query salvos

Straka · Oct 18, 2009

Does any use a pattern for querying agents? Such as fire off a salvo of 10 queries, wait for responses then, send out another 10? As opposed to sending out 30 in one blast.

Any thoughts?

Libbie · Oct 18, 2009

I organized my list-o-agents by who I'd most like to represent me. I sent out queries to the 30 agents at the top of my list first, and waited. Once I've heard back from all of them (or passed their "we'll get back to you in X weeks if we're interested" marks), I am going to proceed to the next 30 on my list.

Who knows? It might not be the smartest way to go about it, but it's been working well enough for me so far.

peyton67 · Oct 18, 2009

I've done it both ways with success. The main issue is to confirm that an agent represents your genre- otherwise, it's just wasted time and paper.
I have also categorized agents by whom accepts e-queries first- then I jump to paper.
Best of luck!

ORION · Oct 18, 2009

Waiting between batches can allow you to tweak your query...with my first novel I sent out 10 queries at a time and then revised my query (after all rejections). After I started getting partial requests I figured my query was better and I would focus on my pages- I always sent the first five pages no matter what. I did the same for my second...
For LOTTERY I could tell right away something was different when within the first hour my query was sent via email I got immediate requests for fulls to be sent as an attachment...It's often difficult to know whether it's your query or your premise...

...

Straka · Oct 18, 2009

Thanks for the tips. I was curious about another thing. Obviously I'll be really stoked to get an offer for representation.

But how do people decide if they get multiple offers? I've been researching agents on publishers marketplace, agent query, looking at their sales and I find myself wondering how much I can really tell about the person?

I guess what quality of the agent made you decide to go with them?

childeroland · Oct 18, 2009

ORION said:
Waiting between batches can allow you to tweak your query...with my first novel I sent out 10 queries at a time and then revised my query (after all rejections). After I started getting partial requests I figured my query was better and I would focus on my pages- I always sent the first five pages no matter what. I did the same for my second...
For LOTTERY I could tell right away something was different when within the first hour my query was sent via email I got immediate requests for fulls to be sent as an attachment...It's often difficult to know whether it's your query or your premise...

...

After you tweaked your query, did you resend it to the same agents as the original?

query salvos

Straka

Bored Fanatic

Libbie

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

peyton67

ORION

Sailed away years ago

Straka

Bored Fanatic

childeroland

What happened to my LIFE?!