So, you’re ready to start querying agents. Do you want to know what’s going to get you further than your selected agent reading the first line only, then deleting your beautifully crafted email?
1. Look up the submission guidelines.
All agents with websites have a submission guidelines page. Look for it.
2. Follow the submission guidelines to the letter.
If it states they don’t take children’s books, they don’t take children’s books. Don’t try them just to see if yours is extra special enough to make them change their mind. Why target someone who, from the outset isn’t interested?
3. When sending multiple submissions out, do not do it in the same email.
Sending a global email to multiple agents, with all agents listed in the to: box, will really put them in a bad mood. Just don’t do it. We all like to feel special and even if you are submitting to a few at once, be honest about it, be polite, but for each agent, do an individual email. You know why you have chosen them. Let them know.
4. Be clear about what it is you are submitting.
If it’s a police procedural, state it’s a police procedural. Bookshelves in shops have titles, an agent wants to know where it’s going to fit. And if that’s what you are submitting, don’t be all wishy washy about it. Don’t send multiple samples of different genres hoping to hit lucky. You want their attention, you have to be as sharp as your writing.
5. Don’t tell them it’s the next big thing or that your mother loved it.
No-one can predict the next big thing. Did anyone predict Harry Potter or Fifty Shades? You will only come across as arrogant. And you may love your mother to bits, but I’m sorry to say this, she really doesn’t count, that is unless she actually is J K Rowling.
Ok, so that’s just five quick things to remember. To pick up lots of other tasty tidbits, just go to Twitter and look up the #askagent hashtag, usually running on a Sunday evening about 8 p.m. -ish, where a couple of fabulous literary agents answer all your submission and publishing questions, all in their own time. You can also keep an eye out for the hashtag #pitmad. I’ve seen this run once and it was amazing. An opportunity to tweet out your novel in 140 characters with agents from around the world participating and if they liked your idea, they would favourite the tweet. This was a request for you to submit your query to them. It was running live and was exciting and amazing to watch.
There are opportunities out there, we just need to go out there and grab them with both hands. (After working really hard on the writing of course.)
Do you know of any other Twitter hashtags the blog readers should look out for, or any other great tips on querying agents?
Well done for all the cool prolific blogging, Rebecca! I thought I knew the deal on the agent score but you’ve surprised me with that Twitter tip viz #askagent I didn’t know that! I love it when that happens as it shows me things are changing, often for the better ; ) x
Thanks Yasmin. I’ve enjoyed it, but it’s not always been easy!
#askagent is great, you should check it out sometime. The agents that do it are really friendly and helpful.
I love following the #askagent hashtag. Have seen #pitmad trending but didn’t know that was how it worked, so thanks for tip! 🙂 xx
#askagent is a great hashtag isn’t it. So friendly and helpful and no question too dumb. #pitmad is a little #crazyhectic though! 🙂
Great post. I love to follow the #askagent sessions when I can… it’s probably my favourite thing on twitter!
Brilliant aren’t they. I love how no question seems too stupid for them, they just keep on answering. Really helpful and friendly.
Great information. Thanks.
You’re welcome Elizabeth.
All good tips, Rebecca. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome Jane x
You missed the part about your cat loving it. Your Mother is a given (in most cases), your cat may be more choosy 🙂 Great post. Don’t know how you are keeping going with the A-Z challenge. Very impressed. You need to release a short book.
Ah, in my case, my dog very obviously loves and Adores my work, so it’s a given that it’s brilliant right? 😉
I’m managing to keep going, mainly through neglect of the house and family!
🙂
Rebecca – These are such good ideas!! I couldn’t agree more, especially with the reminder to follow submission guidelines to the letter. There are reasons for anything an agent or publisher asks one to do, and it doesn’t bode well if they get the impression you aren’t listening. Oh, and yes, sending out individual submissions prevents a lot of embarrassing mistakes!
Margot, I see so many agents on Twitter moaning about these two very things and it really does irritate them. It’s not difficult to follow guidelines and if it is, well…. their thinking brain, the one that supposedly plotted out a whole book, seems to be MIA.
Submission guidelines are a big one. Everyone has their own preferences and it shows you cared enough about your work to do some research and can follow directions.
That’s it isn’t it. Caring enough about your work to do it properly and that’s down to the last detail of submission and not just the last edit.
Sending out one email addressed to many seems like a really bad idea. And a sure way to eliminate those people from your list in one fell swoop.
I’ve seen agents moan about this on Twitter. Unbelievable that it gets done, but it seems that it does.
Awesome. And last of all, end with a hook. Give the agent enough to get them hungry and begging for more. 😉
On that note, I’ve participated in a couple #pitmad events. Before you try it, write your pitch from several angles and really make that one sentence your very best writing. I’ve snagged several requests from twitter–because I drafted at least fifty different twitter pitches (for one book) before finding the right one.
Excellent advice, Rebecca!
Great advice for #pitmad. Thank you! I wrote a quick #pitmad tweet out, then very quickly deleted it. Now I know why. As much work needs to go into it as everything else. Thanks Crystal.
Sounds like great advice to me, very helpful!
Thanks Rowena.
Didn’t know that Twitter hashtag. Thanks!
You’ll have to look out for them now Jacqui! 🙂
Great advice. Thanks! Thank you for posting a comment on my blog telling me your favourite quote. I enjoyed your post and reread it. Unfortunately, I am not on Twitter to make use of the hashtag.
Denise at Organization and Inspiration for Fellow Writers, participant of A to Z Blogging Challenge
Denise Reashore on Facebook
Thanks Denise. I found Twitter to be the place I have connected with fellow writers, but I know it’s not for everyone. You’ve just given me Tuesdays blog post idea though!
Can’t wait to see it!
Happy A to Z!