How to query literary agents in 2026
What querying actually looks like now — QueryManager forms, batching, response times, and the small things that have changed in the last couple of years.
The fundamentals of querying haven’t changed: you write a great book, find agents who represent what you wrote, and send a short letter that makes them want to read it. What’s shifted in the last couple of years is the mechanics— where you send it, how long you wait, and a few new things to get right. Here’s what querying actually looks like now.
The online form is the front door
Email queries still exist, but more and more agents now take submissions through structured online forms (QueryManager being the most common). The upside for you: each form spells out exactly what that agent wants — sometimes just a query, sometimes pages, a synopsis, or, for picture-book author-illustrators, dummies. Read the form before you write a word; it’s the agent telling you how to get past their first filter. Our profiles link straight to each agent’s form so you skip the hunt.
Personalize, but don’t pad
A line showing you know why this agent is right for this book still helps — a recent sale of theirs, a stated wish your manuscript answers. One genuine sentence beats a paragraph of flattery. Then get to the hook.
Comps still matter
Comparative titles tell an agent where your book sits and that a market exists. Keep them recent and real. If you’re unsure how to choose them, we have a whole guide on choosing comp titles, and you can find agents by the books they already love on “books like…”.
Batch and track
Don’t send all fifty at once and don’t send one at a time. Query in batches of five to ten so you can read the signal: lots of form requests means your pages are working; lots of passes on the query means the letter needs work before you burn through your list. Keep a simple spreadsheet of who, when, and what they asked for.
Response times are long — plan for it
Expect weeks to many months, and expect silence. “No response means no” is now the norm rather than the exception — many agents state outright that they only reply if interested, often after 8–12 weeks. Note each agent’s stated timeline, wait it out, and follow up once, politely, only after it’s passed. Our guide on how long querying takes goes deeper.
About AI-written queries
Plenty of agents have said they can spot — and will pass on — a query that reads like it was generated wholesale by AI. Use tools to brainstorm or tighten if you like, but the voice and the story have to be yours. The query is a writing sample; let it sound like you.
Two things working in your favor right now
Agents are publishing more precise wish lists than ever, which means less guessing about fit — use them. And there’s a steady stream of new and associate agents building their lists, who are often hungrier, more open, and quicker to respond than a senior agent with a full roster. (More on that trade-off in new vs. established agents.)