How to Choose Literary Agents to Query | Build Your Dream Agent List!

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When looking through a literary agent database, you might feel overwhelmed trying to pick which ones to query. The truth is there are hundreds of agents who are open to submissions from aspiring book authors, but not all will be a good match for your project. Here are my top tips for choosing literary agents to query and what factors you should keep in mind when building a list of dream agents. Tailoring your approach to agents will ultimately improve your chances of getting a positive response and getting your book traditionally published!
FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE QUERYING LITERARY AGENTS:
01:33 - Genre specialties
03:15 - Past projects
04:40 - Level of experience
06:16 - Working style
07:22 - Background
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RELATED LINKS:
What Happens After You Get a Literary Agent?: • What Happens After You...
Debunking Misconceptions About Literary Agents: • Debunking Misconceptio...
Biggest Query Letter Mistakes: • Biggest Query Letter M...
ABOUT ME:
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with 7+ years of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey-whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.
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5 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 32

@inuzuki8605 2 года назад

Can you talk about what makes a certain book a specific age group. Is it the age of of the main characters? The subject matter? The graphic bits? The word count? What?

@jayashreechakravarthy4949 7 месяцев назад

Thanks ODA Sensei for your amazing work. These ideas wouldn’t exist without you.

@davidlocalio1124 3 года назад

Outstanding video Alyssa! Great information! Thanks! 👍

@nathanhoskinsauthor 3 года назад

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. I've learned so much from your channel and Reedsy, since I'm hoping to write full time it has been encouraging to hear that it is a real possibility. But it's nice to have pro tips and tricks going into it! Keep up the great work!

@FF-FAN9999 3 года назад

beautiful video. thank you for sharing the knowledge

@yijunzhu4679 Год назад

LOVE this! Thank you Alyssa! I truly appreciate your channel and your wealth of insider information for us writers who are trying to get in. Keep doing what you are doing. While you are helping us, we are championing you with your brilliant channel. Will share with my circle of writer friends for sure. PS. my first youtube comment too :)

@DrCharlesParker Год назад

Much appreciated❗️

@soccerguy325 3 года назад

Hey Alyssa - weird question but do you think there is a best time of year to contact agents/book publishers? Is summer better than winter, etc.?

@davidlevine3346 Год назад

Thanks Allysa for your informative videos! I just found you and I'm already watching a third video of yours!

@clearfield2009 3 года назад

Great video. Thank you 🙏‼️🌸

@LoveMakeShareTV 3 года назад

Thanks Alyssa! This is all timely as I'm strategizing about querying while working through this draft of my current project. Are the resources you identify generally international, or only American? The industry is much smaller here in Canada, for example, but I'm not sure if I should continue researching agents via their agencies or if some of these centralized databases would be more useful than I've given them credit for. Thanks for all the wonderful advice, context, and insight!

@currently7886 2 года назад

Super useful, thank you!

@AlyssaMatesic 2 года назад

Glad it was helpful!

@riverrose523 7 месяцев назад

Yes I just did that wow how can I get through this

@lavenderflowersfall280 2 года назад

I have a story about kids and their magical creatures and the bonds that they share and how they're going to save the world. I think it's young adult fantasy but what specifically with that genre fall in? Obviously Harry has his magic buddies but I mean kind of like in an eragon sense or maybe like a Pokemon sense. Any info is great. Thanks! I'm just about done with my book.

@AHealthyDoseofFran 3 года назад

A question I've wondered: I'm planning on being a hybrid author, a mix of self-published/indie and traditionally published work, will wanting to do both cause issues when finding/querying an agent?

@billy_bandit 3 года назад

No, but hybridizing is usually what established authors do. First you'd want to trad pub a strong debut with an agent. Once published (hopefully) and having a site and platform, you can go off and write indie stuff on the side. Agents won't mind if it's for a series in a different genre, but may appreciate a heads up and a chance to sub it on your behalf if its similar to what you queried them with originally.

@yoyosarefun1 3 года назад

Should I search for an agent to get my short story published?

@rowan7929 3 года назад

Good points. I know i have learned a lot last year when I queried for agents. This time, I have been more cautious who I query and read their bio more carefully. There were few I skipped because they only accepted YA fantasy for example. Unfortunately the agent who is perfect for me as she represents my genre and likes books I have read or touches upon the themes I write about, rejected me. which was pretty upsetting. :(

@billy_bandit 3 года назад

Dont ever be upset about taking your shot, but I feel you. Like the lady says, querying is dating. You asked them out and a rejection hurts cos we know we're pretty and they'd like us if only they knew us, and it sucks cos we're left standing in the rain and our book baby is crying cos we had a great home picked out and it fell through. The truth is, that agent: are you aware of their sales history? How long have they been on the job? How many clients do they have? (Too many clients means they may be more sharkey and pass on more people). Cos really, there is no perfect agent, there is only you, the book you're querying, and whoever will take you on. Ariana said it best with Thank you, next. Check your letter for spelling errors, make sure you follow all directions cos every agents requirements are different, and keep going!

@rowan7929 3 года назад

@@billy_bandit Don't know about the sales history or client list as nothing is stated. At least I wont know how to look up such things. Still hope an agent will accept me as there are a few to go but still hurts if you get constantly rejected.

@laurenshelby6017 8 дней назад

What happens if, my wildest dreams come true, and my first query goes well, find an agent. But then my next book is on a different genre? Do they get first dibs and we query again, or is that next book dead in the water?

@kirtiomart 3 года назад

Great video... hey Alissa, where can I find an agents background? Also, how do I know if they have published to the big five [four] recently.

@andeeharry 3 года назад

you find all that on thier webpage, or place you find them. All thier info will be on thier page.

@CarameltPud 3 года назад

For agents' background, you can check at their literary agency website, manuscript wishlist, or twitter. If you want to know if they have sold books recently to any publisher, publishers marketplace is a good option to explore. Hope this helps and good luck on your writing journey!

@billy_bandit 3 года назад

Publishers Marketplace. It isn't free but it's like hiring a private eye for prospective agents. Every detail you'd ever want is in there

@death14x45 3 года назад

What is the different between a covering letter and a synopsis..

@Phil-hr6hi 3 года назад

She has videos on this. The blurb in your letter should be similar to what would be on the back of the book. The synopsis should be start to finish plot points, including the ending. Only use the synopsis if it’s requested. The letter should be your selling point, almost like a movie trailer

@BGSpare 2 года назад

I found that an agent I am querying is following me on Twitter I then followed her back. Is this a good thing to have a potential agent representative follow you on Twitter?

@AlyssaMatesic 2 года назад

It definitely shows that you are on her radar! It's never a bad thing to make connections within the industry, although it does not mean she is 100% confirmed going to offer you representation. Best of luck!

@ItsJennB 3 года назад

Is it ok to query multiple agents from the same firm, or is that frowned upon?

@AllenAdrianTompkins 2 года назад

Alyssa, thank you for this video. I'm about to dive deeper into editing and proofreading and then look for an agent for a middle grade juvenile book specifically lgbtq and related to gun rights for adolescent safety. As well as fantasy for this specific book to offset the horrors of the character almost being shot. Unlike many of us we deal with multiculturalism and identity so that is the second book. If you have any suggestions I look forward to hearing from you. I will go look at your other queries and information for legitimize and an agent before I continue.