How to send me a query

Here's what I want:

A query letter addressed to me (not me as part of a bcc list, nor Dear Agent)
The first 3-5 pages of your manuscript if it's a novel or a memoir (in the body of the email, not as an attachment)

The premise for your non-fiction book that isn't a memoir: why the topic is important, why you're the one to write the book, and your platform. Include the introduction in the body of the email (again, no attachments)

Email these, or send by snail mail with an SASE.

That's it.

Don't worry about category. I'm better at some categories than others, but I'd rather see a query than not.



Things I am likely to be more interested in:

crime novels of all sorts
near future noir (like Jeff Somers' ELECTRIC CHURCH)

literary fiction
women's fiction (think Jodi Picoult-I don't represent her but I like her writing a lot)


The query letter should be as well written, and carefully thought out as you can make it.
Avoid hyperbole and cliche.
Avoid saying "my book is about".

Do tell me the word count of the finished novel. Yes, it has to be finished.

When you send pages:
Don't break a sentence.
Use 3-5 pages as a guideline. I'm not dispatching the query police if you send 6 pages.

If you query by snail mail include an SASE.
ALWAYS include your email address and phone number on the query letter. I almost always respond by email if I want to read more. I expect my clients to be able to send work to me electronically. If you can't do that, don't query.

The snail mail address is:
Janet Reid
FinePrint Lit
240 West 35th Street #500
New York, NY 10001

If you see any other address for me on lists or in reference books, they are outdated. Do not use them and don't call me to find out which one is correct. It's this one.

If you want to send query by email:
Janet(at)fineprintlit(dot)com

Paste the first 3 pages in the body of the email.
Make a couple test runs before you send emails to agents. A lot of times they come through with funny characters in place of punctuation. I'll still read it, but it just raises the bar for you. The easier it is to read the more likely I'll read it all the way through rather than skim.





There are a lot of posts on this blog about things that make me crazy in query letters. You don't have to read them if you don't want to but I'm pretty sure it's a useful thing to do: #querypitfalls is the category.


I know this post sounds harsh and dictatorial. There are two reasons. One, it's a post. Two, it's a list of instructions. Instructions have to be plain and short. That usually means they sound curt.

Don't read into this that I'm short or curt with your queries. I want to read your work. I make my living based on material people send me. I couldn't pay the rent if you didn't write. Never doubt for one second I don't remember that and value it every day.