How to Import Your Existing Queries into QueryTo

Already tracking your literary agent queries in a spreadsheet? You don't have to enter them all again. QueryTo lets you import your existing query records so you can continue tracking submissions, responses, and manuscript requests in one place.

Here's how to get your spreadsheet ready and import your queries.

Step 1: Prepare Your File You Wish to Import

Before uploading your file, make sure your spreadsheet is organized and contains the information you want to import.

Check your columns

Your spreadsheet should include the following information where available:

1. Project: The manuscript you queried.
2. Genre, Age Category, and Word Count: Details about your manuscript.
3. Agent Name and Agency: Who you queried.
4. Email Address: The agent's email, if applicable.
5. Date Sent: When you sent the query.
6. Query Method: How you submitted it.
7. Query Reply: The latest response you received.
8. Query Reply Date: When you received that response.

Keep only the latest response for each query

QueryTo imports the latest query status, not the full history of responses.

For example, if an agent requested your full manuscript in January but rejected it in March, your spreadsheet should show:

1. Query Reply: Rejected
2. Query Reply Date: The date of the March rejection

Mark unanswered queries as Submitted

If you've sent a query but haven't received a response, enter Submitted in the Query Reply column.

Otherwise, QueryTo may import the query as a draft.

Match Your Query Methods and Reply Statuses to QueryTo

Before importing, check that the values in your spreadsheet match the options available in QueryTo. This helps ensure your queries are imported with the correct information.

Query Method

QueryTo supports the following submission methods:

1. Query Tracker
2. E-mail
3. Submission Form
4. Postal
5. Other

For example, if your spreadsheet says Email, change it to E-mail to match QueryTo's option.

Query Reply

Use the following statuses to record the latest response to each query:

1. Submitted
2. Partial Request
3. Full Request
4. Form Rejection
5. Personalized Rejection
6. R&R (Revise & Resubmit)
7. CNR (Closed No Response)
8. Withdrawn
9. Closed

For example, if your spreadsheet says Full Manuscript Requested, change it to Full Request.

If an agent requested your manuscript and later rejected it, use the rejection status rather than the earlier request. Remember, you're importing the latest response, not every response you've received.

If you're still waiting for a response, enter Submitted.

Delete columns you don't want to import

Remove any extra columns containing information you don't need in QueryTo. For example, if you've already moved the latest submission response into your Query Reply column, you can delete the old Submission Reply column.

This keeps your file simple and prevents unnecessary information from being included in the import.

Save your file once you've finished making these changes.

Step 2: Upload Your File to QueryTo

1. Sign in to QueryTo.
2. Go to Queries → Import File, or select Import Queries from your dashboard's Workspace Shortcuts.
3. Choose your saved spreadsheet file.

Step 3: Match Your Spreadsheet Columns

QueryTo will display the available import fields alongside dropdown menus containing your spreadsheet's column names.

For each field, select the column that contains the matching information.

Pay particular attention to:

1. Date Sent: The date you originally queried the agent.
2. Query Reply: Your latest query status.
3. Latest Reply Date: The date of that latest response.
4. Submission Method: The method you used to send the query.

If your spreadsheet doesn't include a Project column, choose a Default Project so QueryTo knows which manuscript to associate with the imported queries.

Once you've matched your columns, check the preview of the first five rows to make sure everything looks correct.

Step 4: Review Your Queries

If QueryTo identifies any unmapped columns, review them before continuing. If you don't need those columns, confirm that they can be discarded.

Next, select Review Queries.

QueryTo will show a summary of your import, including the number of queries, agents, and projects identified.

Check these details before proceeding.

Step 5: Complete Your Import

Once everything looks correct, confirm your import.

Your imported queries will be available in QueryTo, where you can continue tracking agent responses and managing your submissions.

Step 6: Watch the Video Tutorial

Prefer to see the process in action? Watch our step-by-step video tutorial to follow along as we prepare a spreadsheet, match its columns, and import 200 queries into QueryTo.

Watch the Import Queries Tutorial on YouTube