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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/12151
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I would hesitate to ask: "What are you looking for?" because you should already know this.

Publishers usually list this info on their submission guidelines or blog posts by their agents. Do some research. Find out what they are looking for, then list the ways your writing fills what they are looking for. Once you have that info, ask something like this:

> "You are looking for T, and my story is T in these ways. If I were to revise my novel to better fit your needs, what elements of T would you want me to enhance or add?"

(where T equals the type of story they are looking for)

Prepare a couple ideas for them that you have (or new ideas that you can write for them). If they are not interested in your current story, tell them about these ideas then ask:

> Do these ideas feel like they fit? Which idea excites you the most?

Now if they turn you down for your current story, they may be excited to hear from you on a few of your other ideas and you've kept the dialogue open and kept your foot in the door.

Original score: 2