How to Write Query Letter Stakes: The Formula Literary Agents Want to See

What’s the difference between a query letter that gets rejected and one that gets a full manuscript request?

Often, it comes down to one sentence.

The stakes sentence.

During our #YourQueries Live event with literary agent Noelle Falcis Math from Transatlantic Literary Agency, one pattern emerged again and again: the queries that caught her attention all ended their synopses with crystal-clear stakes.

Not vague stakes. Not implied stakes. Not “readers will have to wait and see” stakes.

Clear, specific, impossible-to-miss stakes.

What Are Query Letter Stakes (And Why Do They Matter)?

Stakes are the heart of your query letter. They answer the fundamental question every agent asks while reading:

What does your protagonist stand to lose if they fail?

Or, put another way: What choice must they make, and what will it cost them?

“Putting the stakes in a way that’s very, very clear is really, really helpful for the agents to sort of latch onto,” Noelle explained. “We need to know what the tension of a project is. Is it something with enough tension to carry us through a 48K word project? Does it have enough tension to sustain for a 60K novel?”

Without clear stakes, your query feels flat—even if the writing is beautiful and the plot is solid.

The Stakes Formula That Works Every Time

After reviewing nine queries during the masterclass, Noelle highlighted this pattern in every strong submission:

[Character] must decide if [choice/action] is worth [consequence/risk]

That’s it. That’s the formula.

Simple, clear, powerful.

Let’s break down why this formula works and how to use it in your own query.

How to Write Your Own Stakes Sentence

Follow these steps to craft a stakes sentence that will catch an agent’s attention:

Step 1: Identify Your Protagonist’s Goal

What does your main character want more than anything?

• CHARACTER A wants to go to art camp
• CHARACTER B wants to know the truth about her adoption
• CHARACTER C wants to contain the supernatural threat

Step 2: Name the Obstacle

What’s standing in their way?

• CHARACTER A’s family disapproves of him going to art camp
• CHARACTER B’s grandmother might be hiding dangerous secrets
• CHARACTER C’s past trauma is tied to the current crisis

Step 3: Define the Cost

What will they lose if they pursue their goal?

• CHARACTER A risks family relationships and the prize money
• CHARACTER B risks her safety and relationships
• CHARACTER C must face painful memories

Step 4: Combine Into One Sentence

Use the formula: [Character] must decide if [choice/action] is worth [consequence/risk]

Step 5: Make It Specific

Don’t write: “Sarah must choose between love and duty”

Do write: “Sarah must decide if marrying for love is worth losing her inheritance and disappointing her dying mother”

Common Stakes Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

During the masterclass, Noelle pointed out several queries that struggled with stakes. Here are the most common problems:

Mistake #1: Withholding Information

Don’t do this: “Eventually, I make peace” (leaving agents wondering how–and what they were fighting over in the first place)

Do this: “I must make peace with grief as a permanent companion”

Noelle explained: “I would need to know what the writer means by this. Because I also think maybe this truce is going to inform what the new angle is as well.”

Mistake #2: Too Much Setup, Not Enough Plot

When queries spent multiple paragraphs on backstory and world-building before getting to the actual story, Noelle consistently said the same thing: condense the setup and focus on the stakes.

“Give yourself space to do more coverage here,” she advised one fantasy writer, “and then go back in this earlier section and condense where it makes sense.”

Mistake #3: Vague Stakes

Don’t do this: “She must find her way forward” or “He must learn what really matters”

Do this: “She must choose between accepting her best friend’s death as an accident or investigating the evidence that suggests murder—risking her own safety and destroying her friend’s reputation”

Mistake #4: No Clear Decision Point

If your protagonist is just reacting to events without having to make a choice, your stakes aren’t working.

Stakes require agency. Your character must decide something, choose something, risk something.

How Stakes Differ by Genre

The formula stays the same, but emphasis shifts by genre:

Literary Fiction

Focus on internal conflict and what the choice reveals about the character

Example: “Marcus must decide if exposing his father’s war crimes is worth destroying his family’s legacy and his own peace”

Romance

Balance personal growth with relationship stakes

Example: “Claire must decide if risking her heart again is worth the chance at real love—even if it means leaving behind the safe life she’s built”

Mystery/Thriller

Emphasize physical danger and truth vs. safety

Example: “Detective Ramirez must choose between following the evidence that implicates her partner or protecting him from a conspiracy that could kill them both”

Fantasy/Science Fiction

Include both personal and world-level stakes

Example: “Kira must decide if saving her brother is worth betraying the rebellion and dooming her entire world to eternal darkness”

For more on how genre affects other aspects of your query, including word count, check out our guide to query letter word count by genre.

Where Stakes Go in Your Query

Your stakes sentence should be the final sentence of your synopsis section.

Here’s the typical query structure:

1. Opening/personalization (1 sentence)

2. Hook (1 sentence)

3. Book details: title, word count, genre, comps (1-2 sentences)

4. Synopsis (1-2 paragraphs)

5. Stakes sentence ← This is the climax of your synopsis

6. Author bio (1 paragraph)

As Noelle emphasized: “Certainly, having something like this as a closer to your synopsis section is always gonna do you a lot of really strong favors.”

Testing Your Stakes Sentence

Ask yourself these questions:

Is it specific? Can someone who hasn’t read your book understand exactly what’s at risk?

Is it compelling? Would you want to read this book based on this choice?

Is it clear? Is there any confusion about what the character must decide?

Does it show enough tension? Will this decision carry a full novel?

If you can answer yes to all four, you’ve nailed your stakes.

Your Next Steps

Take your current query letter and look at your synopsis ending. Does it have a clear stakes sentence following the formula?

If not, rewrite it now using:

[Character] must decide if [choice/action] is worth [consequence/risk]

Be specific. Be clear. Make the choice emotionally resonant.

Then ask someone who hasn’t read your manuscript to read just your query. Can they tell you exactly what your protagonist must decide and what they stand to lose?

If yes, you’re ready to query.

If you’re preparing to send queries soon, timing matters too. Check out our guide on when to query literary agents to maximize your chances of success.

Ready to see more query letter examples with proper stakes? Download our free Query Letter Masterclass notes, featuring literary agent Noelle Falcis Math’s real-time reactions to actual queries.

What’s the biggest challenge you face when writing stakes? Let us know!