Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Agency recently told Writer’s Digest magazine that

About 60% of my list comes from unsolicited queries.”

Sixty percent is a strong number. Since so many agents these days want only the query letter or a query letter plus a book proposal (the two items authors use to pitch fiction and nonfiction), be sure to hone both those items.

Yes, a query and a book proposal can be the toughest things you’ll ever write…especially if you don’t have a background in publishing, marketing, or the entertainment industry. So take a class. Get feedback from other writers. Do whatever is necessary to make your initial (and possibly your only) contact with an agent stand out from the rest.