Query question...agents vs. publishers

James81 · Aug 19, 2009

Not sure where to put this, so I'll put it here. If it works better somewhere, then please move it there. Thanks.

Anyway, from what I understand, most general advice I've found is to first query for agents and then go from there.

My question is, basically, what would happen if you queried BOTH agents and publishers at the same time?

Or, rather, what if you queried publishers, found a publisher interested in your book, and THEN took that to the agents and said "Hey, I have a publisher who wants to publish my book and now I need an agent" (Of course, it would be worded better than that

). Would that make the agent more likely to represent you if you had a publisher already?

Anyway, I was just curious. I haven't actually done this yet (still querying agents), but I thought to myself recently how I might be doing myself a disservice by not opening up to the option of querying the publisher upfront while also querying agents.

What are your thoughts?

(also, as an aside, if anybody has any great sources for finding agents/publishers besides writer's market, could you post them here?)

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Lisa Cox · Aug 19, 2009

If you query publishers and agents at the same time, you're limiting the number of publishers an agent can sub to if they take you on. Most agents wouldn't re-query publishers who have already rejected you.

If you have a bite from a publisher, you can certainly query an agent and let them know you have publisher interest. They will then know your book has value and will work to get you a good deal.

James81 · Aug 19, 2009

lisamarie84x said:
If you query publishers and agents at the same time, you're limiting the number of publishers an agent can sub to if they take you on. Most agents wouldn't re-query publishers who have already rejected you.

Hmmm, I didn't think of that. Thanks.

JamieFord · Aug 19, 2009

Most large publishers don't accept unagented manuscripts, so you'd basically be querying a brick wall. Small publishers, that's a different story...

ChaosTitan · Aug 19, 2009

Never query both at the same time, for exactly the reason lisamarie stated.

Agents are still the best route to take. They know editors, they know who to submit to, and often they are a set of professional eyes that can give your manuscript one more good clean up (I say often, because not all agents will do this). Agents get you read at the large houses, they know the fine print in contracts, and they can negotiate better deals.

If you try editors first, you're going to be very limited. As Jamie said, most of the big houses don't accepted unagented manuscripts, and the ones that do have a long, long wait period. You'll only be able to submit to the smaller houses, and taking a deal in hand to an agent from a small house (which usually means a smaller advance) is a harder sell -- less incentive for the agent to sign you. Unless, of course, the agent falls madly in love with your writing, then they'll probably want to submit it elsewhere anyway.

An agent is someone you want to work with for a long time and have represent your career, not just negotiate a contract.

Query question...agents vs. publishers

James81

Great Scott Member

Lisa Cox

James81

Great Scott Member

JamieFord

giving resonant directions

ChaosTitan

Around