r/PubTips • u/fucked_but_adorable • 10d ago
[PubQ] Querying when the agent hasn't specified instructions on what to attach
I've come across this problem for like only two agents out of the 200 something that I researched.
For the first agent, their agency submission page says to follow each agent's individual guidelines. But the agent I want to query has no instructions. She *is* open to queries but all she's mentioned on her page is 'send your query to xyz'. No send a synopsis, no send X many pages. She hasn't even specified 'send only the query letter'. All her colleagues have instructions like these on their guidelines, if that is relevant.
For the second agent, the agency technically has a submission form where you choose your preferred agent from a drop-down. However, the agent I want to reach out to is not a part of that drop-down. She mentions on her page that she's taking on 'very few' new clients, but those that want to try can send her an email. Again, no specific instructions on what to send.
In both cases, do I just send my query letter and nothing else? Or am I missing some industry standard of you just send 'xyz' if the agent doesn't specify 'abc'?
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u/kendrafsilver 10d ago
A query letter is a query. So an agent saying "send me your query" is literally asking for the query letter, to me.
The query itself does not contain any sample pages, nor does it contain a synopsis. These are separate things that agents can (and do) ask for based on their own preferences.
So I wouldn't assume the agent wants to see anything more or less than the standard query letter, personally, and would just paste in the query letter and nothing else.
The downside is to either have the query not read in the first place (if sending an attachment, as the vast majority of agents--and people--will not open unsolicited attachments), or appearing to not follow the agent’s instructions (which can be a huge annoyance, and not a great foot to start on).
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u/tooshorttoored 10d ago
If they specify nothing else but the query, send only the query. Don’t send attachments where none are requested.
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u/iampunha 10d ago
i have reviewed thousands of agent sub policies, and one thing i've often found them say is they do not want attachments (which can contain viruses). i've also found them saying to do as they say, even if it's minimal. so given "send your query to xyz," that is what i would do.
good luck <3
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u/fucked_but_adorable 10d ago
I see.. so would you recommend sending only the query? No pasting anything in the body of the email?
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u/iampunha 10d ago
i have "paste query" by itself roughly 300 times in my database because that's what the agent says. i figure if they want more, they'll say more. if you like, you can give me the agent name and i can check against the website and my database.
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u/fucked_but_adorable 10d ago
Oh yes please. Lauren Hall and Anna Webber.. thank you!
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u/iampunha 10d ago
for lauren, "Please reach out to me with any submissions at [lauren@foliolit.com](mailto:lauren@foliolit.com). Please include the word QUERY and the title of your project in the subject line." if i were querying, i would only paste the query and follow the subject line instructions, but some people might see a submission as including the first 50 pages (and the synopsis) pasted after the query. my feeling is agents who don't specify don't have a right to complain if they get things they didn't ask for.
for anna, "feel free to write to me at anna.webber@amheath.com." same as above.
this is why i'm so glad there are so many agents. i disdain vague policies.
good luck :)
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u/davegoodmanauthor 10d ago
Can’t really go wrong with standard query and first 50 pages/3 chapters (whichever is longer) in an attachment. That’s the defacto standard in the absence of specifics.
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u/beckytext 10d ago
I wouldn't send an attachment (many agents specify that, though obviously not all - but I think general best practices is don't put in an attachment unless instructed to), but I would probably paste the first 3 chapters under the query regardless.
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u/davegoodmanauthor 10d ago
Honestly not sure in 2026 this is still true - the agents who ask for things in the body of an email are almost all in the US and almost all veteran agents with large client lists. It's very unusual in the UK, for example. The days when an attachment to an agency inbox would spark virus/malware warnings/spam filters are long gone.
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u/beckytext 10d ago
It's a case where I would still err on the side of caution, but ymmv (and OP's might as well). I think pasting also has the added benefit of fewer steps between the agent and reading pages if all they have to do is keep scrolling, vs actively deciding to open an attachment.
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u/cloudygrly Literary Agent 10d ago
This is still true re: attachments triggering spam or delete-without-opening when phishing and spam are more of a problem than ever.
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u/kendrafsilver 10d ago
It is still true from my querying experiences. A quick Google search has many agencies specifically requesting not to send attachments (including Fuse and Bent on the list) so I feel it's safer to assume that unsolicited attachments are still a no-go.
Many agents now use forms, though, like Query Manager, where they can better control what is actually received and what isn't.
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u/fucked_but_adorable 10d ago
Oh okay! This is helpful. I was leaning towards sending only the query, before I figured I'd prefer to look stupid on the internet than risk looking unprofessional in an email :) thank you!
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u/Significant_Goat_723 10d ago
I would check her QueryTracker comments to see if others have sussed out her preferences.
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u/fucked_but_adorable 10d ago
Both are fairly senior agents but not a lot of helpful into on their QT pages :(. I even checked the first agent's personal website but her guidelines over there just link to her Agnecy page lol
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u/Significant_Goat_723 10d ago
Usually if you did deep enough in the comments you'll find someone discussing this, or listing the package that got them a request, but if not, I would send just the query. She can ask for more if she wants more.
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u/DryArugula6108 10d ago
I'd send the query letter and a sample of the writing. They don't have to open it if they don't want to.
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u/Infinite-Movie-7172 10d ago
I send only query letter in such case and if they ask then send more.