The Great Agent Quest
I recently signed up with Spencerhill Associates, and have just been through the great agent quest myself so I thought it was the appropriate topic for my guest post here at Magical Musings, and thanks ladies for having me.
Agents, do we or don’t we need them? Well for me the answer was definitely “Yes”. I live in Australia and far away from New York. Now, while the internet and the World Wide Web have closed the distance somewhat, I know very little about the business side of publishing. What is or isn’t a good contract, who can I send my query to, and how does the whole negotiation process work? All of these questions and the fact I was targeting single title rather than category contributed to my answer.
So where do you begin to find an agent. Well as I said the World Wide Web has made the world smaller. Blogs, specifically agent blogs, were extremely helpful. Miss Snark delivered her wisdom with a witty sharpness and while she may no longer be contributing to the blog, the ‘snarkhives’ (archives to those that don’t speak snark) hold a wealth of information. Another helpful site was the Bookends blog. And there are many more out there.
Websites of the agencies usually have information on how to submit to them. Pay careful attention to the agents websites, especially the submissions information and follow it to the letter. If they only want an e-query first, don’t waste your time and theirs by snail mailing your synopsis and 3 chapters. If they only want snail mail, then do as they ask and don’t email.
I started out with a list of desired agents (ironically my agent didn’t end up being on that list, but more about that later). I researched and ranked then researched some more. Sites like AgentQuery and Preditors & Editors are a wealth of information. RWA has agent information in its members area which is also a great place to start.
Now you’ve done that, hone your query letter until it shines and start submitting. Make sure you address the agent correctly and politely. If you are unsure of their gender, do your research. Tell them a little about why you are querying them specifically, i.e. You liked their website or you know of their great reputation. Be honest and genuine, and never underestimate the personal touch.
You will get rejections, it’s a given, but don’t get disheartened. Learn from each rejection you get, take something positive from it, even if it’s just ‘wow, wasn’t I brave to have submitted it”. You’ll also get no reply from some, but suck it up and move on to the next one if you haven’t heard anything back in a while. But the most important is be persistent. What one agent doesn’t like, another will absolutely love.
My call story: I was getting near the end of my top 20 list when I finally got the call. I’d sent out 16 queries and as I said earlier, Spencerhill wasn’t on my list as they didn’t have a website. But I was looking up agent number 17′s details on the RWA members site and saw Spencerhill sitting just below it. I liked the look of comment at the bottom of their details
Please Note:
We are actively looking to acquire some exciting new voices as well as established, published authors at this time.
I thought I am an exciting new voice I’m going to give them a go with a query. And I did, right then and there on a Tuesday afternoon (my time). Because of the time difference my day is New York night and vice versa. I was quite shocked to get up the next morning to find a request for synopsis and 3 chapters sitting in my email inbox from Jennifer Schober. Of course I sent them off straight away. Then Friday morning I had an emails saying she loved the 3 chapters and would be in touch about sending the full. Half an hour later I got an email from Karen Solem saying ‘We should work together’. After another couple of quick emails in the early hours of my Friday morning, Karen called. I nearly went into a dead feint when she told me she was JR Ward’s agent, my all time favourite author in years. I didn’t accept straight away, even though my spidey sense said this is the one. I thought about it rationally, weighed it up, I had other partials and fulls under scrutiny with other agents, but in the end I wrote to the other agencies and said thank you for their consideration but I was signing with Spencerhill (I’ve learnt to trust my intuition). Now I am making some changes as suggested by the lovely Jenn before my ms gets sent out. I’m very excited about them.
So have you embarked on the great Agent Quest yet? Let us know about your story.
Tracey, I loved your fabulous story! I guess when it’s really meant to be, things roll fast.
I made my first sale without an agent, although it doesn’t always happen that way. At least I know where to go for advice, if I go on the great agent hunt. I’ll be knocking on your email door, girlfriend!
LaDonna – any time girlfriend, you’re always welcome – And thanks to MM for having me over.
Lovely to hear your story, Tracey, congratulations. I wish you the best of luck with your revisions and finding that ms a home.
Hey Tracey! What a fabulous agent call story =) And as I am signed with Spencerhill too, I’m right behind you on the high fives to that agency. They made it happen for me.
