Q&A Thursday

ROI Edition

Hello friends!

Shall we answer some questions today?

M asks: I started querying earlier this year and have sent around 20 so far. My problem is that it takes me an average of two hours (sometimes more!) to send a query/fill out query manager. I have all the elements done already. The part that's taking me so long is researching each agent to write those first couple of personalized sentences. I read all their interviews, watch panels they were on, scroll their social media feeds, etc. Clearly, I'm not managing my time well, but I find it very difficult to write genuine personalization if I don't spend that time researching. Should I stop personalizing my queries altogether? Or are there strategies to cut down this research time? 

Oh goodness, do not spend two hours on those two sentences in each query!! I mean, I might be an outlier when it comes to this specific part of query letters, but I care nary a hoot about the personalization part. If there happens to be something very specific