Get a Literary Agent: The Complete Guide to Securing Representation for Your Work by Chuck Sambuchino
Authors: Chuck Sambuchino
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process and send out your work.
“Please don’t query with unfinished fiction! What if I like what you’ve sent me and I request the full manuscript? You won’t have anything ready. When agents are interested in your pitch and ask to see the full manuscript, we want to be able to read it right away. So don’t pitch until the whole thing sparkles.”
—Linda Epstein (Jennifer De Chiara Literary)
So what materials do you send to agents so they’ll consider repping your books? The short answer is: It all depends on what they ask for.
All agents want similar components, but each may want a different configuration of them. Some only want a query letter, which is a one-page letter that typically begins all correspondence. Some want a query and a synopsis. Some nonfiction agents want a proposal right away. Some don’t. Some want print queries via snail mail. Some want only e-mailed submissions with a certain word in the subject line. The key is to just give them what they want how they want it.
If you’re writing fiction, an agent will most likely ask for your query. At some point, they may follow up and ask for your synopsis and all or part of your manuscript. A few may ask for a short bio as well. For nonfiction, the book proposal and query are the central pieces. Those are the main weapons at your disposal. Even though each agent may differ in what she requests and how she requests it, if you have the basic, polished pieces, you’re in business.
FOLLOW SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Just like magazine editors and book publishers, literary agents have submission guidelines concerning how writers should contact them. These guidelines communicate everything you need to know to pass along work for consideration. Agents are usually good about keeping their guidelines clear and making them available. They do this because when writers know what they want and how they want it, there are fewer misdirected queries clogging their in-box. So remember to follow guidelines exactly. A dirty truth about agents is that, because of their constantly overwhelming workload, many of them are looking for any reason to say no to your submission simply to cut their humungous pile down by one. Don’t give them that reason. Honor their requests.
“It’s important to follow submission guidelines, because honoring such a basic request shows a willingness to work as a team with an agent.”
—Dawn Frederick (Red Sofa Literary)
An agent’s posted submission guidelines typically break down into three parts.
A LIST OF ALL THE GENRES AND CATEGORIES OF BOOKS THE AGENT REPRESENTS AND THEREFORE WANTS TO RECEIVE FROM WRITERS. If you want to know what types of books an agent represents, she’ll tell you. Sometimes agents can be broad in their list of desired genres, and that’s where further research comes in handy. Interviews and past sales can help illuminate exactly what kind of books they like and sell. Some agents will be willing to review dozens of genres and categories, whereas others specialize in something specific (such as picture books for kids).
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT WORK FOR REVIEW. Remember that each agent will want materials sent in a different way, and she’ll be forthright about it in her guidelines, so take note and do what she asks. Some agents may want the word Query in the subject line of the e-mail. Some may want materials attached to the e-mail, whereas others demand they be pasted into the e-mail itself. Some may request that you include return postage if you contact them via postal mail and not the Internet.
HOW AND WHEN WRITERS SHOULD EXPECT TO HEAR BACK. In addition to learning how to reach out to an agent, submission guidelines often include information about how an agent will get back to you with some kind of answer. For example, “Responds to queries within eight weeks.” Sadly, these guidelines have evolved over the past five years: Silence is becoming a common answer. Many agents now say things like, “If
“Please don’t query with unfinished fiction! What if I like what you’ve sent me and I request the full manuscript? You won’t have anything ready. When agents are interested in your pitch and ask to see the full manuscript, we want to be able to read it right away. So don’t pitch until the whole thing sparkles.”
—Linda Epstein (Jennifer De Chiara Literary)
So what materials do you send to agents so they’ll consider repping your books? The short answer is: It all depends on what they ask for.
All agents want similar components, but each may want a different configuration of them. Some only want a query letter, which is a one-page letter that typically begins all correspondence. Some want a query and a synopsis. Some nonfiction agents want a proposal right away. Some don’t. Some want print queries via snail mail. Some want only e-mailed submissions with a certain word in the subject line. The key is to just give them what they want how they want it.
If you’re writing fiction, an agent will most likely ask for your query. At some point, they may follow up and ask for your synopsis and all or part of your manuscript. A few may ask for a short bio as well. For nonfiction, the book proposal and query are the central pieces. Those are the main weapons at your disposal. Even though each agent may differ in what she requests and how she requests it, if you have the basic, polished pieces, you’re in business.
FOLLOW SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Just like magazine editors and book publishers, literary agents have submission guidelines concerning how writers should contact them. These guidelines communicate everything you need to know to pass along work for consideration. Agents are usually good about keeping their guidelines clear and making them available. They do this because when writers know what they want and how they want it, there are fewer misdirected queries clogging their in-box. So remember to follow guidelines exactly. A dirty truth about agents is that, because of their constantly overwhelming workload, many of them are looking for any reason to say no to your submission simply to cut their humungous pile down by one. Don’t give them that reason. Honor their requests.
“It’s important to follow submission guidelines, because honoring such a basic request shows a willingness to work as a team with an agent.”
—Dawn Frederick (Red Sofa Literary)
An agent’s posted submission guidelines typically break down into three parts.
A LIST OF ALL THE GENRES AND CATEGORIES OF BOOKS THE AGENT REPRESENTS AND THEREFORE WANTS TO RECEIVE FROM WRITERS. If you want to know what types of books an agent represents, she’ll tell you. Sometimes agents can be broad in their list of desired genres, and that’s where further research comes in handy. Interviews and past sales can help illuminate exactly what kind of books they like and sell. Some agents will be willing to review dozens of genres and categories, whereas others specialize in something specific (such as picture books for kids).
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT WORK FOR REVIEW. Remember that each agent will want materials sent in a different way, and she’ll be forthright about it in her guidelines, so take note and do what she asks. Some agents may want the word Query in the subject line of the e-mail. Some may want materials attached to the e-mail, whereas others demand they be pasted into the e-mail itself. Some may request that you include return postage if you contact them via postal mail and not the Internet.
HOW AND WHEN WRITERS SHOULD EXPECT TO HEAR BACK. In addition to learning how to reach out to an agent, submission guidelines often include information about how an agent will get back to you with some kind of answer. For example, “Responds to queries within eight weeks.” Sadly, these guidelines have evolved over the past five years: Silence is becoming a common answer. Many agents now say things like, “If
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