Should I give out specific information about agent interest to other agents?
Asked by: Tiffany Jensen
Can you submit to a different agent at the same agency?
Unless otherwise specified in the submission guidelines, it’s fine to query different agents at the same agency, provided they represent your genre.
Should I submit to more than one agent?
It’s absolutely fine to send your submission to more than one agent. They expect you to have approached one or more of their peers, and competition is considered healthy.
Can you query two agents at the same agency?
The quick answer is, “Yes.” In fact, many literary agents expect writers to query multiple agents at once. Unless they specifically state they prefer writers avoid simultaneous submissions. Or if an agent requests (and you grant) an exclusive look at your submission at a writing conference.
When can an agent request a partial?
If an agent requests a partial, it means they like your concept, they like your writing, and you passed all their auto-no red flag warnings. There are a ton of factors that determine whether a query and sample pages will get you a partial manuscript request.
Should I break up with my literary agent?
Your agent’s job is to make this process feel manageable and safe. It sounds like that hasn’t happened in this case, and it’s perfectly fine for you step away. It’s not uncommon for authors to leave agents (and vice versa), and for it to take a few tries before you find the right agent for you.
Can you switch literary agents?
Changing literary agents can be tough, but sometimes it’s necessary. Follow these best practices to make the transition as smooth as possible. Finding an agent isn’t always a “one and done” action. In fact, changing literary agents happens more often than not.
How many agents should I query before giving up?
DON’T SUBMIT TO MULTIPLE AGENTS AT THE SAME AGENCY
No ifs, ands, or but’s about it: you should only query one agent per literary agency. It’s not cool to email multiple at once. However, once an agent declines an offer of representation to you, you can feel confident querying another relevant agent in the same agency.
How often do agents ask for a full manuscript?
In a recent Book Broker interview, literary agent Harvey Klinger told us that he receives hundreds of queries annually. “I lost count years ago,” he said. Of those, he requests a full manuscript from 10-15% percent.
Can I have 2 literary agents?
Having More Than One Literary Agent is Okay When…
For example, you also write adult (and you can have an adult book agent either at the same agency or a different one) or screenplays (another agent or manager there). Those divisions are much clearer than the divisions between kidlit categories.
Why do agents request partials instead of fulls?
Like water in a desert, an agent’s request for a ‘partial’ provides the aspiring writer with hope of the most fundamental kind. Traditionally, if hooked by a query and the first ten manuscript pages often included therein, an agent solicits the first fifty pages of the manuscript.
What happens when an agent asks for full manuscript?
If a literary agent asks to read your entire manuscript, pat yourself on the back! Something in your book or novel piqued the agent’s interest—not an easy thing to do. The literary agent believes you may have something that he or she could sell to an editor.
How long does it take agents to respond to a full manuscript?
4-6 weeks
A literary agent typically takes 4-6 weeks to respond to a full manuscript. It’s been two weeks and three days.
How quickly do agents respond?
Response time for agents varies greatly. Some will be back to you in 24 hours, others a week, while some will take six weeks. A few will answer in the three to six month range.
Why do literary agents take so long to respond?
The simple answer to this question (and usually the correct answer) is that literary agents are busy. Most agents spend their days working for their active clients, because they make their money after securing deals for the authors they represent.
How long should you wait to hear back from a literary agent?
From the time you send out your query, expect anywhere from two to eight weeks for an answer.
Did JK Rowling have a literary agent?
Christopher Little, who ran the agency, also managed Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling from and has been credited with single-handedly managing Rowling’s career and turning the Harry Potter franchise into a multi-million pound industry.
Are literary agents worth it?
Literary agents are invaluable in a traditional publishing scenario. It is much, much harder to get an editor to look at your book proposal or manuscript if you don’t have a literary agent. Plus, book agents perform a number of valuable functions besides sales.
Do literary agents respond to queries?
People can leave comments on forums especially like QueryTracker where they say, like, “Oh, this person is taking forever,” or, “Oh, this person posts on Twitter that they’re all caught up with queries and I never heard back from mine.” So, agents do get feedback unofficially on their response times in writing forums.
Do literary agents talk to each other?
General querying etiquette: Agents talk to each other. And to their clients. This impacts querying etiquette in so many ways.
When should I stop querying agents?
You’ll only want to stop querying when things start to feel incredibly stagnant, like you are making no progress and you feel it is time to shelve the project. With each round of querying, analyze the data.
Why do agents close to queries?
Agents close to queries for a variety of reasons, mostly cause they’re inundated and trying to tame their inbox. That means it doesn’t do any good to query them when they are not looking. HOWEVER what you think of as your best match may not be so. Query, and query widely.
Should you address a literary agent by their first name?
In order to avoid embarrassment and alienating an editor, follow what have now become industry standard rules for addressing these decision makers. Simply use the first and last name of the editor or literary agent to whom you are sending your submission, without a Mr. or Mrs. salutation (example: Dear Pat Doe).
What percentage do literary agents take?
Agents generally are paid a fee of between 10 and 20 percent of sales that they help negotiate on behalf of the writer they represent.
What is a cold query?
The “cold query” is your letter going out blind and naked into the world. The chances of getting a response are worse than winning the lottery. Sometimes, once in blue moon, lightning will strike, the gods will smile down, the timing is impeccable, or Lady Luck will be on your side.
How do you get a referral to a literary agent?
Here are the basic steps for finding a literary agent:
- Write and polish a novel, memoir, or nonfiction book proposal.
- Learn about the publishing industry.
- Research literary agents.
- Write a query letter.
- Try to find a referral.
- Send your query letter in batches.
- Wait (and hope for an offer of representation)
How do you query a literary manager?
How to query a literary agent
- Finish your manuscript – it should be as perfect as possible. (If you can, after writing your manuscript, put it away for several months, come back to it and read it again. …
- Write a killer cover letter. …
- Write a synopsis. …
- Query agents who represent the type of work you write.