Agent research-Lists and criteria

cameohitch

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Hi there,
I’m querying agents in the UK for my second YA adventure now. I’ve had an agent until recently in Germany. It’s a competent agency, but the agent couldn’t find a publisher willing to take on an English-language manuscript. So now I’m on my own again.
And here’s the question: Lots of people say that there are a million agents out there. When I do my agent research, I start out with a list that shrinks along the way:

  • I select only those that read YA (using writersservices.com, querytracker, litmatch and google)
  • I look at the agency’s website
-I check if they are open to subs and check out the sub process.
-I check their client list and google them.

  • I google the particular agent in charge of YA to see if they’ve landed a deal these past years (Is that presumptuous of me? Do any of you do that?)

At the end of the day, I have an irritating squint and a list that’s pretty short in my opinion (about 20 agencies are left by then).

To the writers who say that they sent out a hundred queries before getting representation:
Where did you send these? Is this the point where I’ll have to start researching US agents?
Thank you :)
 

waylander

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Which lists are you using for UK agents?
litmatch.net has partial coverage of UK agents
This is the most complete list I know of on the net http://writersservices.com/agent/uk09/index.htm

100+ queries would be mostly US agents for which agentquery.com is a great resource
 

cameohitch

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Yes, waylander, I used that one too. The list also comprises theater and screenplay stuff and if I cross out all the agents who don't do young-adult as well as the one's who don't take on any new clients...There aren't an awful lot left.
I'll definitely use agentquery if I have to widen my search and query agents in the US.
I've worked on my query letter yet again and hope it will make a difference. Both the German agent who represented me and the successful writer who referred me to the agency loved the book. I wonder what's wrong with it then?:(
 

waylander

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It is tough out there. Good books are getting turned down all over the place - including mine