Should I mention previous representation in a query?

[kaitie]

Hi everyone. I haven't really been on here in about ten years, so I'm not sure if the people I used to hang with are still around, but *waves* in any case.

I took a hiatus from writing after writing a book (okay, and it's sequel) that found representation but didn't sell. I'm now working on a new book, and while it's still far from finished, I am getting preparations ready so I can submit it when it is finally complete. I plan to let my former agent know about this new book before I query others, but anticipate having to go on the query train again.

The problem is that I'm not sure when I should mention that my last book had representation. I don't want to leave it out of a query if it's necessary to have there, but I also worry that it might be one of those things that might decrease my chances (I don't want people to assume I am not with my prior agent because of problems, for instance). I'm just not sure what or how much needs to be said and I don't want to shoot myself in the foot either way. Any advice?

 

[lizmonster]

I took a hiatus from writing after writing a book (okay, and it's sequel) that found representation but didn't sell. I'm now working on a new book, and while it's still far from finished, I am getting preparations ready so I can submit it when it is finally complete. I plan to let my former agent know about this new book before I query others, but anticipate having to go on the query train again.

Are you still contractually connected with them?

The problem is that I'm not sure when I should mention that my last book had representation. I don't want to leave it out of a query if it's necessary to have there, but I also worry that it might be one of those things that might decrease my chances (I don't want people to assume I am not with my prior agent because of problems, for instance). I'm just not sure what or how much needs to be said and I don't want to shoot myself in the foot either way. Any advice?

I don't think you need to mention a single thing about your previous book if it didn't sell.

 

[kaitie]

Are you still contractually connected with them?



I don't think you need to mention a single thing about your previous book if it didn't sell.

It was a one-book contract, so no, I am not contractually connected anymore. So you're thinking that it would only be necessary to mention if it got to the point of an offer?

 

[Catriona Grace]

If you represent yourself as never having published a book, it could come back to bite you on the butt later. Agents who are looking for break-out writers might be unhappy campers should they find out about the previous book after offering representation.

 

[Cyia]

They'll likely ask you once it comes to the point of getting a call. As long as you're not querying a book with submission history, you should be fine waiting to mention it until asked.

 

[Brigid Barry]

Did the book publish? If yes, you would list it as a publishing credit and an agent would be presumed.

If it didn't publish, it's not a publishing credit and therefore there's no need to mention it or your agent.

HOWEVER. Most of the Query Manager forms ask if you've been represented by an agent, so you would want to say yes. Have to be honest that I skim that part and I don't recall if they want to know if the book you're querying had an agent or if you had an agent ever, so just read that part carefully.

ETA: if you aren't contractually obligated and the book didn't sell I'm not sure why you'd go back to the original agent, but I'm not clear on whether or not the book sold.

 

[Sage]

I would leave submission (to publishers) history of totally different book up for a call with an offering agent. At that point, they’ll want to know if you have other books ready or in the works, so your past book would be of interest, as would the places it’s already been sent.

As for whether to mention if you’ve been agented before, it probably neither hurts nor helps you to mention it. I think I mentioned it for a while, then it became ancient history and I stopped (this was before Query Manager)

 

[lizmonster]

It was a one-book contract, so no, I am not contractually connected anymore. So you're thinking that it would only be necessary to mention if it got to the point of an offer?

If the book was never published, I’d leave it out of the query, and mention it as part of my history when an agent became interested.

 

[kaitie]

Okay, thank you. I was thinking that since it was awhile back it was okay to leave out, but I've also heard that it should be included if you're looking for a new agent, and want to avoid doing something stupid here.

 

[kaitie]

ETA: if you aren't contractually obligated and the book didn't sell I'm not sure why you'd go back to the original agent, but I'm not clear on whether or not the book sold.

To clarify because I wasn't clear: the original book didn't sell. I'd still love for it to be published one day, but I am sure I could get the list of people it had gone out to (I might even have one already) if I needed to, but the new book isn't related.

As for why I would go back to him, the answer is because he was awesome. Honestly, the future of that old book might be a factor if I was considering working with him again because I'd still love for that one to be published one day and if he wasn't down for giving it another try I'd look for someone else. But yeah, I don't put my book not selling on him being a bad agent, and there was no bad blood. That's just how it happens sometimes.

 

[Catriona Grace]

I am so sorry. I completely misunderstood. I thought you meant the book hadn't sold well after publishing. There's no reason to mention unpublished books in a query letter whether they were represented by an agent or not.

 

[kaitie]

I am so sorry. I completely misunderstood. I thought you meant the book hadn't sold well after publishing. There's no reason to mention unpublished books in a query letter whether they were represented by an agent or not.

No worries. I just wasn't clear when I described the situation.