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I've been researching agents lately, and the writing world is overloaded with advice on the subject. Who do you believe? Me? Your mom? Or a real-live agent?

If you guessed "a real-live agent," then you win a prize--a look at a successful agent query letter, complete with commentary from a real-live agent. Don't listen to anybody else--this is smart, concise and level-headed advice from the Nelson Literary Agency.

I found this letter, and many other letters, at the Agent Query website. If you are interested in checking out the novel produced by that agent query letter, check out Bachelorette #1--it launched Jennifer O'Connell's excellent career.

Read the full letter here, but here's a sample of her agent's thoughts:  "Even if your work is not Chick Lit, you as the writer still must spotlight the hook that makes your narrative different from every other story ever written. There are no new themes under the sun; only original ways to tell that story. Tell me what is your fresh and original take."