Publishers who will take a query w/o an agent

I don't know of any such list but the good news is there are a LOT of publishers willing to look at a query and proposal without an agent. It's old advice but worthwhile: Go to your nearest bookstore with a pad and a pen. Look at the books in the section(s) where yours would fit. Check the publishers. Write them down. Go home. Check their websites and guidelines to see if they accept unagented material.

You're actually accomplishing two important tasks with that trip. You're finding out who and how to query AND you're ensuring that the publisher has the wherewithal to place books where they're supposed to be.

Try Writer's Market

Janie:

The book "Writer's Market" and their website "Writer's Market.com" offer this information.

Brian

janie said:

Is there a list anywhere specifically for publishers who WILL take your query without going through an agent first??? I am familiar with sites like Editors and Preditors, etc, but it sure would be nice to have one like the above. lol. Thanks for any responses!

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Why on earth would you want to do that?

If my agent has a manuscript, he can call an editor and say, "I have this hot manuscript . . . " and the editor reads it the next day.

Alternately, I could select a publisher that accepts unagented submissions, mail it in, and hope to hear back in a few months.

Agents are the gatekeepers for all major houses.

johnrobison said:

Why on earth would you want to do that?

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Because sometimes you can't interest an agent for love nor money, especially if your book is niche nonfiction.

You can also grow just as old waiting for agents to reply as you can while waiting for pubs. I spent about eight months trying to sell an agent on my book. When I decided to targets publishers instead, I got a "yes" from a division of McGraw-Hill within two weeks.

There are many thousands of published writers who are grateful for publishers which accept unagented subs.

And byarvin makes a good point about Writer's Market. I just assumed the OP had a copy. I know - I know - don't assume....

aka eraser said:

Because sometimes you can't interest an agent for love nor money, especially if your book is niche nonfiction.

And byarvin makes a good point about Writer's Market. I just assumed the OP had a copy. I know - I know - don't assume....

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Well, I suppose people do have that experience. I just don't know if publishers would be more responsive, or if you just got lucky.

I know my own literary agency makes sales for five thousand dollars and five million dollars, so they are all over the board. When I look at what they do, it just seems to me that you (the new author) have to interest an agent. If he sees potential in you, he'll take you on. Assuming he is taking new unknown clients, that is.

Would a particular publisher be better? Maybe. You certainly seem to think so and I can't contradict you from my own experience because I never tried the direct route, and everyone says my agent and publisher experience was far from normal.

John, your experience is almost unheard-of--but absolutely fantastic for you!

John:

First let me congratulate you on finding an agent to represent you. This something few people ever achieve. You should feel very proud.

I am one of the very many established authors who don't have an agent. It's not for lack of trying, I've sent out dozens of pitches and attended several conferences. But only one or two have shown even the vaguest interest.

On the other hand, I have had no problem placing three books with solid, paying publishers. None of these involved more than three weeks of waiting.

My new book "A World of Dumplings" (From Countryman Press) is a good example. I sent the pitch to over a dozen agents, and after five dismal responses - including a couple of handwritten notes suggesting I find myself another career - I sent out a batch directly to publishers. I had an offer (which I took) within fifteen days and two more in the following month.

Many months later, I recieved an email from another agent. She wanted to make an appointment with me for a phone conversation. I consider this to be the most positive exchange about a pitch I ever had with an agent. Of course, when she learned the book was sold, she withdrew her offer of a phone call.

My earlier books (all cookbooks dealing with regional, ethnic food) went about the same way; negative responses from agents, quick, postive ones from publishers.

Now, I've got two more pitches going; one already out and the other ready to ship in a few days. I'm still sending them to agents, indeed, they are the gatekeepers for the biggest publishers. But for niche non-fiction writers, they're a luxury, not a necessity.

Wow...these past few posts of mine have shown up without a signature.

So just to make sure...visit my website:

http://www.brianyarvin.com

to see my work.

Brian

Wow! Getting publishers handling your books before agents even agreed to. Congratulations, Brian!

Brian, I can see how a regional book - be it about cooking, or travel, or places to hike, or a town - would be sold directly to a publisher of such work.

And I know there are also people who sell science fiction, fantasy, or romance directly to publishers of that work.

I know many of the how to books (computer programming, for example) are sold directly to publishers of that work.

I certainly understand how you might do perfectly well with those kind of books without an agent. And I know that represents a large fraction of the titles in print at any given moment.

If you want to sell mainstream work to a big house you will in most cases need an agent. There is first of all the issue of getting in to see the right editor. Next, you have the question of negotiating a potentially complex contract, with more at stake. Then you have the questions of foreign rights and the sale of other rights. And finally you have the business of overseeing the relationship and royalty over a long period of time.

Most of those questions will not be a big deal with a regional or specialty book. So I guess the answer to "what publishers take unagented queries" depends upon what sort of book you want to sell.

Enzo:

Thank you, but as aka (Frank?) also noted. It's the way it's done with many types of non-fiction.

I think that researching potential publishers is the most important thing.

byarvin said:

Enzo:

Thank you, but as aka (Frank?) also noted. It's the way it's done with many types of non-fiction.

I think that researching potential publishers is the most important thing.

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Congratulations on your success, Brian! Great site, too!

Susan

Susan:

Thank you very much! I've been working really hard.

Janie:

Have you checked out Writer's Market yet? It may well turn out that books in your niche aren't sold by agents. Or there might be fifteen or twenty publishers that will take a look at your proposal.

Who knows?

Janie:

You're welcome. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.