Queries to another in house agent

CheekyWench

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Say you query Mr. Smith at "Smith, Johnson and Williamson's agency."

Mr. Smith turns you down. "thanks but no."

Is it bad form to query Johnson or Williamson?
(If there is no statement saying otherwise.)
 

Danthia

It depends on the agency. Some say a no from one is a no from all (they often share "close but not for me" queries with each other), and some say go ahead. Just wait a few months so it doesn't feel like they just got the query and toss it out thinking they already saw it. Also remember that in many agencies, one person handles all incoming queries for all the agents and gets them to the appropriate person. Queries that don't make the first cut don't even get to who they're addressed to.

Check their website and see if any of them blog. It's likely they've answered that question somewhere.
 

CheekyWench

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Yeah, I have seen some say "not for any of us if one declines." Then there are others that are just open to interpretation. And I certainly don't want to send a pre-query letter about querying because knickers get twisted. I've done that before and got railed for it. Just thought to ask if anyone else has had any experience with trying another agent.

Thanks :)
 

cate townsend

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I've queried two different agents at the same agency (months apart), and received full requests from both. There's good advice in the above posts. Do your research!
 

RainbowDragon

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I say go for it anywhere, and if they are a "no for one and no for all" agency and they notice (I bet you they won't) then they can say something. But more likely you'll just accumulate R's from individual agents.

If you get a request for more, then they might notice as they might share those more often than they share queries.

But if your skin is thick enough to accept a possible rebuff, nothing to lose. :)