Queries and Agents
After you’ve written your amazing novel you might be wondering how you get it out to the proper people? How do you get agents interested? First you must craft a query letter. A one page letter of inquiry detailing what your book is about and if possible why your qualified to write it. Ultimately you have to pique their interest in a very limited time space. But where do you find agents and publishers that are accepting submissions?
Writer’s Market by Writer’s Digest features an online database of hundreds of agents and publishers as well as magazines and periodicals that also accept submissions.
Association of Author’s Representatives: Almost every literary agent is a member of this organization so it’s a wonderful resource for finding agents but also how to craft the perfect pitch, query and so much more. It’s also a good place to go to find out what exactly an agent can and can’t do for you.
AgentQuery.com: A free database to help you find a literary agent.
Preditors and Editors: Writer beware. There are many who wish to scam you. How do I know? Because I’ve been there. Thankfully Preditors and Editors is a handy guide for finding out whether or not an agent/publishing house is reputable (and even includes some self publishing resources)
Ms. Snark (Archives): While the literary agent’s blog may no longer update, you can still find the fascinating and sometimes educational and hilarious rantings of the literary agent known only as Ms. Snark.
Query Shark: All about query letters, helpful hints and tips and even a critique or two if your brave enough to send yours in.
SlushPile Hell: A grumpy literary agent (their own words) shares amusing and sometimes exhaustingly hopeful query letters. If nothing else it’s a great what not to do guide.
