On Annoying Agents

Bartholomew · Nov 12, 2006

When sending query letters at once, what is better?

The Buckshot approach, where you send more than one letter at a time? Is this rude?

Or to send one letter at a time? In case one of them had valuable feedback with a rejection?

triceretops · Nov 12, 2006

I used to send about six at a time. But I would personalize them to each agent--especially the blog agents, where I could comment. If I read one of their client's books, I'd bring that up. Just perfect that query.

Tri

stormie · Nov 12, 2006

Same here, like tri, I sent about five or six at a time. Targeted to the agents who repped what I write, and whom I thought would be a good match for me.

Linda Adams · Nov 12, 2006

You'll do better if you take your time and research each agent--and by research, I don't mean just look them up in the Writer's Market or go to their site and see what they take. Instead, find out who their clients are, particularly for writers that you've read, and mention that in the query. That does get extra brownie points because they get a lot of queries where it's obvious it's being mass mailed. In fact, two agents came to a writer's conference on a train together. They'd brought queries to catch up on the slush pile, and both had in their piles the same query letter from the same writer.

SeanDSchaffer · Nov 12, 2006

Linda Adams said:
You'll do better if you take your time and research each agent--and by research, I don't mean just look them up in the Writer's Market or go to their site and see what they take. Instead, find out who their clients are, particularly for writers that you've read, and mention that in the query. That does get extra brownie points because they get a lot of queries where it's obvious it's being mass mailed. In fact, two agents came to a writer's conference on a train together. They'd brought queries to catch up on the slush pile, and both had in their piles the same query letter from the same writer.

Thanks for the advice. I know you didn't intend it for me, but it is still worthwhile as I continue searching for agents to represent my own work. I will remember what you said, and I will do my best not to send identical queries any more.

On Annoying Agents

Bartholomew

Comic guy

triceretops

stormie

storm central

Linda Adams

Soldier, Storyteller

SeanDSchaffer