tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post275821651697877904..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Querying Agents at the Same AgencyBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9983183410787742572010-11-08T13:10:01.315-05:002010-11-08T13:10:01.315-05:00Thanks for this. It points out how important it is...Thanks for this. It points out how important it is to read guidelines. Some agencies definitely say they don't want to hear from you again, ever, if one person doesn't like your query.<br /><br />I wish all agencies would make this as clear as you have. I've had irate rejections from agencies when I queried a second agent several months after the first rejection, not realizing they had a silent policy of "go away means stay away!"<br /><br />I suppose that happens especially in offices where agents don't read their own queries and one intern or assistant is the gatekeeper. She probably gets annoyed when she sees the same query she rejected coming back.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-92048290376176750042010-11-07T13:02:53.056-05:002010-11-07T13:02:53.056-05:00Do make sure to read ALL submission guidelines on ...Do make sure to read ALL submission guidelines on the agency you pick to query a second time. I have run across one agency that has a strict policy against "multiple submissions." On their submission page it firmly states,"A rejection from one agent represents a rejection from the entire agency." OUCH!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-69456372665988695432010-11-06T14:37:21.141-04:002010-11-06T14:37:21.141-04:00Great information on agents;thanks for sharing.Great information on agents;thanks for sharing.Toyin O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08429675861306256504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66493981254115678842010-11-05T15:35:07.269-04:002010-11-05T15:35:07.269-04:00I've been wondering about this lately - thanks...I've been wondering about this lately - thanks for a perfectly timed post! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-20246785179072562312010-11-05T13:15:13.713-04:002010-11-05T13:15:13.713-04:00Thank you, Jessica! I haven't had guts to do t...Thank you, Jessica! I haven't had guts to do this except in those occasions where a new agent has joined after I'd queried the first time. I feel a more easy about doing it now. ;DVictoria Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14012092208934951963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-87881171623526200492010-11-05T10:47:40.252-04:002010-11-05T10:47:40.252-04:00Before I had an agent, I queried more than one age...Before I had an agent, I queried more than one agent at a few agencies, but never at the same time. (I only queried a second agent after I'd received a pass from the first.) It's nice to hear your take on this.Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-2580401212194659972010-11-04T19:47:40.041-04:002010-11-04T19:47:40.041-04:00I'm am so in the thick of this! I wondered if ...I'm am so in the thick of this! I wondered if HUGE agencies would even KNOW whether or not I queried one of their brethren. And it isn't like I'm a query virgin, I've queried various projects of the last few years and wondered if I've gotten black balled for querying multiple agents (one at a time, of course).<br /><br />Though I think a problem might arise if an agent requests material, but subsequently rejects it and then the author queries another agent with the same project. <br /><br />Thank you for lessening the guilt.MAGollahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06740642718595310949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-8356101058578910252010-11-04T18:49:15.670-04:002010-11-04T18:49:15.670-04:00This is so helpful. I tend to stick to the default...This is so helpful. I tend to stick to the default position that unless an agency says you can query more than one agent after the first rejects you, you should stick to just the one. But after reading thing I'm wondering if maybe my default should be the other way around--unless they say specifically not to submit to more than one agent, it's okay as long as you don't do more than one at once. Does that seem right?Meagan Spoonerhttp://meaganspooner.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-59736419134651291432010-11-04T16:27:21.688-04:002010-11-04T16:27:21.688-04:00Jessica, I just wanted to thank you sincerely for ...Jessica, I just wanted to thank you sincerely for this post.<br /><br />I have an agency rather high on my list that has always been a "no is a no from everyone" type agency. I searched through profiles and chose the agent I thought was the best fit, and received a rejection.<br /><br />I'd written the agency off as a no-go, but after reading this, decided to take my chances on another agent. I received a request for a full manuscript about an hour later.<br /><br />I can honestly say that, were it not for this post, I would not have received that request. Thank you.Kaitlynenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-53598541178929256222010-11-04T16:18:53.648-04:002010-11-04T16:18:53.648-04:00Good. I don't think this should be taboo, for...Good. I don't think this should be taboo, for the reasons you said. If I query Agent A and she doesn't like my work and doesn't pass it on to Agent B in the same agency, then I've struck out with two agents for the price of one. If I'm allowed to query Agent B later, he/she might love my work. I wouldn't appreciate Agent A denying me that opportunity.Kristin Laughtinhttp://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66201373660962290722010-11-04T15:55:11.533-04:002010-11-04T15:55:11.533-04:00At FinePrint, we generally preferred that the writ...At FinePrint, we generally preferred that the writer query one agent at a time, but they were always free to query another agent if the first one passed.<br /><br />Additionally, when I was an agent and something wasn't right for me or anyone at FinePrint, but I thought it had merit, I often passed it along to an agent friend at another agency, one I thought might be the right fit for the writer. Agents who rep similar kinds of books are often friendly with one another. And at least two of the agents to whom I passed along projects offered representation on those projects.<br /><br />I think that writers sometimes forget that we really WANT to find homes for good projects, even if once in a while that home isn't with out agency or publisher.The Swivethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685468276187421753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-28285155633622879472010-11-04T14:52:20.128-04:002010-11-04T14:52:20.128-04:00How do you feel about the re-query?
I didn't ...How do you feel about the re-query?<br /><br />I didn't realize it when I started this process earlier this year but out of the gate I was overzealous and quick to present work that wasn't quite ready to be presented. I know that is a taboo and I have learned from my mistake, but now I am faced with having a MS that I have beefed up and improved and agents that I have already queried. Should I send it to them again on the pretense that it is new and improved work? Should I just pass by the top ten people that I want to work with and start querying anybody?<br /><br />I know that I made a mistake and believe me when I say this. I have learned a valuable lesson. I will never try to sell the sculpture when it is still just a rock. <br /><br />However is there redemption for me?M.A. Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00345656231366226417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50899996931930255272010-11-04T13:15:01.331-04:002010-11-04T13:15:01.331-04:00Really an important post. I'm trying to imagin...Really an important post. I'm trying to imagine how Kim would have reacted if I'd first sent Wolf Tales to her...Kate Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05486916548114546095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-41127937115958765762010-11-04T12:38:02.447-04:002010-11-04T12:38:02.447-04:00Jessica, what you said here makes a lot of sense. ...Jessica, what you said here makes a lot of sense. I suspect the only cursing is about the high potential for misuse of this advice. But you know, SO many people who don't have a clue are out there querying everyone everywhere at the same time. This doesn't change anything for them. I see it just helping those who are trying hard to do the right thing.<br /><br />Thanks so much for your honesty! We appreciate it.Khanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705064700657411259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34114202246698939922010-11-04T12:13:01.438-04:002010-11-04T12:13:01.438-04:00When I was querying I used to wish that all agenci...When I was querying I used to wish that all agencies had different e-mail accounts for their agents...so writers could query individual agents with individul e-mail addresses. Not all do, though. And it can be very frustrating.<br /><br />Personally, I'd advise all authors to just stay away from these agencies with just one e-mail address altogether. Querying an agent is such a personal thing, one general e-mail address for fifteen agents, give or take a few, is just insulting to the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-77190287855264711132010-11-04T12:04:08.225-04:002010-11-04T12:04:08.225-04:00Just found your blog and I have to say it is one o...Just found your blog and I have to say it is one of the most helpful and enjoyable blogs by an agency that I have found! <br />Looking forward to your future posts and I'm off to dive into the archive!Judy Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15362029083974856672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-67098577661139844112010-11-04T11:56:44.850-04:002010-11-04T11:56:44.850-04:00Oooo. I was cringing while reading your post. Bu...Oooo. I was cringing while reading your post. But you're right, sometimes it does work. More often than not though, a lot of writers just send it blindly to everyone in the agency. Those are the ones I see. However, if you have debated over it again and again, and two agents positively without a doubt seem like a good match, go ahead and query them both. But, as Jessica said, not at the same time.Vickie Motterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15791034462866079818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-86827178871732615662010-11-04T11:21:10.166-04:002010-11-04T11:21:10.166-04:00i would like to start out this post by saying that...i would like to start out this post by saying that i have a fabulous agent who i am delighted with. <br /><br />however, i did query you way back in the beginning and although you rejected my query you did go on to give me further(invaluable)advice that i will always be appreciative of. but i'm sure like many others i thought querying more than one agent at an agency was taboo. had i known otherwise i may just have queried kim also...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-3652927624691542802010-11-04T11:11:40.282-04:002010-11-04T11:11:40.282-04:00Melissa:
Good question. I think you need to send ...Melissa:<br /><br />Good question. I think you need to send it to the agent you're more comfortable with. as long as you aren't sending to both agents I think that's fine. <br /><br />And I'm sure agents all over NY are cursing me right now ;)<br /><br />--jhfBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-25264738837038542972010-11-04T11:07:41.879-04:002010-11-04T11:07:41.879-04:00Before my manuscript was finished, I pitched to an...Before my manuscript was finished, I pitched to an agent at a conference. She loved it and requested the full when it was finished.<br /><br />There is another agent at her agency whom I like a lot more. Would it be inappropriate for me to send her a query and NOT send the full to the first agent?Melissa Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13560125503655770461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5671198180658633662010-11-04T10:38:37.776-04:002010-11-04T10:38:37.776-04:00Such a daily joy to learn from this blog, written ...Such a daily joy to learn from this blog, written by obviously "real," enjoyable people who are passionate about their work. Your kernels of wisdom and glimpses of possibilities lift us sometimes dejected-feeling writers (at least, that's the inspiration I always leave with). <br /><br />Thanks!<br />Kalinda C. SchreiberThe Kranky Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03540879407267148397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-49636451047647521082010-11-04T10:29:48.657-04:002010-11-04T10:29:48.657-04:00Wow. (smiles) So even if the agency says on its we...Wow. (smiles) So even if the agency says on its website that a "no" from one agent is a "no" from all of the agents we should ignore? Good to know.Buffy Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07033283884801658206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66097681165778602032010-11-04T10:04:18.208-04:002010-11-04T10:04:18.208-04:00this was really helpfulthis was really helpfulJoanna St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06180782095853911283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-56293609433122102922010-11-04T09:18:12.919-04:002010-11-04T09:18:12.919-04:00This is a great *insider's view* post. I never...This is a great *insider's view* post. I never would have thought to query agents at the same agency. I simply thought it was taboo.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07995267172282765794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-4155157314027919222010-11-04T09:17:37.671-04:002010-11-04T09:17:37.671-04:00I was avoiding that, actually, because I'd hea...I was avoiding that, actually, because I'd heard not to (except with one agency, where they say it's okay, if not encouraged, on their submission guidelines page). And your agency was one of those where I had to flip a coin. <br /><br />So...Kim feels the same way, right? *grin*Noelle Piercehttp://www.noellepierce.comnoreply@blogger.com