UK v US Agents

Hi all,

I just wanted to share some general impressions on UK versus US agents (without naming any names). I hope I am posting in the right place.

I have been sending stuff off to agents since my draft was more or less finished in October last year. First I picked my top 16 UK agents and queried them all as per their guidelines (most required a snail mail submission with covering letter, synopsis, first 3 chapters and a SAE). As I live in Ireland and Ireland no longer sells IRCs, this involved purchasing stamps online, printing all the hard copies needed, personalising the letters, posting them off and waiting with fingers crossed. Three months later, I have seven (out of 16) replies, all form "Dear Author" rejections and no requests for partials. Only one agent allowed e-queries. She replied within 30 minutes and requested a partial, which she read and then passed on it about a week later. No replies at all from the other eight. Out of the seven snail rejections, maybe three submissions were read (just looking at the pages). Now, I am not complaining, I understand how this business works, and I understand how little time agents have, and that they may have found a cause to stop reading on the first page.

Last week, I decided to start querying agents in the US, and the whole experience (while stilled filled with rejections) has been a lot more pleasant. First of all, the majority of agents will take e-queries (which is great because each UK submission was costing me 10 Euro in printing and postage costs). Often you will get an automated response letting you know the estimated response time, which is a nice touch, and if you don't it's usually clear on the website. Most agents have a website with a clear list of what they are looking for so you don't waste each other's time (only the bigger agents in the UK may have this). Also, I don't know if they just like my stuff more, but the first few rejections I have received have been a LOT nicer. Instead of a form rejection, I am hearing things like "I don't have the right editorial contacts to sell this, but it's a strong project and you should definitely pursue other agents". I am hoping that this is not just because US agents are more polite than UK agents! Also got two requests for partials so far, which is great.

It doesn't make a huge amount of difference to me whether I get taken on by a US or a UK agent, but my experience, such as it was, would lead me to query further in the US before trying again in the UK.

One thing I have found that is interesting about UK agents is that some of the smaller agencies (what you would call boutique agencies in the US) are open to e-queries, perhaps trying to steal a march on the big fish. I hope it will change, I think it will change, just not tomorrow.

Wow. I think I would like one rejection like that, just to show people in the pub. Just one though, more than that would be pretty tough to take.

I haven't encountered any rudeness at all actually, quite the opposite. Maybe I have just been lucky so far.

wrt US agents being iffy taking on UK writers, I'm Irish but I get your point. However, I have read on several agents and editors blogs that it really doesnt matter. I remember one agent talking about a client she had on her third successful book now whom she had never met. Having said that, if an agent/editor is deciding between two books and the difference is paper-thin, being US-based would probably count in your favour, I would think.

Maybe I am just looking for an excuse to move to New York.

Just to clarify, I didn't find the form responses rude, I expected them, and I understand why it is done.


My main point was the joys of e-querying over the time and expense involved with paper submissions, not to mention all those dead trees.

Momento Mori said:

I could see why the same manuscript would be of more interest to a US agent.

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Really? I didn't think it would make a huge difference really. Can you explain a little more? It may help me in targetting my queries.

Thanks there's some interesting and very useful information there.

Dave