Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44382
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44382
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The _Writer's Market_ books will give you the lists of agents (with what they're looking for, contact info, etc) and articles (also in their _Writer's Digest_ magazines and websites) on how to write the letters for $30 (or for free if you get the book/zine from the library).

There are other sources for this information as well. Agents who are looking for clients don't exactly hide behind paywalls.

You should write your own query letters. Why? Because they're part of how you tell an agent or publisher who you are. You're a writer so writing them may seem daunting but you've totally got it. No one knows your work better than you.

If you do get an agent, s/he'll talk to publishers for you and negotiate contracts, which is something that being a good writer won't prepare you for. But for querying agents, and publishers that don't require agents, write the letters (one or two main ones, with variations) and then get feedback on them from your critique group or other sources.

Will these services do a better job? I doubt it. It would be like hiring a service to apply for jobs for you. It's really a process you need to have control over. Even headhunters don't write your resume. And they're more like agents than submitting services.

Honestly, what you describe sounds boilerplate. I wouldn't trust it at all.

Original score: 1