How many author agents should you query?
- Thread starter Willowhugger
- Start date
- Status
I used to keep about 10 floating out there. That is, 10 out, and replace each rejection with a new one. However, if my numbers were bad in the beginning (like they were) I took the query to the SYW thread for a few critiques.
Tri
Tri
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2005
- Messages
- 4,422
- Reaction score
- 641
- Location
- Metropolitan District of Washington
- Website
- www.linda-adams.com
You shouldn't shotgun/mass mail queries out to multiple agents. Take your time and research the most appropriate agent, writing the query specifically for them.
Linda Adams said:
I *was* kidding. I promise. That wasn't real advice.
*sigh*
Okay, really advice? What I tend to do is one at a time, maaaaybe two if I'm feeling bold. In fact, I never have more than one or two submissions out at a time, simply because between those and writing, I can't keep track of many more than that. I also don't spend a huge amount of time on submitting, because I like to spend that time on writing instead.
I have a form for queries, if anyone needs it? It is a tracker or something that will keep your queries listed...let me go get it! It never seemed important but it is something that may help someone.
Jo Scott said:
Actually, I would LOVE to see that. I'm really terrible at keeping track of things that aren't actually writing. They just slip out of my head.
Title of Book ________________________________________
Name of Publisher ____________________________________
Name of Editor _______________________________________
Phone Number ________________________________________
Date Sent ____________________________________________
How Sent ____________________________________________
Comments ___________________________________________
Date Rejected ________________________________________
Date Sold ____________________________________________
Rights Sold ___________________________________________
Amount ______________________________________________
It should read downward, a runoff or a spreadsheet of the list.
I put the lines there to show them as in a checklist.
Name of Publisher ____________________________________
Name of Editor _______________________________________
Phone Number ________________________________________
Date Sent ____________________________________________
How Sent ____________________________________________
Comments ___________________________________________
Date Rejected ________________________________________
Date Sold ____________________________________________
Rights Sold ___________________________________________
Amount ______________________________________________
It should read downward, a runoff or a spreadsheet of the list.
I put the lines there to show them as in a checklist.
I could not post a spreadsheet, sorry mine looks so bad but extremely easy to make! Its from the Writers Digest Guide to MS Formats.
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2005
- Messages
- 6,260
- Reaction score
- 1,358
- Location
- Scotland
- Website
- www.fictionpress.com
You should send queries little by little, and replace every rejection with a new query. How many agents? All of them (the good ones, I mean).
Oh, and the creator of yWriter has mad a cool little program for keeping track of queries. If anyone's interested: http://www.spacejock.com/Sonar.html
Oh, and the creator of yWriter has mad a cool little program for keeping track of queries. If anyone's interested: http://www.spacejock.com/Sonar.html
Choose about ten good agents you know you'd like to work with (you can always work your way down if your initial ten reject you). Of those ten, choose about five from the list and send out your queries (agent turnaround times on queries are not nearly as bad as some would lead you to believe--I usually heard back within a month, if I was going to get a response at all). The reason I would not advise querying all ten at once is because, as others in ths thread have said, you need a chance to see how well your query is going to be received. If all five reject you, then you know you probably need to do some tweaking before moving on to the next five.
I always preferred working in multiples of five because it just seems a nice, easy number to work with and you don't get too bogged down with wondering how many queries you have floating around out there.
I always preferred working in multiples of five because it just seems a nice, easy number to work with and you don't get too bogged down with wondering how many queries you have floating around out there.
I did my first serious attempts at querying last month, and I way overdid it- basically, I spent a whole morning checking out sites, finding e-mail addresses, and sending the letter to anybody who seemed connected to my genre. It worked out fine for me; I got a bunch of rejections (my favorite was the first, from an agent who called me "Yak-O," which isn't really anything like "Zack," but it amused the hell out of me), but there were a couple interested parties from very reputable firms.
Still, if I had to do it again, I'd go with blackbird's method. Mine was more an act of desperation- "If I don't start doing this now, maybe I never well"- than actual professionalism.
Still, if I had to do it again, I'd go with blackbird's method. Mine was more an act of desperation- "If I don't start doing this now, maybe I never well"- than actual professionalism.
I keep a spreadsheet of submissions made...as for subbing one at a time, god no, that'd take waaaaaaaaay too long, waiting for one person to get back to me before sending the MSS out again. My time's no less valuable than John Q. Agent's.
I sub as many times as I please at once. I don't always replace rejections with another submission, only sometimes, depending on the ol' cash flow.
I sub as many times as I please at once. I don't always replace rejections with another submission, only sometimes, depending on the ol' cash flow.
I usually suggest three or four, but that's in the UK and Ireland, a smaller market. Maybe ten would be a better bet for the US.
I think that if you only send one at a time you'll be old and grey and past caring by the time you get somebody. And as others have said, if you query everybody at once, then you're risking running out of agents.
It's my experience that agents will sometimes write personal letters, giving clues about what they didn't like (especially if you're nearly there or thereabouts), and you can use this advice (if you agree with it) to tighten up your mss before sending out to the next batch.
I think that if you only send one at a time you'll be old and grey and past caring by the time you get somebody. And as others have said, if you query everybody at once, then you're risking running out of agents.
It's my experience that agents will sometimes write personal letters, giving clues about what they didn't like (especially if you're nearly there or thereabouts), and you can use this advice (if you agree with it) to tighten up your mss before sending out to the next batch.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 814
- Reaction score
- 182
- Location
- Inside a cursed painting
- Website
- www.harryjconnolly.com
DamaNegra said:
I love the subs program. It is easy to use and keeps track of it all so I don't have to worry about it...
10000
- Joined
- May 14, 2005
- Messages
- 12,862
- Reaction score
- 2,846
- Location
- A Small Town in Germany
- Website
- www.sharonmaas.co.uk
I don't have a method, a list or a spreadsheet. FirstI queried my first choice agent, and when he asked for a partial I didn't have to write it down - boy, I knew! The date was on his email anyway.
After his rejection I queried 10 in whom I was more or less equally interested, though I had two top choices. Several replied (including my top choices) and I didn't write them down because I knew in my head who they were. I couild recite them any time! The ones who didn't reply, I forgot.
When my two top choices rejected the ms I just queried two other agents with the same agency. Meanwhile, a couple of fulls and partials were still out with various agents but they were taking too long for my liking.
ONe of those two finally accepted me. It was all a rather messy process, but I never forgot whom to mail to withdraw the ms. I like to keep the really important things in my head. ALways have. But it's not a method I'd recommend!
After his rejection I queried 10 in whom I was more or less equally interested, though I had two top choices. Several replied (including my top choices) and I didn't write them down because I knew in my head who they were. I couild recite them any time! The ones who didn't reply, I forgot.
When my two top choices rejected the ms I just queried two other agents with the same agency. Meanwhile, a couple of fulls and partials were still out with various agents but they were taking too long for my liking.
ONe of those two finally accepted me. It was all a rather messy process, but I never forgot whom to mail to withdraw the ms. I like to keep the really important things in my head. ALways have. But it's not a method I'd recommend!
- Status