emailing anyway

In a word, don't. Agents who do not accept email queries will not read yours. At all. No matter how brilliant your manuscript. They will delete it and remember your name. When they receive your query through standard mail, they'll look at it and say, "Oh, yeah. This is the guy who cannot follow directions" and take a pass.

Agents give those instructions for a reason. It's to make the submission process easier for the both of you and if they can't, don't, and won't accept email queries, you'll need to send snail mail.

I wouldn't suggest it! Why go directly against what the agent and agency has told you? The agent may accidentally open your email but I would imagine she would think it unprofessional. Agents and/or publishers don't want to waste their precious time with unprofessional writers.

gettingby said:

Has anyone had any luck with email querying an agent that does not accept email queries? Ok, maybe sounds like a strange question, but I think sometimes these agents must open those emails. And if they were interested in the book, why not respond over email? Have any of you tried doing this?

Click to expand...

I got an actual agent rep offer doing this, but I wouldn't suggest it.

But, I was just at a point-of-no-return. And my laced up S.W.A.T boots were kicking, placing my query--the Point, before me.
It's risky and all in all you should try to respect their wishes, but meh... sometimes a rule is not set in stone...
ETA: If you follow their guidelines, snailmail, you have a better chance of them asking for the partial with the query, sometimes

The closest I've come to this is bypassing an online submission form. I just sent an email to the agent and received a partial request within minutes. It was ulimately a pass, but that had nothing to do with my not following directions. However, that's a different situation from email VS snail mail, I guess.

uh i disagree...my agent did not like equeries and I sent mine to her anyway and she signed me and sold my book...
Just sayin'

I've done this plenty of times and snagged numerous requests.

I think what this thread is proving is that anytime you break the rules it is a gamble. Some agents who state they do not accept e-queries might still read them and it can pay off. However there are many agents who will just get annoyed that you didn't follow the directions. Decide if the gamble is worth it for you.