A few weeks ago, Stephen Barbara wrote a very tongue-in-cheek article for PW about query letters, and ever since there's been a flurry of debate. I bet he's quite pleased at getting to ruffle some feathers...but if I were him, I'd also be a bit annoyed at how inaccurately some people have interpreted his point. He's not saying get rid of queries. He just wishes they would go back to matching up with the quality of the rest of the book. (Stephen, if I'm wrong, I trust you'll let me know.) I too have noticed that query letters have taken on a uniformity, which makes you wonder if they are just getting work-shopped to death in a way the actual manuscripts are not. There's so much information out there, that I sometimes worry that the actual craft of writing is suffering at the hands of the craft of how to write query letters. Attending conferences gives me this same mixed-emotion. Are we harping on the wrong points? Why aren't we being more constructive on the actual book? While some reform to the system might be needed, in the end, I think I agree with Nathan Bransford who blogged about it yesterday. Good queries make my life easier. The clearer the better. The more succinct and focused the better. That way I know what your book is about quickly, and can immediately tell if it's something I want to read.  I've heard writers complain that they shouldn't be expected to have a perfect query--they should have a perfect book. But I choose to rely on the age-old wisdom supported and preached about by such luminaries as Miss Snark, Janet Reid, Jennifer Jackson, the Book Ends team and all those other trailblazing agent bloggers: You are applying for a writing job. The query--being a form of writing--counts. But, I will make a concession: I know that the query is not the novel. And I will gladly admit that to first-hand knowledge about how difficult professional, formal letters are to write. Whenever I've had to write a cover letter for a job, I too have clammed up, and hoped to hell they'd just look at my resume to see I was worthy. So...that's why here at CJLA, and at many other agencies, we also ask for the first 3-5 pages of your book in the email itself. Yes, the query count. Yes, I want the basic info up front so I can see right away if it's for me. But I also like those 3-5 pages. And trust me, I read them. If you do your query right, I have, right in front of me, two styles of writing of yours. And both count. Nathan said it well: "It's still relatively easy to spot the ones with a special zing that, for whatever reason, connect with my interests and taste... There's no formula for the best ones, and truly good writing can't be imitated or faked."  When I look at my clients whom I've signed from queries (as opposed to referrals or conferences), they all had solid query letters. They gave me the right information, they could sum up their book, and I could see that it was a story I was interested in. And then....when I read their book, it lived up to its promise.  So my advice to all you aspiring writers out there seeking representation: whether it's your novel or the query introducing your novel, just do the best damned job you can. I promise it'll be worth it.