The question of query organization comes up a lot at The Work Conference, and what I've learned over the years is that very few agents care how you begin, so long as 1) the opening is intriguing and 2) the housekeeping (title/genre/audience/word count) appears somewhere in the query.

If you've got a great "X meets Y" comp ("My book is The Breakfast Club meets Alien"), it can be helpful to lead with that, since it clearly establishes expectations. The natural structure of an X-meets-Y would likely lead you to include housekeeping right up front. But let's say you're writing something with a super-catchy hook ("MC will be dead by midnight if she can't open the puzzle box her twin sister left behind when she disappeared without a trace nearly three years ago.") -- in that case, you can draw us in with narrative before housekeeping, and you're still accomplishing your goal.

Remember that the purpose of a query is to get agents excited about your enclosed pages. However that's best accomplished for YOUR story is the "right" answer (if there is such a thing).

Finally, I want to say that querying is tedious and difficult -- and you'll drive yourself bonkers trying to figure out if agents like housekeeping before or after a synopsis. Most don't care. Allocate your time and attention to better personalization and a crackerjack synopsis instead.

@C.M. Fick I love your #MSWL example... And it's a prime reason why I default my metadata to top. I almost ALWAYS personalize and it's super easy to blend my metadata into a personalization to make a smooth transition into the query.

However, without the personalization transition... I also still prefer to default to the top. I've had several editors and agents state a preference to have it at the top, and it isn't necessarily stated on their websites, blogs, or otherwise. I have a theory that it's a way for agents especially to quickly parse through queries for books that are either too short or long for their genre as well as people querying genres that the agent doesn't rep, so it's a matter of consideration. But YMMV.

I DO agree that you should follow ANY and ALL preferences and instructions that are specified by an agent or editor. So, if they want it at the bottom, to the bottom it goes!

Thanks, Cassandra. That's helpful!

So, the opinion on the metadata paragraph varies.

Some recommend putting it up front after Dear Agent, some suggest jumping straight into the query to leave the metadata paragraph for the end. It is a hotly debated subject in some areas of the writing community.

Personally, I research agents preferences through a variety of resources (Twitter #MSWL / manuscriptwishlist.com / mswishlist.com / Agency sites / Agent blog--just to name a few) to find out if they prefer it above or below the summary and I try to follow whatever the agent prefers. I also default mine to the bottom if there is no specification, but others will argue this should be defaulted to the top (@Angela Super, do you mind providing the counter argument here?).

Whichever you choose to do, that 's ultimately for you to decide which works best for you. Keep things succinct and polite and try to keep your overall query to around 350 words.

Here is an example of my opening with an MSWL:

"Dear Agent X,

I am querying because of your #MSWL tweet on 12/30/18 stating you’re looking for “Wild, different adult fantasy. Vivid worlds I've never imagined. Dramatic politics.” and I feel my manuscript would be a good fit. FROM ASHES OF THE PAST is a 126,000-word, multi-POV, adult epic fantasy. With lyrical writing similar to Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, the story’s intricate world and mythology will appeal to fans of City of Brass."

My closing without an MSWL (closing with MSWL was identical to opening just after the summary):

"...[closing line of summary paragraphs]

FROM ASHES OF THE PAST is a 127,000-word, multi-POV, adult epic fantasy. With lyrical writing similar to Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, the story’s intricate world and mythology will appeal to fans of City of Brass.

Bio

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Cassandra Fick (writing as C.M. Fick)"