Query Letter Assistance

While there are numerous publishing options, the two primary ways to get published as an author are through a traditional publishing house or to self-publish through an online platform such as Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or IngramSpark.

 

There are several pros and cons to both options. For authors who are prioritizing a shorter publication timeline and more creative control over the finished product, the more attractive option is usually self-publishing, though it will typically require a higher financial investment when it comes to marketing, cover design, and editing services.

 

For authors with a lower budget and who are not on a specific deadline for publication, traditional publishing may be the more preferred option. To become traditionally published, authors typically send what is called a query letter and/or book proposal to a publisher or a literary agent who acts as an intermediary. If successful, the publishing house will send them a contract and possibly an advance, while covering the costs involved with printing and publishing the book. Most publishing houses also employ their own marketing staff and editorial professionals, which will typically include multiple types of editors (developmental, line, and copy), proofreaders, formatters, typesetters, and cover design artists, who will all assist in preparing the manuscript for publication free of charge or at a reduced cost to the author.

 

The primary downside to this option, however, is that it is much more laborious and time-consuming. The reason for this really boils down to the fact that traditional publishing is highly competitive. While there are limited statistics on the actual percentage of authors who are successful in their querying process, it’s usually cited between 1% and 4%, depending on the source. Another way of looking at it is that only about half to a full million titles are traditionally published every year, and there are many established authors who publish multiple titles within that same span of time.

 

That’s not to say that you’re better off going with the self-publishing route. In fact, you could say that self-publishing is actually more competitive. Approximately three out of every four titles published in 2025 were self-published, and that number is expected to continue to grow in 2026. Furthermore, while getting the attention of an agent can be challenging, the only real guarantee that self-publishing gives you is that your book will be published. And just because it’s published, that doesn’t mean that you will make millions of dollars off of it or that it will even be read at all.

 

If widespread readership and financial viability are your goals as an independent author (and it’s safe to say that for most, they are), your ability to meet these goals will be proportionate to the time and financial investment you commit. And while querying agents and publishing houses does cost time that may not pay off in the end, if you’re successful, it can potentially save you thousands of dollars and prevent you from having to commit the next several years to marketing your book.

​

How to Successfully Query a Literary Agent or Publisher

 

Once you’ve made the decision to query agents and/or publishing houses, it’s important that you thoroughly understand the process that it requires. In general, this process looks something like this:

​

1. Compiling a list of dozens of agents and publishing houses that are looking for submissions in your particular genre.

 

2. Confirming which professional from their pool of agents or editors is actively seeking submissions and what they are specifically looking for. This could be certain genres, themes, or audiences, or a separate element altogether. Some agents are only looking for established authors, while others are open to first-time authors. Some agents are only open to submissions at certain times of the year, while others are seeking year-round.​​

​

3. Reviewing the submission guidelines. This can vary significantly depending on the publishing professional. Some only ask for a 400-word query letter that details the genre, premise, word count, and target audience. Others require extensive multi-page book proposals (along with sample chapters) that the professional can use as a guide to familiarize themselves with your manuscript. Some require meticulous formatting in a separate document, which varies between PDF files, Google Docs, Word docs, or submission platforms. Others ask that you copy and paste entire chapters into the email itself. In most cases, if your submission is not aligned with these guidelines, it will likely end up in the “we’re not interested” pile.​

​

4. Actively keeping track of which agencies and publishing houses you’ve already contacted, are waiting to hear from, and which have requested more information, as well as following up when appropriate.​​

 

5. Maintaining communication with agencies and publishing houses who are open to learning more about your book, and positioning your book as a viable asset and yourself as well-spoken and easy to work with. Remember that they are the ones who are investing their time and resources into your book, and if you come off as unprofessional, inexperienced, or inaccessible, this can unfortunately set you up for failure, even if unintentional.

​

While querying is tedious and time-consuming, most of the time that is going into the process is spent waiting to hear a response. Agents and publishing houses typically receive hundreds or even thousands of submissions every week, so it usually takes at least two to three months before they have the time to read yours. If they like what they see, they will usually ask for the full manuscript. If they’re still interested after reading through the manuscript, the next step is usually a call to discuss details before deciding whether to give you a contract offer.

