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How about a thread on building an agent list? Read on for how to choose agents, avoid “schmagents,” and figure out how to order the queries you send out
#amquerying #writingcommunity
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STEP 1: Know your age range and genre
The first thing you need to know about querying is about *your book* - what is your age range and genre? You want to make sure you’re querying agents who represent what you write.
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The first thing you need to know about querying is about *your book* - what is your age range and genre? You want to make sure you’re querying agents who represent what you write.
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If I’m querying a YA fantasy and submit to agents who only represent picture books…that’s not going to be useful for me, and it’s a waste of the agent’s time.
Once you have an age range and genre then you…
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Once you have an age range and genre then you…
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STEP 2: Know where to find agents to query
…need to build an agent list. And this requires knowing where to find info on agents!
(1) http://Manuscriptwishlist.com is a great resource to see what agents are looking for, but be careful - some profiles are outdated....
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…need to build an agent list. And this requires knowing where to find info on agents!
(1) http://Manuscriptwishlist.com is a great resource to see what agents are looking for, but be careful - some profiles are outdated....
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...and not all agents are on here.
(2) Twitter: You can search the hashtag #MSWL, or just follow agents on twitter. You can see what they’re tweeting about or whether they’re open to queries or closed.
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(2) Twitter: You can search the hashtag #MSWL, or just follow agents on twitter. You can see what they’re tweeting about or whether they’re open to queries or closed.
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(3) Old-fashioned googling: I started with this list ( https://literaryagencies.com/list-of-literary-agents/top-literary-agencies/) which I’m not endorsing, but it’s useful for figuring out the names of literary agencies. I then went to their websites and read through agent biographies.
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You can also find helpful articles on places like Writer’s Digest (ex. https://www.writersdigest.com/publishing-insights/20-literary-agents-actively-seeking-writers-and-their-writing)
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(4) Book acknowledgements: my personal favorite. When you read a book that’s a good comp for your work, go to the acknowledgements and find out who the author’s agent is! They’ll almost always be thanked.
So now you have info on agents. Time to...
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So now you have info on agents. Time to...
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STEP 3: Organize your research
You need to know a couple of things before you add an agent to your list - I advocate making a spreadsheet, but do whatever is most comfortable for you!
For each agent you want to query, note down:
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You need to know a couple of things before you add an agent to your list - I advocate making a spreadsheet, but do whatever is most comfortable for you!
For each agent you want to query, note down:
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(1) Are they open or closed to queries? If they’re closed, have they said when they’re going to open?
(2) How to they take queries? Email or querymanager?
(3) What query materials do they want? Query letter, synopsis, sample pages (what length)?
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(2) How to they take queries? Email or querymanager?
(3) What query materials do they want? Query letter, synopsis, sample pages (what length)?
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(4) **Important one:** is anyone else at their agency on your list? You can usually only query one agent at an agency at a time.
Make sure you have a place to track the queries you send out. This might be a spreadsheet, a journal, or an online resource like QueryTracker
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Make sure you have a place to track the queries you send out. This might be a spreadsheet, a journal, or an online resource like QueryTracker
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STEP 4: Be on alert
You want to make sure that your agent list doesn’t include any “schmagents” - fake agents, or bad actors in the agent community.
A few tips to help with this:
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You want to make sure that your agent list doesn’t include any “schmagents” - fake agents, or bad actors in the agent community.
A few tips to help with this:
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(1) QueryManager has a comments section, which can be a good resources for checking out agents and making sure there’s no consistently negative comments
(2) Publisher’s Marketplace is $$$, but if you can, subscribe for a month. Use it to check out how many sales...
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(2) Publisher’s Marketplace is $$$, but if you can, subscribe for a month. Use it to check out how many sales...
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... an agent has. If they’re only selling to small publishers w/ open subs or indies, they’re doing something that you can do yourself. If they're new w/ no sales, are they at a reputable agency that will provide mentorship for them as they get the hang of agenting?
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(3) Do a brief search on twitter for the agent’s name to see if there’s any very obvious dialogue about them being a bad actor. Good accounts to follow for this too are @YAWhispers and @victoriastrauss
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(4) My DMs are always open if you have questions! I have access to the YA publishing whisper network and I’m always happy to chat.
So now you have info on a bunch of agents and hopefully they're all reputable. You have a way to organize that info. Now time to...
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So now you have info on a bunch of agents and hopefully they're all reputable. You have a way to organize that info. Now time to...
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STEP 5: Query in batches
This is my preferred method of querying. You’re going to need a lot of agents on your list - I recommend like 50-100. I know that sounds like a lot, but there are many reputable literary agents out there, and it’s a numbers game to some extent!
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This is my preferred method of querying. You’re going to need a lot of agents on your list - I recommend like 50-100. I know that sounds like a lot, but there are many reputable literary agents out there, and it’s a numbers game to some extent!
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Sort agents into 3 categories:
(1) Perfect fit - like those who have a #MSWL request that matches your manuscript
(2) Good fit - like those who rep similar books, have vaguely similar #MSWL requests, etc
(3) Ok fit - those who rep the age range and genre in general
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(1) Perfect fit - like those who have a #MSWL request that matches your manuscript
(2) Good fit - like those who rep similar books, have vaguely similar #MSWL requests, etc
(3) Ok fit - those who rep the age range and genre in general
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Then make a list where you break down the agents into *batches* - groups of 6-10 agents. This should include 1-2 perfect fit, 2-4 good fit, 3-4 ok fit.
I usually suggest aiming for 7-8 agents per batch.
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I usually suggest aiming for 7-8 agents per batch.
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*Make sure none of them are in the same agency!! You need a pass from one agent at an agency before you query the next person at that agency.*
This is where a spreadsheet can really come in handy for keeping track of things. Color code agents at the same agency.
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This is where a spreadsheet can really come in handy for keeping track of things. Color code agents at the same agency.
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Why the ranking? You don’t want to waste your shot with all the agents all at once. If you don’t get full requests with your first batch, your query package might need work. If you get full requests and then rejections, you might need to work on your manuscript.
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If you query all agents at once, you can’t take the chance to improve the manuscript. If you query in batches, you can adjust based on feedback (or lack thereof) from each batch. Same for “perfect fit” agents - don’t query them all at once, in case you need to adjust.
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Querying is slow, but wait a month between batches b/f sending out more queries. If you’ve heard from *no one* from a batch, maybe give it an extra two weeks. But you do have to keep things moving. Ten batches will take you almost a year to get through w/ 6 weeks b/w!
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So that’s it! Make your list, research the agents, and then arrange them into a list so you query in batches. And cross your fingers! For more on this, visit http://query101.blog .
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And if you’re querying and haven’t gotten that elusive agent offer, or you just want personalized help, I do query package editing as well as full-manuscript editing as well! I’m delighted to help, and you can find rates and info at http://query101.blog/editing-services
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