1) Create the spreadsheet template:
2) Find the agents to fill in the list. I've compiled my list based on information from The Agent Spotlight at Literary Rambles, checking my favorite author blogs/websites to see who represents them, using lists of agents who participate in blog and Twitter pitch contests like the ones on Miss Snark's First Victim (contests are a really great way to see what sort of material the agents are interested in), and Agent Query. Then, once I have my list, I check the Bewares, Recommendations, and Background Check Forum on Absolute Write to see what sort of information about the agents comes up. I try to fill up the list with at least 50 agents.
3) Now that I have my list, I check the official website for each agent and copy their submission guidelines, average response time, and what they are looking for into my spreadsheet. I also paste their website into the "Additional Info" column.
4) After this, I do some in depth research on each agent. I check to see if they have a blog, twitter account, or recent interviews. I use these resources to find the most up-to-date info on what the agent is looking for and what their personal tastes are. If I can find a list of their favorite books at the moment, and my manuscript is comparable in some way to one of those books, perfect! I'll mention this in the query. Any of this sort of information which will help me to personalize the query will go into the "additional info" column.
5) I send out queries in batches of 10. I have an idea of which agents are my "dream agents" and I don't include all of them in a single go. I like to stratify the batches accordingly and wait for feedback on the first batch (just in case my query is bombing out there) before I send out another. If I don't receive a single positive response, then I might tweak my query before I send out the next batch.
That's it! How does your process compare? Is there anything you would do differently?
I was going to compile a spreadsheet for querying agents... then I discovered QueryTracker. This tool is amazing. It helps me organize and track my querying, and it contains links to each agent's blog/website, contact info, and whether that agent is open or closed to submissions. There's also a place for people to comment on their querying experience with that agent, which is useful since it gives you an idea of response time, what queries the agent seems to be passing on, and whether the agent tends to respond to every query. And it's FREE!
ReplyDeleteSo, there's my plug for QueryTracker! You don't have to use it as your only tool, but it's worth checking out. (http://www.querytracker.net).
All the best to you, A.K.! :)
Thanks so much for the tip :) I agree that Query Tracker is a pretty sweet tool, especially since it's free! And I totally should have mentioned it in this post. But, a lot of the agents I'd like to query aren't available (ex. Weronicka Janczuk, Lauren Hammond, Gemma Cooper, Josh Getzler) and so I have turned to my spreadsheet (although I suppose using a combination of the two wouldn't be a bad idea). Have you had this issue too?
DeleteI applaud your awesome attention to detail! I'm bookmarking this post for future reference ^_^
ReplyDeleteThanks :D
DeleteHi A.K. First thanks for the follow on my blog. I thought I'd jump over here and check yours out.
ReplyDeleteI'm a spreadsheet junkie. I have one that looks very similar to yours. I wish you success in your search. The process can be tedious and sometimes frustrating and sometimes very disappointing. But don't give up. I must have sent 25 or 30 queries before I received an offer from a publisher. Don't give up no matter how many rejections hit you e-mail inbox. It only takes one offer to get you through the publishing world door.
Thanks so much for your encouraging words :) And for checking out my blog! Congrats on the offer too - how exciting :D
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