How to Secure an Agent

You may have thought you were finished with your query, and it may seem perfect to you, but it has to be perfect for the agent to whom you are submitting. Each agent needs to be researched, and your query should be tailored to suit each one. I’m not going to sugarcoat it; this process typically feels like a huge pain in the rear for writers. You could enlist the help of a spouse or very close friend to assist with the research, thereby spreading out the workload.

The first step is to compile a comprehensive list of potential agents. We are developing an agent directory here at Writers Club, aiming to provide tools that will help you narrow down options more quickly. Meanwhile, Reedsy offers a good directory with hundreds of agents. Currently, Reedsy is free, whereas many other sources charge for access to this information.

You should not submit a query to any agent who doesn’t specifically state they represent your genre. I would suggest creating a spreadsheet for this project with two tabs. All the agents in your genre will fit into one of two categories.

• Dream Agent: Your dream agents are those you believe you align with most closely, and whom you think you have the best chance of landing. As you research your entire list, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of whether they fit this category. If you’re writing science fiction and the agent consistently gets science fiction to market, that’s a good reason to include them on your dream agent list.
• Other: If they accept your genre but you don’t feel they are a dream agent, they simply go into this “Other” category.

Customize your query for each agent to show you understand them. Choosing the right agent for the genre is a small proof of your knowledge. Including the correct information in the header also adds a little proof. To really stand out, ensure that at least one of your comparable titles is a book they have represented — this is the most challenging part. It should truly be a comparable title if it’s in your comps, and it’s better not to list a book an agent previously marketed than to list one incorrectly.

How can you possibly have time to read enough books to find common ground with agents? That isn’t practical, but there are ways to shortcut this if you are careful. Reading a synopsis can help quickly rule out some options. If you aren’t a member of Goodreads, you should join. You could ask if anyone in your circle of friends has read a particular book and do a quick interview. Many books are available digitally, allowing you to read a sample of the book along with a synopsis to make an informed decision. Remember when we mentioned earlier that this project is one where you can enlist the help of a willing spouse or best friend?

If you can’t find a common book with the targeted agent, ensure you have three strong comps; not only does the book match well, but it has also sold well enough to be recognized by most in the industry as a bankable book.

Many agents have rules, and if you don’t follow their instructions, your query can be rejected outright. If they ask for the first ten pages of your manuscript to be submitted with the query, then submit exactly those ten pages—not nine pages, and not the entire first chapter. If they specify such requirements, they simply want to quickly assess the quality of your writing based on the query. If they don’t like the query, the ten pages will never be read. If you can’t follow their rules exactly, then they are unlikely to want to work with an author they feel might have trouble listening.

Expected Word Count of Manuscript

As we mentioned before, you must include your word count, but that word count should also fall within the expected range of the genre. Click here for Fiction Genres and Expected Word Count Ranges.

Other Tools

LinkedIn

Try to look up agents on LinkedIn and review what they’ve been posting. This can also provide clues as to how best to approach them.

Agency Website

This can be hit or miss, but most agencies keep their websites up to date, and many will feature agent profiles.

Back to Your Spreadsheet

As you work through everything, take notes in your spreadsheet and keep sorting the agents into Dream and Other categories. Add a column at the start of your spreadsheet to mark each agent you send a query to.

The Most Important Part of This Process

Don’t start by sending queries to any agents in your Dream category. You get one shot per book per agent. You could even sort the Other category in order from most to least favorable if you choose, and begin with the least desirable.

Send only 5–10 at a time. Use your spreadsheet to track submissions, responses, and deadlines. Avoid exclusive submissions unless required—most agents allow multiple queries. Expect rejections (which are common) or requests for more material (partial or full manuscript). If you get a request, respond promptly with a professional thank-you. If no response after 6–8 weeks, it’s usually a pass—move on.

The initial goal is to see what happens when you send your query. If you send out a few and hear nothing, it doesn’t automatically mean your query is bad, but after a few batches and still hearing nothing but crickets, then work on your query, especially your hook, and try again. The goal is to exhaust your Other list and hopefully receive some feedback along the way to refine your query. At the very least, with no feedback, make some changes as you send to your Other list to test your messaging. This is similar to A/B testing in marketing.

This process can only improve your query before you hit up your Dream list.

What if I get an offer from my other list?

Take it! Seriously, you must evaluate any offer you receive. If an agent offers representation, ask about their sales track record, communication style, and vision for your book. Discuss contract terms, typically a 15% commission. Take a week to decide and inform other agents of your decision.

If your Other list is almost exhausted when the offer arrives, don’t assume you can do better with your Dream list. This might be the only offer you get. We can’t decide for you, but if everything seems reasonable, then you should probably accept it.