms of genre is dramatically different from how it was ten years ago. The fantasy genre is hardly recognizable anymore. And yet there's no data about this, or about how marketability affects querying, or any advice about what to do if that's a factor. That's pretty major. In face to face queries or interactions with literary agents, it's the first thing they mention. And yet this book doesn't mention it, not even to say why they don't. From a statistical perspective, none of the graphs or tables account for variations in demand between genres: mystery and romance and other easily-categorized and commercial genres have much more demand from agents and many more people writing in them. There's no mention (again) of how this might affect the success of a query. They have this data and I think they know how to handle it. Maybe most of their readers aren't statisticians like me so I can cut them a little slack, but again why not at least discuss it?
However, because most of the reviews I'm seeing are positive, I feel compelled to be the bad guy and mention what else makes this guide to querying literary agents a bit too modern.
First off, this guide is mostly for beginners. That makes sense, it's the widest audience, but neither the title nor the book description make that clear. The endorsements on the back basically say any author can benefit from it, and that's true when interpreted fairly broadly. As just one example, this book has in-text boxes explaining self-explanatory terms that any querying author already knows. For example "full request" and "partial request" should be overtly clear to anyone with enough grasp of English to write a novel. If you haven't picked up what a "slush pile" is then you need to join a writing group immediately. You certainly shouldn't be querying.
As another example, the authors repeatedly state that you WILL get rejections. Don't be a baby. I just don't get who that kind of paternalistic tone appeals to, at least among adults. If this book weren't full of useful data, I'd think it was written for teenagers who want to try their hands at querying. The good ol' Writer's Market took it for granted that authors understood the cold hard reality and got on to the useful information.
Another thing that shows this book is aimed at beginners is who the authors think is an experienced author. "If you've queried significantly (30+ queries)..." begins the end of the introduction. Dude, those are rookie numbers. I know successful authors who've received over 300 rejections. An average amount among friends from my earliest author days was 135 queries before getting an agent. And that was peak GoT-time when Grimdark fantasy deals were being handed out in cereal boxes. If you've been querying book after book or have had a literary agent before, this book might still be worth the money, but don't expect too much.
Finally there's the glaring omission from the data itself: there is no mention of market trends, variation in popularity between genres (among writers or among agents, publishing houses, or book consumers), or shifts in these variables and how such shifts might affect the success of a query. There is one mention of marketability in the entire book. One. Not even in the main text. It's a category in one of the graphs in the appendix, with no discussion by the authors. This might be because the authors want querying writers to focus on things they can control, but if the biggest factor in book sales is something the writer can't control, that deserves at least a mention and probably quite a bit more. I kinda just don't understand why this HUGE factor is omitted completely (and the authors would have to argue pretty hard that it wasn't completely omitted). The book market in terms of genre is dramatically different from how it was ten years ago. The fantasy genre is hardly recognizable anymore. And yet there's no data about this, or about how marketability affects querying, or any advice about what to do if that's a factor. That's pretty major. In face to face queries or interactions with literary agents, it's the first thing they mention. And yet this book doesn't mention it, not even to say why they don't. From a statistical perspective, none of the graphs or tables account for variations in demand between genres: mystery and romance and other easily-categorized and commercial genres have much more demand from agents and many more people writing in them. There's no mention (again) of how this might affect the success of a query. They have this data and I think they know how to handle it. Maybe most of their readers aren't statisticians like me so I can cut them a little slack, but again why not at least discuss it?
August 26, 2026
A comprehensive guide into querying and QueryTracker as a resource. Easy to read through (finished in one sitting) with great tips on the process, who, and best practices. I enjoyed the definitions inserted throughout and while I wished there were more query examples, I did like the ones provided.
There was some information that was a little repetitive (ex: defining what a partial vs full request is) and some charts / data was repeated. There were a few times where there were references to ‘step 1’ but there were several step 1s throughout the novel so that was a little hard to follow. I also wanted to note there was mention of utilizing AI as a resource with some caution noted, though since it’s a modern guide, I can see how it’s expected to be mentioned.
Really loved the survey data at the end and getting a glimpse into what QT looks like on an agent’s end since this is something querying authors don’t see. Overall, this is a great resource for those familiarizing themselves with the platform and the publishing industry.
There was some information that was a little repetitive (ex: defining what a partial vs full request is) and some charts / data was repeated. There were a few times where there were references to ‘step 1’ but there were several step 1s throughout the novel so that was a little hard to follow. I also wanted to note there was mention of utilizing AI as a resource with some caution noted, though since it’s a modern guide, I can see how it’s expected to be mentioned.
Really loved the survey data at the end and getting a glimpse into what QT looks like on an agent’s end since this is something querying authors don’t see. Overall, this is a great resource for those familiarizing themselves with the platform and the publishing industry.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh my goodness, I annotated the heck outta this book. It has everything from useful tips and terminology breakdowns, to writing exercises to help you craft and draft your query package. Dare I say it, it even managed to expand my understanding of my own story, so I’ll feel that much more confident pitching it to agents.
As an author who’s had some experience querying, receiving both rejections and full requests, and is presently in the process of reviewing, reflecting, and refining before jumping into those querying trenches again, I found this book to be a fantastic resource. One I wish I had before I started, but it still offers so much valuable information, encouragement, and insight—some of which I’ve already put to good use, even in my current ‘in-between’ situation.
While it does get into detail regarding how to use QueryTracker to your advantage as an author (the platform I used the first time around and plan to use again, so I very much appreciated this), the book still casts a wide net, so to speak, covering all things related to the query process in general, irrespective of method, tool, or platform.
If it’s not already obvious, I believe this book is such a game-changing resource for any author at any step of their querying journey and know I would have benefited from having something like it earlier in my own—still, I’m so glad to have it in my hands now.
Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
As an author who’s had some experience querying, receiving both rejections and full requests, and is presently in the process of reviewing, reflecting, and refining before jumping into those querying trenches again, I found this book to be a fantastic resource. One I wish I had before I started, but it still offers so much valuable information, encouragement, and insight—some of which I’ve already put to good use, even in my current ‘in-between’ situation.
While it does get into detail regarding how to use QueryTracker to your advantage as an author (the platform I used the first time around and plan to use again, so I very much appreciated this), the book still casts a wide net, so to speak, covering all things related to the query process in general, irrespective of method, tool, or platform.
If it’s not already obvious, I believe this book is such a game-changing resource for any author at any step of their querying journey and know I would have benefited from having something like it earlier in my own—still, I’m so glad to have it in my hands now.
Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, let's address a common criticism of this book: that the authors dared to suggest that authors use AI (gasp!) to find comparable titles to their work.
Two comments:
1) Knocking off a star just for a few words in a book is hyper strict. If agreeing with only 99% of what a book says makes you give a 4-star review, you need to recalibrate your grading system.
2) These critics are luddites. They were probably wagging their finger at accountants who dared to use a calculator, or, god forbid, a spreadsheet! Perhaps a few years ago, they would say, "I can't believe this author said to use Google to look something up instead of going to the library!"
The two authors advised to use AI to get ideas but to double-check its output since it may hallucinate (although hallucinations are far less common than they were initially). This is sensible advice. It's okay to disagree, but getting bent out of shape is absurd.
Other critics might deride the "Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents" for promoting QueryTracker too much.
Although I haven't used the freemium tool, it never bothered me that they mentioned it several times, especially since it's the leading tool out there for tracking queries.
The book is packed with practical tips and fascinating survey results, revealing what agents really think.
If you want to publish a book, this is a must-read.
Two comments:
1) Knocking off a star just for a few words in a book is hyper strict. If agreeing with only 99% of what a book says makes you give a 4-star review, you need to recalibrate your grading system.
2) These critics are luddites. They were probably wagging their finger at accountants who dared to use a calculator, or, god forbid, a spreadsheet! Perhaps a few years ago, they would say, "I can't believe this author said to use Google to look something up instead of going to the library!"
The two authors advised to use AI to get ideas but to double-check its output since it may hallucinate (although hallucinations are far less common than they were initially). This is sensible advice. It's okay to disagree, but getting bent out of shape is absurd.
Other critics might deride the "Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents" for promoting QueryTracker too much.
Although I haven't used the freemium tool, it never bothered me that they mentioned it several times, especially since it's the leading tool out there for tracking queries.
The book is packed with practical tips and fascinating survey results, revealing what agents really think.
If you want to publish a book, this is a must-read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As someone who has been querying for six years, I will say that this book is something every querying author should have in their arsenal. A lot of it was stuff I already knew just from my own experiences querying as well as some classes on the business of publishing through my MFA program, but I still found it to be incredibly useful. Having worked with Alyssa on my most recent (and still in progress) project, I can confidently say that she knows her stuff. She’s an absolute joy to work with. And Patrick has created something amazing with QueryTracker and QueryManager. The combination of both of them has been a book that is a must read, especially if you’re new to the querying game. This process can be incredibly difficult—and at times disheartening. But knowing more about the process really helps to remove that industry opacity and put things into perspective. Which, honestly, really helps with your mental health while in the trenches. My take? Read the book. Whether you’re familiar with the process or not, you’ll find something that will help!
Huge thanks to BenBella Books | Matt Holt Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
Huge thanks to BenBella Books | Matt Holt Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
September 3, 2026
Sorry, that wasn't helpful at all.
I've decided to buy this book because, after 7 shelved manuscripts, I've reached the point that I no longer think traditional publishing is possible for me - a bit like becoming an astronaut. It's possible for some people, but not for me. I like Alyssa's videos (otherwise, I would've given this book a 1 star review) and I was under the impression the book analyzes hundreds of query letters to make folks understand why one query worked, while others didn't. But it only has 2 examples of successful queries, and they belong to well-established authors (people with writing credentials, not nobodies without an audience, like myself). Anyway, disappointing. But other than that, what's covered is very basic. Why are queries rejected? Word count, wrong genre, poor writing. No shit. If you've been in the query trenches for even a month, you'd probably already know that. So nothing new. There was no one single thing I learned. I like Alyssa, but the book is disappointing. Don't waste money buying this book, better get yourself a nice sundae instead.
I've decided to buy this book because, after 7 shelved manuscripts, I've reached the point that I no longer think traditional publishing is possible for me - a bit like becoming an astronaut. It's possible for some people, but not for me. I like Alyssa's videos (otherwise, I would've given this book a 1 star review) and I was under the impression the book analyzes hundreds of query letters to make folks understand why one query worked, while others didn't. But it only has 2 examples of successful queries, and they belong to well-established authors (people with writing credentials, not nobodies without an audience, like myself). Anyway, disappointing. But other than that, what's covered is very basic. Why are queries rejected? Word count, wrong genre, poor writing. No shit. If you've been in the query trenches for even a month, you'd probably already know that. So nothing new. There was no one single thing I learned. I like Alyssa, but the book is disappointing. Don't waste money buying this book, better get yourself a nice sundae instead.
August 31, 2026
I've followed Alyssa for a few years and love her work, and ya gotta love QueryTracker. This was a helpful guide with a very accessible, logical structure. I especially loved the agent and author surveys and seeing the agent side of QT. Only reason I gave it 4 stars was because it definitely leaned more toward a beginner's guide, so I already knew most of the stuff. I was hoping for a bit more advice on drafting the actual query letter versus the whole process overall, but the title is literally about querying, not query letters, so that's fine. It would've also been cool to see more on market trends, inside publishing, etc., but I realize that's beyond the scope of the book and just wishful thinking 😅 and also changing so fast that it probably wouldn't stay relevant!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wish I'd had this guide when I started querying a couple years ago! I spent months listening to interviews, scouring websites, compiling information... If only this had been available then!
