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Find the Agent Who Will Find You a Publisher Query letters? Do literary agents really read them? Agents take queries very seriously, and yes, they really do read them. It’s not some universal rumor that agents have perpetuated because they all have a secret fetish for being bombarded with mail. Sure, agents make it sound like digging through the slush pile is the last priority of their day. So write a professional, intelligent, concise, intriguing query and not only will you entice an agent to ask for more, but you’ll move yourself one step closer to a book sale. Query Letter Basics A query letter is a single page cover letter, introducing you and your book. A query letter has three concise paragraphs: the hook, the mini-synopsis, and your writer’s biography. Paragraph One—The Hook: A hook is a concise, one-sentence tagline for your book. Here are a few examples of hooks for well-known novels: Be sure to check out these very simple, yet very non-"formulatic" fiction hooks: Other Great Ways to Start Your Hook: