Host & Guest
Guest
Patrick McDonald
Host
Kathleen Kaiser &
Adanna Moriarty
About This Episode
On Querying Literary Agents the Right Way with QueryTracker
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the querying process, you’re not alone.
In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Patrick McDonald, the creator of QueryTracker—the platform that has become the gold standard for querying literary agents. What started as one writer trying to organize his own submissions has grown into one of the most trusted tools in the publishing industry today.
This conversation pulls back the curtain on the business side of writing—what’s really happening when you hit “send” on that query, and how authors can approach the process more strategically instead of just guessing.
In this episode, we cover:
- How QueryTracker became an essential tool for authors
- What data can tell you about agent behavior and response times
- Why querying feels so difficult (and how to make it more manageable)
- The biggest mistakes authors make with query letters and comp titles
- How QT Critique is helping writers get real, honest feedback
- Why persistence—and patience—matter more than you think
Patrick also shares insights from his upcoming book, The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents, built from 20 years of answering authors’ most common questions.
Listen now and take the guesswork out of querying.
We’d like to hear from you. If you have topics or speakers you’d like us to interview, please email us at podcast@talkingbookpublishing.today and join the conversation in the comments on our Instagram @writerspubsnet.
About our guest
Patrick McDonald
Patrick McDonald is the creator of QueryTracker and QueryManager, the industry-leading online querying tools. He has been bringing agents and authors together for 17 years.
The confusion and guessing games of the querying process end here. From two industry experts who built and work with the tools literary agents use daily, a step-by-step, proven guide for turning queries into representation, backed by real data and exclusive insights from over four million queries.
For the first time ever, aspiring authors have access to unprecedented querying data that transforms guesswork into strategic action. More than 500,000 authors have used QueryTracker and QueryManager to send queries, creating the largest database of querying interactions in publishing history. This treasure trove of real-world data reveals exactly what works—and what doesn’t—when approaching literary agents.
Gone are the days of relying on contradictory online advice or outdated industry wisdom. Written by industry experts Alyssa Matesic, a developmental editor with Big Five publishing experience, and Patrick McDonald, creator of the industry’s leading querying platforms, this comprehensive guide walks you through every step of the querying journey, from knowing when you’re ready to query to interpreting rejections and everything in between.
Through this essential resource, you’ll master the complete querying process and gain the practical tools to:
- Write compelling query letters that stand out in crowded inboxes using proven techniques from successful queries
- Identify and target the right agents for your specific book using data-driven selection methods
- Set realistic expectations for response times, rejection rates, and the overall timeline to representation
- Navigate agent interactions professionally and strategically throughout the entire process
- Interpret rejections constructively and know when and how to revise your approach
Immediately applicable and encouraging throughout, this essential guide transforms the dreaded “querying trenches” into a navigable pathway to your publishing dreams.
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I have been writing a book for over 12 years now. This is my first time writing and I am definitely interested in someone reviewing and providing constructive evaluation of my writing. How do I connect with an appropriate person? Thanks for your kind assistance.
you need an editor, if you are looking for just feedback alone, query out for beta readers, or writer’s digest 2nd draft is a paid service that uses editors to give feedback. Query tracker has a new service, the link is in the episodes description on their service too.
It is an agency’s prerogative not to accept a second query if you have been rejected once. Also, in the query guide is says not to send your query to a second agent in the same company. My implicit reading of this is that you
may send a query to a different agent in the same company as they may be
more welcoming to your query than the original agent…
Is it standard NOT to send a second query to a company, because one strike and you are OUT?
I would spend some time researching the agency. each organization is different. but generally, if its a bigger or well known agency, if you have been rejected, you will most likely be again by them.