WOW! Women On Writing Blog: querying literary agents

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Back in May I shared that I was about to begin the querying process for my latest novel. After several rounds of revisions and one professional edit, I moved on to creating my submission package, which included a logline, an author bio, a one page synopsis of the book, a list of comparative titles, and the potential target audience. I created a QueryTracker account, a separate Excel spreadsheet for my own records, and began sending out queries.

At first, I struggled with the query letter. I spent a lot of time trying to personalize each and every query letter and the result was a rambling version I wasn’t happy with. After the first few agents politely turned me down, I approached my writing accountability group and asked if they would take a look at letter and give me honest feedback. From those suggestions, I had a version I was much happier with and moved on to the next agents on my list. QueryTracker lets you sort agents by book genre. Instead of starting with the agents whose last names began with an "A," I went to the end of the database and have been working my way backwards from "Z."

The process has been slow, but I’ve had surprisingly positive results. Since April, I’ve sent out 25 queries. Twelve agents have not yet responded to my queries. I’ve had eight rejections, and most of them have been a standard form letter. One agent passed but said I was welcome to query other agents at her agency. One personally thanked me and said she had a small client list and wasn’t able to take on any new clients, but she liked my concept and sample and had a feeling another agent was going to request the manuscript. She was right—when I received her message, I had already received two full manuscript requests from other agents. That’s something that’s never happened to me before in the querying process.

QueryTracker keeps track of all queries you send out through QueryManager, but not the ones you submit by e-mail, which is why I’m keeping a separate spreadsheet for my records. I also noticed Query Tracker marks submissions as “stale” after ninety days, so as of right now, I have three I sent this past spring that are marked out in the system. That doesn’t mean those agents won’t eventually reach out, just that QueryTracker considers them stagnant.

So now I wait. One agent has had my manuscript since mid-July and the other requested it in the middle of last month. The first agent did tell me to give her a nudge if another agent offered me representation, but that was before she read the book. I’m keeping my fingers crossed and trying not to be impatient. Fortunately, I have freelance work and podcast production to keep me busy. Right now, I’m trying to use the method of sending a new query out immediately after receiving a rejection. In the meantime, I keep telling myself I’m going to outline my next book idea, but it hasn’t happened yet. Wish me luck!

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer and host/creator of the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas.

2 comments manuscript requests, querying literary agents, QueryManager, Renee Roberson, Using QueryTracker, writing advice

An Agent Query Checklist

Thursday, May 02, 2024

I love to write fiction and create deeply-flawed characters along with plot twists. With every page I edit, I become more skilled and learn what works and what doesn’t. That’s why most of us are here—we want to connect with other writers, learn from the experiences of others, find marketing tips and ways we can perfect our craft.

What I don’t love is what happens when I’m done with a project. The querying process is something that terrifies me. Nothing brings on imposter syndrome like scrolling through the various lists of available agents and looking to see what they want in their submissions. There have been several times where I completed a novel (yes, I've written several), polished it to the best of my ability, and then began to prepare for querying agents. I’ll get through five or six agents on my list, and then grind the process to a screeching halt.

Every single agent asks for something different. I recently signed up for Query Tracker, a free website (it offers a premium membership upgrade if you choose) that helps you find literary agents in your genre, organize and track your queries, and learn the typical response times and reply rates from agents. This website also shares what agents want to see from prospective writers.

After randomly selecting five different agents, I’m outlining what I found below when searching the thriller/suspense genre. I will not use any real agent names. For my purposes in this exercise, I’m only looking for agents representing fiction, as the submission process for nonfiction books is different.

Agent #1 would like you to submit your information through QueryManager.com. That includes a short biography from you, the writer, a website address, a query letter, a short synopsis of your book, the first three chapters of your book, a one-sentence pitch for your book, and a description of your potential target audience.

Agent #2 requests you contact them through e-mail. When I go to their website to get more information, it does not specify what they are looking for in this e-mail query. I’m assuming a query letter and synopsis of the book would be the first place to start unless the agent requests more information.

Agent #3 asks that you submit via e-mail. Going to the agency website for more guidelines, the agent asks for a query letter including the author’s bio, optional synopsis, and the first 10 pages of the book.

Agent #4 wants authors to submit queries via e-mail. The website submissions guidelines ask for a book synopsis and a brief author biography.

Agent #5 accepts queries via e-mail. They would like a query letter from the author about the book, including the hook, bio, brief synopsis of the work, and submission information (i.e., is this a simultaneous submission?)

Aaaaand this is why I’ve previously been intimidated by the submissions process. While you’d think I’d be excited about the prospect of getting my book information out into the world, juggling the various elements of the submissions package dampens that enthusiasm almost immediately. I know I’m not alone in this. However, I’m excited to use Query Tracker because it will help me stay organized and provide a record of who I’ve submitted to and when. But before I get started, my first task is to put together the following:

• A one-sentence logline of my book.

• A one-paragraph author bio.

• A one-page synopsis of the book, using samples I found in the latest edition of The Writer’s Market and Save the Cat Writes a Novel.

• A brief description of the potential target audience and other comparative titles to mine.

• The most polished version of the book, where I can pull the first 10 pages, 25 pages, or 50 pages, depending on what/if the agent wants.

Wish me luck—I have a feeling I’ll need it!

Have you been through the submissions process with any of your books? I’d love to hear your experiences and submission methods!

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who also hosts the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas. She's currently preparing to shop around a suspense/thriller about, what else? A podcaster trying to solve the mystery of her sister's disappearance.