The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents covers SO many things, from query letter structure to researching agents and filling out their QueryManager forms, to what to ask on the call, if you should get so lucky as to receive an offer of rep. It's absolutely brilliant, easy to understand, relevant and up to date. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books | Matt Holt Books for the free e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents covers SO many things, from query letter structure to researching agents and filling out their QueryManager forms, to what to ask on the call, if you should get so lucky as to receive an offer of rep. It's absolutely brilliant, easy to understand, relevant and up to date. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books | Matt Holt Books for the free e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you have a manuscript ready, this is the perfect time to read this book. A detailed step by step approach to querying is provided, with each component of the query letter discussed. Little things like salutations and adding personal touches to queries can make a huge difference. I also appreciated the part where what happens on a call, and even after the contract is signed was explained. The best part, from my point of view, was the section on the statistics - timelines, reasons for rejections, what's important for agents on a call - so informative! This needs to go right next to your 'Save the Cat' and Chicago Manual!
September 8, 2026
A great modern and up-to-date resource for those new to querying and everything that comes with it. There’s a lot of good in here, but I will just say that while I would absolutely recommend it to someone new, I don’t think it’s quite as useful for those of us already in the query trenches, or even for those who haven’t started but have already done their research. I found the data in the back very interesting, but I would have liked to have seen more advice and examples from agents and authors, and some that aren’t already available for free to read on QueryTracker. Still giving this 4 stars because I do think it’s a great compendium of all the different stages of querying.
August 26, 2026
If you're an author looking to pursue the traditional publishing path, do yourself a favor and get this book. I wish I'd had this book years ago when I began my own querying journey; it definitely would have made things a bit easier, especially in terms of crafting a great query letter. Easy to read and highly informative, I breezed through this book in just three hours. I can't wait to pass on the knowledge I've learned, and you can bet I'll be recommending this book to every querying author I know!
September 5, 2026
A tad disappointed by this one. Practically every piece of information outlined in the book has been iterated on Alyssa's youtube channel already--for free btw! Don't get me wrong, the information shared is crucial and immensely helpful when querying. I just don't think you need to spend on a 1.5 hour read (the graphs and index take up a bulk of the book) when you can take notes while watching her videos.
August 30, 2026
I am not new to the 'querying trenches'. I queried my previous book. But this guide is full of practical advice, easily understood, that any writer can use. I picked up enough pointers to pause my querying. I am going to rework my query letter based on some of the suggestions in this book.
Definitely recommend this.
Definitely recommend this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been watching Alyssa Matesic's youtube channel since she had 6k subscribers, now she has over 170k, and it's one of the most informative yet approachable sources of information about writing with intent of traditional publishing. When I saw she has a book coming, I had to check it out.
It's co-authored with Patrick McDonald, the creator of query tracker, which is a beloved online tool for authors querying or planning to query traditional publishers.
I must say, I was impressed. It's concise, to the point, based on personally collected data both from authors and agents, well organized step by step and giving actionable advice. Too many non-fiction titles these days are full of bloat and reiterating the same points to pad the page count, not this one. It's lean and no clickbait.
I've been a user of the subreddit r/pubtips for many years and I've seen first hand the amount of basic, repetitive questions asked every week, month, year. Rejoice! Now all these questions are answered in this one handy book. It won't go in-depth how to write a perfect query, albeit it does provide the basic structure guidelines and a few examples, but it covers everything else you'd want to know about the process, but maybe were afraid to ask because it's "silly" or "obvious". It's not, as this is a fairly opaque industry with its own quirks.
There's an ongoing community debate whether to send the queries in batches or not, and the authors here are in favour of batching, but that's one point someone can argue the market has changed too much to support this practice.
But otherwise? It's chock full of great info, including how to spot scams, how to vet agents, how to discern is a rejection a "form" (i.e. a copy-pasted premade reply), how to navigate querying by mail vs online form vs query manager, what to ask on the call with an agent, how to nudge and is it even worth to bother, and confirms some common beliefs with data (yes, the author's platform matters a lot for non-fiction, but not as much for fiction, for example; or that agents get way too many queries and will reject easy red flags like too long wordcount or ai-generated writing).
So yes, you could sit on r/pubtips or a similar space for months or even years, trying to passively soak the information, or you can read this book in one day and have the myths dispelled and information provided, divided into clear sections for the reader's convenience.
