How To Write A Literary Agent Query Letter

By Author: Adam Ross
Total Articles: 117
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It has all been said before. Or has it? Knowing how to write a literary agent query letter takes a bit of finesse. Basically, you want to tell your story without really telling your story.
And you want to tell about your screenplay in a way that has not been told before. How to make your story stand out in the crowd? That is the trick of the trade. And it basically, goes like this.
A screenplay query letter to a literary agent consists of one element. And that one element is simply a summary of what the screenplay is about. However, this is the tricky part.
You don't want to give away the plot or the entire screenplay. You only want to entice your reader with some highlights of your film script. Through the use of certain wording you can excite and thrill your reader, leaving them wanting more. After all, the main focus of a literary agent query letter is to grab your reader's attention.
As a screenwriter looking for literary agent representation, you want the literary agent query letter to explode with possibilities. Exciting him or her to drop whatever they are doing and get you on the phone.
Begin ...
... your literary agent query letter by addressing the agent directly. In the first paragraph you should tell the agent the title of your screenplay. As well as what genre your screenplay is in. Example of this would be, my screenplay is an action adventure.
In the next three paragraphs, begin to tell a little bit about your film script. Introduce the main characters and what their purpose is in the screenplay. How are they connected? Make sure to not give the story away. Remember you are giving highlights of your film script.
In the last paragraph, mention the title of your screenplay once again. Also include the genre an additional time, just for impact. Mention your main character to remind the literary agent who he or she is.
Sign off the screenplay query letter by asking the agent to call you at the number provided if they would like a copy of your screenplay.
It is advisable to bold the title of your screenplay several times in the literary agent query letter. Doing this will draw the agent's attention, without them realizing it. It is a subtle way of drawing your reader in.

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