Querying Literary Agents: the fine points
October 3, 2015 9:59 AM Subscribe
I have a finished book and I'm about to begin querying literary agents. In some cases, the agency websites break it down by specific agents, and you're encouraged to query a specific person. Other agencies -- this one as an example -- just provide a catchall email address. So I'm puzzling over how to address my query: Dear...?
Suggestions?
And use initials if you are a woman. Sadly, you'll get better responses that way.
posted by TenaciousB at 1:44 PM on October 3, 2015
posted by TenaciousB at 1:44 PM on October 3, 2015
yeah no don't do that.
posted by changeling at 2:20 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by changeling at 2:20 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Okay, thanks, changeling, that makes good sense. As for my gender, I think the query itself will make it clear that I'm a woman.
posted by swheatie at 3:49 PM on October 3, 2015
posted by swheatie at 3:49 PM on October 3, 2015
Not sure if you've seen this - Query Shark.
posted by pyro979 at 4:15 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by pyro979 at 4:15 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also check out some gigs on Fiverr. They're mostly editing/proofreading, but I'm sure you can ask them question.
posted by pyro979 at 4:17 PM on October 3, 2015
posted by pyro979 at 4:17 PM on October 3, 2015
In addition to Query Shark also check out Janet's blog for get Q&A on queries through contracts l, everything inbetween and then some. Lots of great info and discussion
posted by MandaSayGrr at 7:46 PM on October 3, 2015
posted by MandaSayGrr at 7:46 PM on October 3, 2015
Literary agent here. Address to a specific agent even if it's a catchall email address.
If you want to stand out, make it clear in the first couple of lines that you are submitting to that agent for a reason(s). It's very easy to research an agent, so Dear Ms. Blah Blah (or dear Jennifer, is fine too). I'm writing about my novel X and wanted to submit to you because you represent Blah Blah and Blah Blah, both writers I love, and I think my novel is similar because X, Y, Z.
If you are happy to have a couple of agents in the same agency look at your work, add a line that says something like: I realize that your colleague Ms. Blah Blah, may also be a good fit for me because of X and Y, so if after considering my sample chapters you think this may be a better fit, please feel free to share my work with her or let me know and I can re-submit. Your agency does such great work with so many writers I admire, it was a difficult decision of which agent to approach.
All of this is perfectly reasonable and demonstrates that you are serious about the agency in question (as opposed to just throwing your book out there to dozens of agents and seeing what sticks).
posted by meerkatty at 2:30 AM on October 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you want to stand out, make it clear in the first couple of lines that you are submitting to that agent for a reason(s). It's very easy to research an agent, so Dear Ms. Blah Blah (or dear Jennifer, is fine too). I'm writing about my novel X and wanted to submit to you because you represent Blah Blah and Blah Blah, both writers I love, and I think my novel is similar because X, Y, Z.
If you are happy to have a couple of agents in the same agency look at your work, add a line that says something like: I realize that your colleague Ms. Blah Blah, may also be a good fit for me because of X and Y, so if after considering my sample chapters you think this may be a better fit, please feel free to share my work with her or let me know and I can re-submit. Your agency does such great work with so many writers I admire, it was a difficult decision of which agent to approach.
All of this is perfectly reasonable and demonstrates that you are serious about the agency in question (as opposed to just throwing your book out there to dozens of agents and seeing what sticks).
posted by meerkatty at 2:30 AM on October 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Wow, meerkatty, great advice. Thank you!
posted by swheatie at 8:45 AM on October 4, 2015
posted by swheatie at 8:45 AM on October 4, 2015
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(agents often share submissions among other agents at the agency anyway)
posted by changeling at 10:42 AM on October 3, 2015