Multipal books in query...

I think simplicity is the best route. Although all agents have their particulars, I believe that they are all looking for something they can sell. If your writing is spot on, it doesn't matter if you've written fifteen novels before. What matters the most is can they sell the novel you're sending them.

The best query is direct. It pitches your novel in the first paragraph (hook). It delves a little into the novel in the second paragraph and in the third paragraph you tell a little about yourself and your qualifications (if any).

For the qualifications, you don't need to be an expert aviator to write about planes, but if you have something related to your novel topic, now is the time to tell. Or just include something interesting about yourself.

Ultimately, the agent wants to know if they can sell it (I know, I've said that too many times, but maybe it's true). On the plus side, the possibility of signing a career novelist is nice, but I think that, for the most part, agents probably expect a working relationship beyond the first novel. How many writers do you know that plan only to publish their one book and call it quits?

That's my nickel (adjusted for inflation).

Focus on the ms. you're shopping around. Who cares if you have 112 trunk novels written over the past 30 years. It's the one you're submitting that counts. Now, if you have actually PUBLISHED 112 novels, then by all means mention them. But nothing "unpublished."

maestrowork said:

Focus on the ms. you're shopping around. Who cares if you have 112 trunk novels written over the past 30 years. It's the one you're submitting that counts. Now, if you have actually PUBLISHED 112 novels, then by all means mention them. But nothing "unpublished."

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I would tend to agree with this - focus on the ms you're shopping. Of course, if you had published 112 novels I'm sure you'd have agents knocking at your door and publishers trying to get YOUR attention.

Ahhhh...what a nice daydream....sending publishers guidelines on how to contact you.

Okay...that moment is over...back to reality.

I wouldn't mention previously written novels (I assume a trunk novel is something you squirrel away that never sees the light of day)? I would imagine them thinking, "She's written three and she's still not published? She must be a crap writer!"

Precisely. Mention three unpublished novels (and first submission) has "amateur" written all over your query.

If the agent specifically asks if you have any unpublished but completed mss., then I don't see why you can't mention them. Then again, prepare to answer the question: "Why didn't you submit them? What's wrong with them?"

In queries I hint at having another novel started...I think that strikes a balance between "Willing to keep writing," and "Has a huge unpublished backlog, the no-hoper."

ButtonTheCat said:

Would you include in your query "Third written, first submission" or some sort of phrase that would hint you have other books on the shelf?

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Absolutely not. It's sensible to indicate that you're at work on a new novel (to let the agent know you're not a one-off), but your previous unsubmitted or multipally-rejected manuscripts are irrelevant when you're querying. If you get an offer of representation, the agent may be interested; until then, keep this to yourself.

- Victoria

scarletpeaches said:

I wouldn't mention previously written novels (I assume a trunk novel is something you squirrel away that never sees the light of day)? I would imagine them thinking, "She's written three and she's still not published? She must be a crap writer!"

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LOL! If only I'd read this before I posted my query letter for review.

My only personal caveat to this is if you're talking to an agent or an editor in person (such as at a conference), then it might be good to mention that you have some completed novels under your belt.

I met my agent at a conference -- an editor I'd met the day before asked me to talk about the property I was most excited about. I'm always most excited about whatever it is I'm working on at the moment, so I talked about my novel in process, with the editor and everyone else after that. However, I also mentioned that I had two other completed novels that I was also shopping.

I landed my agent on the unfinished novel, essentially, but I think I was given more leeway to talk about it, and a lot more credibility while discussing it, because it was clear I'd finished more than one novel and was actively shopping more than one completed novel.

I've found it depends on the agent. Some agency sites say to list other manuscripts you've written because they want to represent someone who will produce more than one book. Other agency sites say not to list anything else because they don't want to know if you have a bunch of unsold manuscripts hanging around.

I recommend the following approach.

The job at hand is to get an agent to represent you and the work you present her. Concentrate on one manuscript at a time. If the agent responds positively to your query, at some point, be it through words and/or deeds, let her know you have done and will do any and everything possible to make your work as "perfect" as can be. Of course you don't want her to think you are a one-trick pony, so during your talks, emails, whatever, let her know that you have ideas, concepts, and the beginnings of other works to discuss with her when the time is right.