 A good query letter is broken down into three parts: the quick intro, the pitch, and the bio. Strangely enough, the third section (the bio) often generates the most questions and uncertainty with writers. In fact, when I speak at writers’ conferences on the topic of how write a query letter, there are typically a ton of questions about this small paragraph. With that in mind, I have cobbled together some notes on what to include and what not to include in a query letter at the end when you’re talking about yourself and your writing. FICTION VS. NONFICTION The bio section of a query letter is a completely different beast for fiction vs. nonfiction. If you’re writing nonfiction, the bio section is typically long and of the utmost importance. This is where you list all your credentials as well as the greatest hits of your writer platform. The importance of a nonfiction bio cannot be overstated. It has to be fat and awesome. Fiction bios, however, can be big or small or even not there at all. Most of the questions and notes I address below are discussing the murky waters of fiction query bios. YES: INCLUDE THESE ELEMENTS IN YOUR BIO
NO: SKIP THESE ELEMENTS IN YOUR BIO
THE MOST COMMON QUESTION PEOPLE ASK ME “If I do not have any writing credits to my name, what should I put in the letter?” Well, if it's an email query, you can just go with this answer: Say nothing. As long as you are not writing nonfiction, then the bio paragraph is just gravy. If an agent gets two dynamite pitches on Tuesday morning, and one of the letters is from a writer with some short publication credits while the other lacks said credits, there is a 99% chance the agent will request pages from both scribes. If you create a great pitch and show you’ve got voice on your side, then agents will want to read more — period. If you have nothing impressive to say about yourself, then just end your query with the standard finale, which is, “Thank you for considering my submission. I look forward to hearing from you.” That said, many agents want submissions through Query Manager, and sometimes there is a Bio field/box you cannot skip. If that happens, and you literally just have to fill white space, my recommendation is to reveal 1) where you're based, and 2) what writing organizations you belong to, both local and national. If you don't belong to any, join one or two. Use Meetup.com as a starting point. OTHER FAQs TO HELP YOU
WAIVER Please note that all agents (and editors) are different. They all have their quirks and “likes” and opinions and eccentricities. Some may even pop up in the comments here to say “But I really ADORE it when writers list their influences.” You need to keep in mind that these comments are the opinions of one individual, not a collective whole. If an agent’s webpage requests that you explain in your query all about how long it took you to write the book, that is their style — their bag, their quirk. That does not mean it’s a good across-the-board principle. My job is not to listen to the likes of one agent, but rather consult 20 different opinions and synthesize the best answer for you. And with that said, I think the above guidelines are pretty solid for aspiring authors. Good luck! Attend a writers conference in 2025:
 CHUCK SAMBUCHINO is a bestselling humor book writer, a freelance editor, and a former editor for Writer’s Digest Books for many years. During his time with WD Books, he edited the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS as well as the CHILDREN’S WRITER’S & ILLUSTRATOR’S MARKET. His Guide to Literary Agents Blog was one of the biggest blogs in publishing, averaging more than 350,000 page views each month. He was named by Forbes as one of the top influencers in publishing in recognition of his personal Twitter.
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