Congratulations on signing. I’m sure that soon I’ll be congratulating you on signing a publishing contract!
Robbie
Great story, Tracy! Congratulatons! I’m on the agent hunt now, and I have my lists made up. Agent Query is a regular stop for me, lol.
Thanks Michelle – I hope they find a home for it too.
Robbie – you dear sweet thing – high five back stable-buddy.
Edie – Good luck with your own agent quest, hope you snag one soon.
Tracey,
Thanks for a wonderfully informative blog. I hope we get lots of hits, because anyone agent hunting should read this and pay attention. You hit all the high notes.
I’m on the great agent quest myself. I’ll let you know the ol’ outcome.
Tracey, Spencerhill should have no problem selling you. You’re a wonderful writer. Good luck and congrats!
Theresa – definately let me know and I hope it’s soon. You tell a fantastic story and it shouldn’t be long.
Karin – Thanks for that, I hope you’re right. You have been fantastic support and have helped me greatly on my journey with your fab contest. :kisses:
Tracey, Thanks for telling us your story! I’m inspired now. I have just finished a book but I don’t have an agent or publisher yet. I have been kind of frozen with how to proceed next for the last week or two. You have given me the ‘push’ to go out there and research agents and submit to them. And I too absolutely LOVE JR Ward! She can not write nearly fast enough for me.
Ellie,
I am glad this has inspired you to take that step and get out there. It’s a big one to take.
I so agree on JR Ward – I have only recently discovered her and have practically inhaled all her books so far released. She is the mistress of darkness.
Your timing is uncanny, Tracey.
I’ll be pitching to Jennifer at Nationals. So for the time being my agent search is on hold while I work on my pitches and plot some new ideas.
Terrific story, Tracey. Congratulations on landing Spencerhill. I’ve heard nothing but good things about them.
I’m on the Great Agent Hunt, but at the moment, sorta half-hearted. I had an agent that just didn’t work out. We parted on good terms, so the search goes on. Not everyone is a good fit. Sounds like you may have found one.
A few months ago I sent out my first 6 queries, all e-queries. I immediately got one form rejection letter back, and then a request for the partial. The other 4 didn’t reply at all.
I sent the partial and waited.
Still nothing back on the partial yet. I had some final polish edits to do on the manuscript so I’m finishing those up, then hopefully at the end of the month I’ll be sending out about 20 queries. So I’m not sure I would say I’m full on in the agentquest yet. I partially sent the queries I sent to light a fire under my ass and get me moving to finish the edits. But now I want to be totally totally done before sending out another batch.
Marcia – Jenn is really lovely and she knows her stuff. Good luck with the pitch.
Sad to hear you and you agent parted ways Liz, hope you have luck finding a new one.
Good Luck Zoe with your agent hunt. Wise to have it finished ’cause when things happen – they happen fast.
Congratulations, Tracey! I loved your agent Call story. Hope to hear news of a contract from you soon.
You’re so right – rejections are a given when you query. But you just have to pick yourself up and not take it personally.
Hey Tracey,
Nice to see you here
. You’ll go a long way once Spencerhill sells you – looking forward to seeing your book on the shelves.
Rachel
Thanks a bunch Vanessa and Rachel
Won’t be long now Tracey. I expect to hear about a different type of call very soon!
Hey Trace – can’t wait to read those revisions (he he). And like Rach, I can’t wait to have to book on my own shelf.
Mel
Tracey,
Super congrats on snagging such a terrific agent! Having read your material, I know we’ll be hearing more good news from you soon. *g*
Another way to get an agent or editor’s attention is by recommendation from another author. I was lucky enough to have this happen to me and I’ve since heard that agents/editors just love recommendations from authors whose disinterested opinion they feel they can trust.
But in the final analysis, they’ve got to love your work on its own merits and that’s why the “call” is always such a total thrill. What a validation!
So for those unagented, it’s really worth plugging on. You’ll get there in the end for sure!
Denise
Keziah – thank you very much. You have been a fantastic support.
Mel – hey CP – thanks for stopping by, big hugs – if it gets on your self it will be thanks partly to you.
Ms Rossetti – what can I say – I feel very honoured by your comments. And thanks for adding the extra info – I never thought about that angle. :Kisses: