Are you struggling to write a nonfiction query letter to literary agents?
Once you find an agent you would like to represent your book, the pitch letter is the next step in the traditional publishing process.
Below, we’ve collected 11 different agent pitch letters that actually worked for different kinds of nonfiction writers. If you write fiction, check out our collection of 23 fiction query letter that actually worked.
If you have an actual nonfiction PROPOSAL that worked, we’d love to share that as well at some point–just email us.
We’ve gathered these samples from agency websites, agent blogs, this GalleyCat editor’s files and Chuck Sambuchino’s Successful Queries series. No matter what kind of novel you have written, they can help you craft a better query letter.
Here’s some good advice from AgentQuery: “A query letter is a single page cover letter, introducing you and your book. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less … A query letter has three concise paragraphs: the hook, the mini-synopsis, and your writer’s biography. Don’t stray from this format. You won’t catch an agent’s attention by inventing a creative new query format. You’ll just alienate your chances of being taken seriously as a professional writer.
Query Letters That Actually Worked for Nonfiction Books
2. Historical Nonfiction Query Letter
3. Popular Reference Book Query Letter
5. Urban Exploration Memoir Letter
7. Humorous Nonfiction Query Letter
8. Midwife Memoir Query Letter
9. Biographical Nonfiction Query Letter
10. New Age Query Letter (PDF link)
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