Agents not accepting unsolicited works

AlishaS · Nov 13, 2009

Ok I am sure this has been asked and I apologize I searched back several pages trying to find the answer.

I was using some free time to take a look at some agents websites, preparing myself for when I am ready to start querying my MS.

I often thought the whole point of an agent was that they could help you get published as most publishers don't accepted submisions of unsolicited work, but through my travels I found several agents who do not accept unsolicited work... I find myself total confused with this.. can someone explain it to me...

Wayne K · Nov 13, 2009

They could be overloaded with work or have a full client list. Or they get clients through referrals.

colealpaugh · Nov 14, 2009

AlishaS said:
...I found several agents who do not accept unsolicited work... I find myself total confused with this.. can someone explain it to me...

Wayne's explanation of some agents relying on referrals is something I've seen on blogs quite a bit. Even during Nathan's early days, he recommended writers attend conferences and other events where agents skulk about for the best chance of being signed.

Or, maybe it just means you need and agent to submit to those agents. I'm sure that would be Joseph Heller's take.

ORION · Nov 14, 2009

You can always query. Unsolicited work is you sending your manuscript unrequested.
I don't know any agent that accepts unrequested manuscripts.

Wayne K · Nov 14, 2009

I didn't know that.

colealpaugh · Nov 14, 2009

But there are agents who don't want to be queried in any form, who only take clients through referrals. I would assume they are used to being queried anyway, and there's no guillotine set up for anyone who interprets it as "no manuscripts".

Maryn · Nov 14, 2009

Yes, solid information here. No agent I know of wants to see unsolicited manuscripts--that's manuscripts s/he didn't ask to see. Some agents whose client lists are full to bursting do not want to see unsolicited queries, either.

So what you're seeing, AlishaS, is agents' reminders not to send in your manuscript but to send only a query letter, plus whatever enclosures (if any) their submission guidelines name.

Easy, huh?

Maryn, hoping to be helpful even under the weather

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 14, 2009

ORION said:
You can always query. Unsolicited work is you sending your manuscript unrequested.
I don't know any agent that accepts unrequested manuscripts.

I asked that same question here. Many agents specifically are saying they do NOT accept unsolicited QUERIES.

ORION · Nov 14, 2009

Many?

AlishaS · Nov 14, 2009

Ok so this is what I'm getting, unless they say just no unsolicited work I just send a query anyways if they say um no querys lol or only through referals it's a no go.. and just don't said the whole damn thing.. just querils in less they specifically ask for a partial of full... I'm I getting it??

Also I find this annoying as I am in Canada and thought I would try all my Canadian avenues first and I cam getting most of this referals and crap only... so looks like I might have to go outside my home country just to get a decent agent

colealpaugh · Nov 14, 2009

AlishaS said:
Ok so this is what I'm getting, unless they say just no unsolicited work I just send a query anyways if they say um no querys lol or only through referals it's a no go.. and just don't said the whole damn thing.. just querils in less they specifically ask for a partial of full... I'm I getting it??

Also I find this annoying as I am in Canada and thought I would try all my Canadian avenues first and I cam getting most of this referals and crap only... so looks like I might have to go outside my home country just to get a decent agent

An agent doesn't want a full until they've read at least a query and often a partial.

If you are equerying, it is generally acceptable to paste (not attach) a sample at the end of your query. I embedded my first chapter, which was a short 1250 words.

I would suggest using a resource which specifically states what forms of queries each agent accepts and the email/snail address to which they want it sent.

The vast majority of agents accept one form of query, or both, although they may close to new submissions. Many also only accept specific genres. Send Nathan poetry and you might make his blog.

You might consider Query Hell before sending...an amazing resource here on AW.

Jamesaritchie · Nov 14, 2009

Agents who only get clients through referrals are very few and far between, and such are usually top agents that a first time novelist couldn't land, anyway.

Quite a few agents will look at sample chapters, though this is seldom stated in guidelines because they don't want to be buried under them, and pretty much any agent will look at the first three to five pages sent with a query. I strongly suggest doing this. A good first few pages can often save a poorly written query.

As for a Canadian agent, you're usually better off with a New York or Hollywood agent, or at least with an agency that has offices in New York or Hollywood, no matter where you live.

