How should you address an agent at the beginning of a query letter? Well, folks, I don't have an easy answer for this one, but I'll do my best to break down your options. 🧵

1/?

#AmQuerying #AmWriting #WritingCommunity

The very first thing I'd do is check the agent's Twitter bio if they've got one. Agents with clear pronoun preferences will almost always list them there. This will keep you from using the wrong Mr./Miss/Mrs./Mx./none of the above.

2/?

You can also google their name with "MSWL," and oftentimes you'll find search results with pronoun preferences there, too. Try really, really hard not to misgender someone. It may sound trivial to some, but for some agents, that can be an automatic "no."

3/?

If you aren't sure/aren't comfortable starting with "Dear Mr. __" or "Dear Miss __," you can try using their name. "Dear Alex," or "Dear Blair Smith," for example. I know the former sounds too personal, and the latter sounds too stilted, but these are pretty safe.

4/?

I DON'T think you need to spend hours and hours laboring over how to address each individual query. If you can't find it from a quick Twitter or Google search, just use the name or, if it's through QueryManager, consider skipping it.

5/?

"SKIP IT?!?!" you ask? Sure. If it's a little answer box (Google-Form-style), just don't include the salutation. The agent will know it's for them because they're the one reading it lol

6/?

What I wouldn't do is, "Dear Agent" or something generic like that. Getting a salutation right when the agent has been very public about how they want to be called is a great professional first impression.

7/?

At the end of the day, I would hope that the agents you're querying are able to extend a little grace for queriers. They know they are one of many. They know how much work it is. Most won't disqualify you out of hand if you make a mistake in the salutation...

8/?

And if an agent DOES eliminate you for screwing up the salutation, despite your best honest efforts, is that someone you really want to work with, anyway?

Do your best, but don't kill yourself over it. That's my best advice for query letter salutations!

~el fin~