How to Write a Query Letter in AutoCrit

Querying a traditional publisher or literary agent can feel overwhelming. A strong query letter needs to introduce your story clearly, show where it fits in the market, highlight the stakes, and present your manuscript in a professional way, all within a short amount of space.

AutoCrit's Query Letter Planner is designed to help you approach that process with more confidence. Instead of guessing what your query letter, synopsis, or agent research should include, you can generate story-based recommendations, add your own materials, and run targeted analysis to see where your submission materials may need improvement.

The Query Letter Planner includes three main areas:

Query Letter

Synopsis

Agent Match

Each area includes recommendation tools, writing/input areas, and analysis tools to help you refine your submission package step by step.

Dear {Agent First Name},
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My name is {legal name} and I am seeking representation for {title}, a {###,###}-word {Genre, Genre, Genre} {type of book}. This book/series would be {ideal, perfect, your own wording} for readers who love {trope/theme/style/character type} from {comp #1} and {trope/theme/style/character type} from {comp #2} with {unique selling factor that is only in your book}.
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{Elevator Pitch Here}
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{Expand on Elevator Pitch for One Paragraph}
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{Author Bio}
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{Call to Action & Thanks for Their Time}
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{Your Name}

The Query Letter section helps you move from your story content to a stronger, more focused query letter.

Step 1: Generate recommendations based on your story

Start by clicking the Generate button in the recommendations area.

AutoCrit will review your story and provide guidance on what your query letter should include. This feedback is designed to help you identify the most important pieces of information to include before you begin writing it.

The recommendations may cover areas such as:

As an AI-assistive feature, this will not write the letter for you. The recommendations are there to help you understand what your letter should focus on when you write it.

Step 2: Write your query letter

Once you have reviewed the recommendations, write your query letter in the Query Letter input area.

As an AI-assisted writing platform, AutoCrit does not write the query letter on your behalf in this section. This allows you to keep creative control over your submission materials and avoid producing something that feels generic, formulaic, or overly AI-generated.

Your query letter should still sound like you. The recommendations can help you decide what to include, but the final wording, emphasis, and presentation remain in your hands.

A typical query letter often includes:

For more guidance on the basics of writing a query letter, you can read our blog post here: AutoCrit Query Letter Blog Post.

Step 3: Analyze and improve your letter

After writing your query letter, use the analysis tool to evaluate it.

The analysis will give you focused feedback on how effectively your letter presents your story, communicates the stakes, positions the manuscript, and introduces you as the author.

You can then revise your letter and analyze it again as needed.

The Query Letter Analysis section helps you evaluate whether your query letter is doing its job.

This feature reviews if your letter is clear, compelling, focused, and professionally positioned.

Hook / Opening

This checks whether the opening captures attention quickly and gives the agent a reason to keep reading.

It may identify whether the opening feels too vague, too slow, too generic, or unclear.

Story Premise

This checks whether the query clearly communicates the protagonist, the core situation, and the central concept of the book.

If the premise is hard to follow, too broad, or buried under too many details, the analysis can flag that.
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​Stakes and Conflict
This checks whether the query makes the conflict and consequences clear.

A strong query should show what the protagonist wants, what stands in the way, and why the outcome matters.

Market Positioning

This checks whether the query clearly signals the manuscript’s genre, age category, audience, and market fit.

This is especially important because agents need to quickly understand where the book belongs.

Author Positioning

This checks whether the author bio supports the submission appropriately.

The analysis does not expect every author to have publishing credentials. If you are a debut author, the focus will be on whether your bio feels specific, relevant, and connected to your genre, themes, or perspective.

The goal is to help you identify what may be weakening your letter so you can revise with a clearer sense of direction.

The Synopsis section helps you prepare a clear and complete synopsis based on the major events and structure of your manuscript.

To begin, click the Generate button in the synopsis recommendations area.

AutoCrit will review your story and provide guidance on what your synopsis should include.

This may include feedback on:

Unlike a query letter, a synopsis usually needs to reveal the full story, including major twists and the ending. The purpose is not to tease the agent, but to show that the story has a complete and satisfying narrative arc.

Once you have reviewed the recommendations, write or paste your synopsis into the synopsis input area.

After adding your synopsis, use the Synopsis Analysis tool to evaluate it.

This feature checks how well your synopsis matches the recommended structure for your story.

The analysis may review:

Core Story Beats

This checks whether the synopsis includes the major plot points in a clear order from beginning to end.

If important events are missing or the progression feels confusing, the analysis can identify those gaps.

Side Plot Integration

This checks whether secondary plotlines are included only where they support the main story.

A synopsis can become difficult to follow if it gives too much space to side plots that do not affect the central arc.

Character Arc and Growth

This checks whether the protagonist’s development is clear and connected to major story events.

A strong synopsis should show not only what happens, but how the main character is changed by what happens.

Twists and Major Revelations

This checks whether important reveals are clearly included.

Unlike a back cover blurb, a synopsis should usually disclose the full shape of the story, including major turns.

Ending and Resolution

This checks whether the ending is complete, specific, and satisfying.

The analysis may flag endings that feel vague, unresolved, or too lightly explained.

Clarity, Pacing, and Focus

This checks whether the synopsis is easy to follow and balanced in its level of detail.

The goal is to avoid both extremes: a synopsis that is too thin to show the story properly, or one that becomes a chapter-by-chapter list of events.

The Agent Match section helps you think more strategically about which agents, imprints, and markets may be the best fit for your manuscript.

Step 1: Generate agent and market recommendations

Click the Generate button in the agent recommendations area.

AutoCrit will review your story and provide guidance on the types of agents and markets that may be appropriate for your manuscript.

This may include feedback on:

This section will not list specific agent names or contact details. Instead, it helps you understand what kind of agent or publisher you should be looking for.

Step 2: Add the agent’s wishlist

Once you have found an agent you are interested in querying, copy the relevant information from their wishlist, manuscript wish list, agency profile, or submission page into the Agent Wishlist input area.

This could include details such as:

Step 3: Analyze the fit

After adding the agent’s wishlist, run the Agent Fit Analysis.

This analysis evaluates how well your manuscript appears to align with that agent’s stated preferences.

It may review:

The analysis may identify the agent as a strong, moderate, or weak fit for your manuscript based on the information provided.

This can help you make more informed choices before sending out your query.

The Query Letter Planner works best when you treat it as a revision and planning tool, not a replacement for your own judgment.

For best results:

A strong submission package is clear, focused, and specific. AutoCrit can help you see where your materials are working and where they may need improvement, so you can query with more confidence.

Happy Querying!
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