I especially liked the statistics part, showing where the opinions converge (for example, vast majority of agents prefer to be notified if you get another offer of representation) and where it varies a lot (for example, how long it took from starting querying to getting an offer).
I think a title like this is sorely needed to dispel fears, provide step by step how-to guidelines and serve as a reference material to point people towards when they're hopelessly lost. I fully recommend it to any author who learns one needs to "query" as a first step towards publication and feels a deer in the headlights moment.
Thank you Netgalley, BenBella Books & Matt Holt Books for the ARC!
It's co-authored with Patrick McDonald, the creator of query tracker, which is a beloved online tool for authors querying or planning to query traditional publishers.
I must say, I was impressed. It's concise, to the point, based on personally collected data both from authors and agents, well organized step by step and giving actionable advice. Too many non-fiction titles these days are full of bloat and reiterating the same points to pad the page count, not this one. It's lean and no clickbait.
I've been a user of the subreddit r/pubtips for many years and I've seen first hand the amount of basic, repetitive questions asked every week, month, year. Rejoice! Now all these questions are answered in this one handy book. It won't go in-depth how to write a perfect query, albeit it does provide the basic structure guidelines and a few examples, but it covers everything else you'd want to know about the process, but maybe were afraid to ask because it's "silly" or "obvious". It's not, as this is a fairly opaque industry with its own quirks.
There's an ongoing community debate whether to send the queries in batches or not, and the authors here are in favour of batching, but that's one point someone can argue the market has changed too much to support this practice.
But otherwise? It's chock full of great info, including how to spot scams, how to vet agents, how to discern is a rejection a "form" (i.e. a copy-pasted premade reply), how to navigate querying by mail vs online form vs query manager, what to ask on the call with an agent, how to nudge and is it even worth to bother, and confirms some common beliefs with data (yes, the author's platform matters a lot for non-fiction, but not as much for fiction, for example; or that agents get way too many queries and will reject easy red flags like too long wordcount or ai-generated writing).
So yes, you could sit on r/pubtips or a similar space for months or even years, trying to passively soak the information, or you can read this book in one day and have the myths dispelled and information provided, divided into clear sections for the reader's convenience.
I especially liked the statistics part, showing where the opinions converge (for example, vast majority of agents prefer to be notified if you get another offer of representation) and where it varies a lot (for example, how long it took from starting querying to getting an offer).
I think a title like this is sorely needed to dispel fears, provide step by step how-to guidelines and serve as a reference material to point people towards when they're hopelessly lost. I fully recommend it to any author who learns one needs to "query" as a first step towards publication and feels a deer in the headlights moment.
Thank you Netgalley, BenBella Books & Matt Holt Books for the ARC!
August 25, 2026
Useful for authors, especially those who've just finished their debut.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wish I'd had this guide when I started querying a couple years ago! I spent months listening to interviews, scouring websites, compiling information... If only this had been available then!
The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents covers SO many things, from query letter structure to researching agents and filling out their QueryManager forms, to what to ask on the call, if you should get so lucky as to receive an offer of rep. It's absolutely brilliant, easy to understand, relevant and up to date. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books | Matt Holt Books for the free e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents covers SO many things, from query letter structure to researching agents and filling out their QueryManager forms, to what to ask on the call, if you should get so lucky as to receive an offer of rep. It's absolutely brilliant, easy to understand, relevant and up to date. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books | Matt Holt Books for the free e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wish I'd had this guide when I started querying a couple years ago! I spent months listening to interviews, scouring websites, compiling information... If only this had been available then!
The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents covers SO many things, from query letter structure to researching agents and filling out their QueryManager forms, to what to ask on the call, if you should get so lucky as to receive an offer of rep. It's absolutely brilliant, easy to understand, relevant and up to date. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books | Matt Holt Books for the free e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents covers SO many things, from query letter structure to researching agents and filling out their QueryManager forms, to what to ask on the call, if you should get so lucky as to receive an offer of rep. It's absolutely brilliant, easy to understand, relevant and up to date. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books | Matt Holt Books for the free e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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