Standard Submission

[Taylor]

What is a standard submission to send an agent, if they don't have specifications in their description. It just says "send submissions to" and then it gives their email address.

I'm trying to figure out if I should have attachments, or put everything in the body of the email, as well as what I should put in the body, attachments, etc.

Thanks!

[Nymtoc]

The Do’s and Don’ts of Submitting to a Literary Agent « Ingrid's Notes

This, along with other advice you should get from experienced people in this forum.

[Al Stevens]

I wish there was a standard.

There are many variations of what agents (and editors) want in submissions. Query letter only, QL + bio, QL + synopsis, QL + n pages or n chapters, submitted materials as attachments or in the body of the query, attachments as .doc, .rtf, etc., the whole query on a form on the website, email only, snail mail only, And, of course, which manuscript formats they prefer.

You can send 100 queries out according to the many submission guidelines, and it is conceivable that no two submissions will be the same.

Sometimes I think we ought to just put our queries on ebay and let them bid on the books. (Just kidding.)

[Corinne Duyvis]

Safest bet is query letter (which includes a one-paragraph bio) plus 5-10 pages in the body of the e-mail. Optionally, you can add a synopsis after that if you have one you like.

Never send attachments uninvited.

Good luck!

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by Corinne Duyvis

Safest bet is query letter (which includes a one-paragraph bio) plus 5-10 pages in the body of the e-mail. Optionally, you can add a synopsis after that if you have one you like.

Never send attachments uninvited.

Good luck!

Okay, that is the type of info I'm looking for.

There are many variations of what agents (and editors) want in submissions. Query letter only, QL + bio, QL + synopsis, QL + n pages or n chapters, submitted materials as attachments or in the body of the query, attachments as .doc, .rtf, etc., the whole query on a form on the website, email only, snail mail only, And, of course, which manuscript formats they prefer.

But I'm talking about if they don't have any specifications listed. I'd like to know the most typical thing knowledgeable aspiring authors send to these agents, many of whom (it seems) don't list specifications.

Thanks everyone!

[Saanen]

I actually had this come up just yesterday. The agent I wanted to query had no submission info on her profile on the agency's website, there were no general query guidelines on the agency's website, and QueryTracker and AgentQuery didn't have entries on her (she's a rookie agent at an established agency). I ended up emailing her my query letter with the first five pages pasted below.

[Taylor]

^^^
Cool. Hopefully that is acceptable. It probably is, but I just want to be certain.

Anyone else have any input?

[Erin]

I always send query and first 5 pages after query, all embedded in email. Absolutely no attachments!

[Jamiekswriter]

Yeah I'd send the query with the first five pages pasted in below the query. If they don't want to read the pages, they won't. But if your query interests them, they've got the 1st five pages to clinch their interest. Good luck!

[rac]

Some agents have spam filters that block queries with attachments. If they have guidelines for submissions, they will usually mention this. I wouldn't use an attachment unless an agent specifically asks for it. As others have said, it's safest to paste to the body of the email.

[waylander]

Another vote for query letter plus first five pages.
If it was good enough for Miss Snark.....

[Taylor]

Tonight on twitter there was this hashtag called ask #askagent where everyone could ask agents questions.

I asked them if an agent gives no specifications for submitting queries, should you send them the query and five pages or the query and ten pages. Anyway, one of the agents tells me "no pages, just the query."

I'm trying to figure out if that is the way to go. I don't want to be presumptuous by sending people five or ten pages when all they wanted was the query.

Then others have said five, and another (credible) person told me ten.

Anyway, the whole topic seems abstruse. But does anyone know anything solid on this, or is it kind of vague in general?

Thanks!

[CheekyWench]

I would agree with the agent. No pages, just query. If they want pages, they'll ask. (or specify on the page.)

[blacbird]

And our own illustrious JamesARitchie will tell you to send some sample pages with your query regardless of what the agent says.

caw

[Chumplet]

If they say query only, I just send the query. If they ask for pages, I send pages. I don't want to risk an automatic reject. But agents are humans. In some cases, they'll read the pages if the query sparks their interest, even if they didn't ask for pages.

If you have a good instinct about the agent, send a few pages and cross your fingers.

[Cyia]

Originally Posted by blacbird

And our own illustrious JamesARitchie will tell you to send some sample pages with your query regardless of what the agent says.

This is one of the few times I'd agree with him.

[kaitie]

I always sent five pages at the end unless the agent specifically said "Any queries that include sample pages will be rejected." I think there were only about three out of the hundreds that I looked through.

I heard that advice from Janet Reid, for what it's worth.

[JSSchley]

I'm with Kaitie, and heard the advice from the same place.

By all means, research and send what each specific agent requests in the form that s/he requests it. But if they don't specify, query +5 is a good way to go.

[Terie]

You already asked this same question here a few days ago. You won't get different answers by starting new threads.

[Old Hack]

Taylor, please don't start multiple threads on what is essentially the same subject. I'm going to merge this with the near-identical thread you started three days ago.

[Maxie16]

The question here is, in the absence of a directive either to include or exclude the five pages, whether you include them. Just going on gut instincts, I tend to subscribe to the less-is-more theory, so my impulse is to exclude. I guess I have the sense that our best bet is to pique someone's interest and then leave her or him wanting more.

I can't say that's the right way to play it, but since it seems a split decision from the experts here, that's my inclination.

Good luck all around,

[jeffo20]

You know, I could swear I saw an interview with Kristin Nelson somewhere where she gave a specific reason why you shouldn't include five pages when submitting to her (aside from the fact her website says "Query letter only", that is). When I read it, it made sense, but I can't find that interview. If I do, I'll post it here.

I did submit five pages to one agent who said 'Send a query letter', but didn't say specifically NOT to send pages. I'm hoping I didn't shoot myself in the foot.

[Corinne Duyvis]

Originally Posted by Maxie16

The question here is, in the absence of a directive either to include or exclude the five pages, whether you include them. Just going on gut instincts, I tend to subscribe to the less-is-more theory, so my impulse is to exclude. I guess I have the sense that our best bet is to pique someone's interest and then leave her or him wanting more.

I can't say that's the right way to play it, but since it seems a split decision from the experts here, that's my inclination.

If you don't send the pages and your query letter isn't quite doing it for the agent, you lose the chance to draw them in using your pages.

Plus, if your writing isn't up to par or not their style, they'll know straightaway. The more they know of your work, the more informed their decision is. Stops you getting your hopes up, stops them from wasting time.

Besides, if the goal is to leave them wanting more, your first five pages should do that trick.

[Susan Littlefield]

Read the agent guidelines and follow them to a tee. Some agents ask for a first chapter, some for the first five or ten pages, and other say query only. If they do not provide guidelines regarding query and any pages, I'd sent a query with the first five pages in the body of the email.

[jeffo20]

Ah hah! Found it! It was a video interview with Kristin Nelson here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkGgaigDEa8

Her comment about including samples comes in at about the 1:38 mark. But, what she said, in the event you don't want to watch, is this:

"Oftentimes if you have the first page or so included, we'll make an instant decision and oftentimes it will be a no."

So, at least if you're querying Kristin Nelson, don't include any sample pages.