Examples:
1. Synopsis maximums–one page, or three page, or full (but usually no more than five pages)
2. Query letter–personalized to them (requiring individualized research)
3. First chapter, or first five chapters, or first 5000 words, or first 10,000 words, or first 20,000 words
4. Submissions via email, embedding everything within the email's text, attaching everything required as PDFs or Word files to your email, or pasting all your submissions materials into their or a third party's submission online form.

The bottom line is you can't prepare just a one-for-all query presentation. Even at your most organized (unless you're an AI whiz-dangerous, btw) you'll require a significant amount of time formatting and reformatting your query and materials to fit their expectations. And, at that, my conclusion is that while most know definitively what they do want, few are really quite sure what they do want–which makes the process even more problematic.

The bottom line is, since querying is also a numbers game, that to send out the number of queries you should in three months, it''s going to swallow up a huge amount of your time. I gave my second book a year and 86 queries. Made it to a second level discussion twice.

Like most subjective endeavors, investing in someone else's opinion over your own can be lethal to your passion.

Thanks for reaffirming these important lessons when querying!

Best Always,

I'm no ready for querying again yet, but I'll try to keep this in mind when I do.

Three months is short for giving your manuscript a serious shot. Look at the agents you find and see what their reply times are. Many are swamped. Some reply in minutes, and other in six months. I'd hate to see you lose your shot because you were strict with this deadline.

Meanwhile, happy sales to you.

3 months is a very short period, but it is all I’m willing to give.

You and I are querying for the same reason. This book fits the current market, so it gets a chance to fly.

Good luck with your querying as well!!

I will say when I my (now, award-winning) series, I got a lot of useful feedback, like "Are you planning on making this two books." Ah, it was too long. Ultimately, I got excited about indie publishing and quit querying. That was back when agents actually gave rejection feedback. It's tough out there, now.

I, too am querying again, but that's because my current manuscript feels much more commercial.

I also think querying helps you understand your story and your pitch and will help you later if you indie publish!

Best of luck. I hope you get your dream agent!!!!

I agree. I want to know why I was rejected, it helps me to figure out what I need to change or not change. Unfortunately, when you are querying, you get very little of that.

I love the way you look at publishing and your own writing, it is very refreshing!