​

How UnTapped’s Query Letter Assistance Service Can Help

 

The rule of thumb for increasing your chances of a successful query is casting a wide net. The more queries you submit, the more likely it is that someone from your list will eventually read your submission and find that it matches the goals of the publisher. However, it also goes without saying that the more queries you submit, the more time you’ll need to invest in researching potential publishing houses and agents within your genres and ensure that each submission is tailored to their specific guidelines while also maintaining communication and notes as the process advances.

 

The benefits of working with UnTapped as you begin querying are multi-fold. One, our editors have spent over a decade in the publishing industry and have worked directly with publishing houses and agents in a variety of genres; we have cultivated relationships with these professionals, and we possess an in-depth familiarity with what they are looking for, how to communicate effectively with them, and what to expect throughout the process. This allows us to review any submission that is going their way and determine how and if it can be curated so that it has its best chance of being well-received.

 

Secondly, our professional network is vast. Where a first-time or even a well-established author may need to invest weeks or even months of their time researching individual agents and publishing houses that are best suited for their manuscript, we have access to organized databases and directories that can be easily referred to fine-tune your strategy quickly and efficiently.

 

Lastly, if you’ve already worked with us, then you know that we’re likely already very familiar with your manuscript. Most of the editorial and ghostwriting services we provide include a minimum of three reads of the entire manuscript before these services are complete. That familiarity allows us to fully understand the nuances of your completed manuscript, the genres that it falls under, your target audiences, and all of the literary elements that an agent or publishing house will want to assess before accepting your submission. As a result, we can anticipate which agencies and publishing houses will be most receptive to a submission and prioritize them during the query process.

​

What’s Included?

 

Like most of our services, UnTapped’s query letter assistance is flexible based on your specific goals and budget. Because familiarity with your manuscript is also essential to successfully providing query assistance, current or past clients receive an automatic discount for these services.

 

If we haven’t worked with you before, the first step will be a complete manuscript review. This process takes an average of one to three days and will include a full written assessment of the manuscript's various elements, including strengths, potential areas for improvement, target audience, word count, central themes, and genres. From there, we’ll outline any potential editorial concerns and offer the opportunity to correct them before moving forward.

 

Once a polished manuscript is achieved, we’ll brainstorm a query strategy, identifying the target number of submissions likely to foster positive results and the types of agents or publishing houses worth prioritizing. From there, we’ll compile a list in an organized spreadsheet, with columns that include the agent/publisher’s name, submission guidelines, and notes.

 

After we’ve compiled this list, the next step is locating the agent or publisher that mandates the most extensive guidelines and formulating a sample query and/or book proposal that can be used as a baseline and revised based on the submission guidelines of other agents/publishers. Lastly, we’ll work with you one-on-one throughout the process to help you with your query revisions, keeping track of responses and communications with agents and publishers, and stepping in whenever you need advice or guidance.

​

How Much Does Query Letter Assistance Cost?

 

It can vary depending on our current relationship with you and your manuscript. If we haven’t reviewed your manuscript yet, the baseline cost will amount to $0.01 per word (calculated from the number of words in your final draft), plus an additional $0.07 - $0.10 per word (calculated from the word count of the sample query and/or book proposal that we provide), and $3 for each agent/publisher on the master list.

 

For example, let’s say you have a completed manuscript of 20,000 words that we haven’t reviewed yet. The baseline for query letter assistance would be $200. From there, we would identify the most extensive submission guideline from our list and calculate the cost based on the anticipated word count. For the purpose of this example, let’s say that’s 1,000 words. The finalized total then would likely amount to somewhere between $280 and $300, plus $3 for every agent or query that we compile into the master list.

 

However, in our experience, this would be the higher end for these services, especially if we have already worked with you in the past. As mentioned above, if we have already read your final draft, we would waive the cost of manuscript assessment, which would bring the total amount of the example above to $80 to $100 plus $3 for every agent or publisher on the master list. With your rate, we also include unlimited professional support and guidance, and any revisions you need made to each submission you send out, which, as we’ve explored above, can amount to hours and hours of work.

​

How Can I Get Started?

 

Though the publishing process can place significant stress on an author, regardless of whether they’ve published before, a confident and professionally written query, along with the right resources at your disposal, can make an insurmountable difference in getting a book deal and your career as a whole. At UnTapped, we understand just how important this responsibility is. In every professional relationship, we take immense pride in our clients’ work, and as editors, there is nothing more satisfying or rewarding to us than seeing it get the recognition it deserves. 

 

Whether you’re weighing your publishing strategy or ready to begin the querying process today, we want to hear from you and any questions that are on your mind. Contact us today to learn more!