How to Query Your Book to Literary Agents

 You’ve finally finished your book, had it edited and read by beta readers, and you’re ready to get published. But maybe you’re not sure where to start. After all, there are so many avenues and confusing roadblocks that can stand in the way of an author and their dreams.

This blog will specifically cover the aspect of traditional publishing that involves getting a literary agent. For information on independent (“indie”) publishing or self-publishing, stay tuned for other posts or sign up for my newsletter to be notified when something new is posted.

What is a Literary Agent?

A literary agent is a person who acts as the middle man between author and large publishers. They receive queries (we’ll get to those later) and decide which books or authors they want to represent and take to publishing houses. They often help edit your book and prepare a submission list of editors to potentially sell your book to.

They’re also your advocate when it comes to getting the best contract with a publishing house. Since they do all of this work, they do get a percentage of your advance when you sell a book, though the amount depends on the agency and your contract.

A literary agent often has a niche they work in, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all. If a literary agent’s website says they only represent Young Adult and Middle Grade fantasy, you’re better off taking your memoir elsewhere. Thankfully, there are a ton of literary agents and there is no doubt someone who represents what you write.

Do I Need a Literary Agent?

If you plan to traditionally publish, you need a literary agent. Large imprints like Simon & Schuster and Disney Hyperion do not accept unsolicited submissions, which means they won’t consider books that are not represented by a literary agent.

This is for a variety of reasons. First, it helps thin the submission process (if only by a little) so that editors aren’t flooded with everyone who’s ever written a book in their life. Literary agents are also there to advocate for the author, who may not know the difference between a good contract and a predatory one.

Now, there are independent publishers and smaller presses that don’t require a literary agent in order to submit. Be careful about these, though, as you will have to have someone look over any contract before signing it to make sure you’re not signing all of your rights away.

How Do I Get a Literary Agent?

Querying, pitching, and attending conferences are the three primary ways to connect with a literary agent. Authors have seen success in all three fields, and which one succeeds for you may boil down to timing and luck. Let’s break down each step.

What is a Query?

A query is a letter you send to a literary agent describing your book. Think about it as the jacket copy on the inside of a book you pick up in the store. This is your sales pitch, typically between 300 and 500 words, that will influence the agent into reading your book. It should not give away the ending or every detail, but act as an appetizer for the main event (your actual novel).

Pitch Events

You can pitch in person or online at conventions, pitch programs, or on Twitter. Twitter is a large source of pitch contests such as #PitDark and #SFFPit. These pitch events allow you to boil down your story idea to fit in the space of one tweet. Agents will peruse the hashtag for stories they’re interested in and “like” pitches they want to see in their inbox. A lot of authors have received offers through pitch events like this.

 The other option is online programs, such as events run by Manuscript Academy. Manuscript Academy often hosts online events where you can chat with literary agents, ask questions, and figure out who to pitch to.

Attending Conferences

There are a ton of conferences that offer you the chance to meet with literary agents and pitch to them in person. This is an effective way to get feedback and, occasionally, an invitation to submit your book. I often try to attend DFWCon, a local Texas writing convention where literary agents often guest appear. Check your local conferences to see if you would be interested in this route. Just keep in mind that these conferences can get expensive, and pitching to a literary agent often comes with an additional fee.

 Where Do I Find Literary Agents?

Anyone who has ever queried will likely point you in the way of Query Tracker. Query Tracker is a fantastic database of literary agents. It will tell you who is open to queries, the genres they represent, and links to their websites to view submission guidelines. If you subscribe to a premium account for only $25/year, you can view agent response times, the percentage of positive responses versus negative responses, which genres they seem to request more, etc.

Another great resource is Publisher’s Marketplace. Publisher’s Marketplace is a paid subscription service, but it gives you access to an entire range of publishing deals. You can view when books sold and what kind of deal they sold for, such as a “very nice” deal or six-figure deal. This can help you see how your agent has fared in selling books. Of course, newer agents may not have any sales, but that doesn’t mean you should discount them completely. New agents are often eager to sell. 

Manuscript Wish List is a website where you can find wish lists from agents, as well. Although the search function leaves much to be desired, this website has posts from literary agents and editors stating what kind of books they’re looking to represent. This can help you narrow your list down.

How Many Agents Should I Query?

I see this question a lot, and the answer is that there is no magic number. Along with other writers, I recommend querying in batches of ten to twenty. Send out ten queries to agents who you believe would be a good fit, and wait. Waiting is a large part of this process. After the first ten responses (if you get all of them back, in a perfect world), you should know if you need to change your query or first pages.

If you’ve received form rejections or been ghosted for the majority of your queries, this may be a sign that you need a look at your submission package before resuming your querying journey.

A lot of the time writers have great books, but they don’t know how to market them.

Are All Agents Good Agents?

Unfortunately, no. Being a “good” agent doesn’t come down just to being able to sell a book, either. There are some agents (and even entire agencies) who have dubious reputations for a variety of reasons, whether that be selling books with questionable content or dropping clients without warning or reason.

It is so important to network in this industry so that you can connect with other writers and discover who to trust. Unfortunately, you won’t always know until it happens. The important thing is to research each agent and agency intensely, keep open communication, and ask current clients their experience.

Many authors are willing to chat if you receive an offer from their literary agent and want to know how it is to work with them. After all, even a “good” literary agent may not be the best suited for you. Communication styles, editing styles, and editorial vision for your novel or career are all important factors to discuss during that offer call with a potential literary agent.

Need a look at your submission package? Book a critique today!