Kathleen42 · Nov 14, 2009

Jamesaritchie said:
As for a Canadian agent, you're usually better off with a New York or Hollywood agent, or at least with an agency that has offices in New York or Hollywood, no matter where you live.

I think there are some cases you'd be better off with a Canadian agent (just don't ask me to name them because I know next to zilch about the Canadian literary scene).

That being said, there is no reason you have to have a Canadian agent. I saw another post from the OP which seemed to indicate she was writing YA. No reason she can't go with a US agent.

Most of the agents on my list are in New York. Not all. There are some great agents who work in other states and just make trips to NY.

Judg · Nov 14, 2009

If they are not accepting unsolicited queries, it's because their current clients keep them busy full-time. You can often query them anyway, but chances are they'll delete it unread and not answer, so don't get your hopes up. But there are always the stories of people who got signed by sending to an agent who supposedly wasn't accepting queries.

You're probably better off querying American agents anyway, especially if you write genre. The Canadian literary establishment is heavily slanted toward literary. North American rights are usually sold as a package anyway, so it doesn't make much difference which country your agent is in.

Moost · Nov 15, 2009

ORION said:
Many?

I don't know if I'd say "many" from the whole agent pool but there are very, very many superstar agents who are closed off to queries from previously unpublished authors. I often research an agent after reading a book they sold that peaked my interest. Of the five agents I added to my list, they were all closed to queries.

willietheshakes · Nov 15, 2009

Jamesaritchie said:
As for a Canadian agent, you're usually better off with a New York or Hollywood agent, or at least with an agency that has offices in New York or Hollywood, no matter where you live.

Disagree.

Carmy · Nov 20, 2009

AlishaS said:
Ok so this is what I'm getting, unless they say just no unsolicited work I just send a query anyways if they say um no querys lol or only through referals it's a no go.. and just don't said the whole damn thing.. just querils in less they specifically ask for a partial of full... I'm I getting it??

Also I find this annoying as I am in Canada and thought I would try all my Canadian avenues first and I cam getting most of this referals and crap only... so looks like I might have to go outside my home country just to get a decent agent

Good luck finding a Canadian agent! Even more luck getting a response to a query. Unless you write like a certain Ms. A they don't want to know.

willietheshakes · Nov 20, 2009

Carmy said:
Good luck finding a Canadian agent! Even more luck getting a response to a query. Unless you write like a certain Ms. A they don't want to know.

That's ~~crap~~... er, wrong.

KTC · Nov 20, 2009

what's with all the fucking canadian bashing. try knowing what you're speaking of before you dis the canadian scene, man. I mean, jesus.

Judg · Nov 20, 2009

Out of curiosity, Willie, who is your agent? Does he/she do genre?

KTC · Nov 20, 2009

Carmy said:
Good luck finding a Canadian agent! Even more luck getting a response to a query. Unless you write like a certain Ms. A they don't want to know.

that's ridiculous. maybe you should study the canadian agent list a little closer. there are some great ya agents who are, shockingly enough, not looking for Atwoodian works. and there are agents out there looking for big people books too, also shocking, that are not Atwoodian. i know a couple agents who would shriek disagreement with your statement.

willietheshakes · Nov 20, 2009

Judg said:
Out of curiosity, Willie, who is your agent? Does he/she do genre?

I'm with Anne McDermid & Assoc.
Which genre?

She's building a pretty robust spec fic list at this point, but, for her, it comes down to the books. She -- like all Canadian agents -- knows the market. IE, you can AND do get mysteries, sci fi, fantasy, etc, published in this country, quite regularly, but there isn't a genre ghetto like there is in the US (ie, no major specialty publishers and lines like Roc, Tor, etc)...

Judg · Nov 20, 2009

Good to know. Although I suspect Christian fantasy might be a stretch for her. It seems to be a stretch for just about everybody... *sigh*

colealpaugh · Nov 20, 2009

KTC said:
what's with all the fucking canadian bashing. try knowing what you're speaking of before you dis the canadian scene, man. I mean, jesus.

This post and that avatar...

Canada looks to have some talented agents as far as sales go, eh?

Agents not accepting unsolicited works

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