Querying the agent that liked you last time

Renee Collins · Jul 19, 2010

I'm about to start querying a new book. Since this new work is the same genre as my last, I figure a good place to start is with the agents that requested the full/partial of my previous book.

My question is, should I mention that they requested a previous work of mine in the query?

Also, two of these agents were very complimentary, and asked to see my next works. What do I say there? Do I refer to the older book by name, just to jog their memory? (It's been about eight months, I'm assuming they've long forgotten me and my book.)

Thanks!

kaitlin008 · Jul 19, 2010

If they asked to see future works, definitely remind them that you'd queried them before & that they said they'd like to see future mss. And it doesn't hurt to mention the old book by name--they very well may remember it.

With full/partial rejects who didn't say anything like that, though, I don't think I would mention anything.

Ryan_Sullivan · Jul 19, 2010

If you still have those e-mails, just hit reply. Take the "Re:" out and have the subject as just "query" and in your letter, reference that you've attached the prior work. You'd be surprised at how good of memory agents have sometimes. But, yeah, I wouldn't mention the previous querying if they didn't ask for future work--either you were memorable enough for them to recognize it, or you weren't (in which case, it probably wouldn't help you). Good luck!

myrmidon · Jul 19, 2010

Co-signed to kaitlin and Ryan.

Mine was technically a massive revision (though it might as well have been a new book) and I just reminded the agent that had been interested but ultimately rejected it, and he immediately requested a full. Easiest request ever.

Good luck!

Ken · Jul 19, 2010

... just did the same, myself. Agent rejected my last several months back. I reminded him of that, said my latest was better ;-) , and told him that he was the first I'd thought of for the new work, and he was. He requested the full, so mentioning the rejected one didn't seem to hurt any. G'luck yourself.

ps I didn't mention the previous one by name, primarily because that had the slight potential to cause some confusion as to which work I was pitching.

Danthia · Jul 20, 2010

If all they did was request work and say no, I wouldn't mention those. But if they said to send your next book, definitely mention that.

For what it's worth, my own agent rejected me twice before I sent her a book that worked for her

Another that asked for the full, also rejected previous books. I'm living proof querying the same agents with new projects can work.

Good luck!

cate townsend · Jul 20, 2010

kaitlin008 said:
If they asked to see future works, definitely remind them that you'd queried them before & that they said they'd like to see future mss. And it doesn't hurt to mention the old book by name--they very well may remember it.

With full/partial rejects who didn't say anything like that, though, I don't think I would mention anything.

This.

Renee Collins · Jul 20, 2010

Thanks everyone! I kinda figured, but you know how it is. Last minute second guessing.

Querying the agent that liked you last time

Renee Collins

Plotting . . .

kaitlin008

Seeing newness all the time

Ryan_Sullivan

Agented YA Writer

myrmidon

i AM batman (not really)

Ken

Danthia

cate townsend

Renee Collins

Plotting . . .