AuthorPlanet

A sweet spot between traditional and self-publishing

  • Home
  • Book Proposals/Buy
  • About
    • Jody Rein
    • Author Planet
    • Praise
  • Work
    • Praise
    • Services List
    • Case Studies
    • Client Forms
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Get Quote

Literary Agents Closed to Queries: Is the Sky Falling?

November 23, 2011 By Jody Rein Leave a Comment

Literary Agents Closed to Queries:  Is the Sky Falling?

 Who knew?  I’ve just learned I led the literary agent crowd when I closed my doors to new queries several year ago (for me it was to find time to develop software and hang with my family).  But now I hear that’s the norm–yet another mega-contraction in the world of possibilities for the unpublished writer. (If I listen closely, I can hear the

grinding of the gears as the enormous iron-bound castle gate rises slowly, slowly up.  Hoards of once-hopeful writers surround the entrance: silent, staring, aghast, tears falling, manuscripts clutched…never to be read?)

But…wait.

Is that a side door I see?  Over there?  With a lovely princess beckoning you inside?

Well, yes. 

Because nothing has really changed.  

Established agencies rejected 99% of the unsolicited queries they saw anyway.  Agents can only take on so many clients.  The bigger and more successful the agency, the easier it is to find new clients.  Successful writers often count other successful writers as their friends, and recommend them.  Not because they’re snobs, but because as in any profession–if you hang around and work hard you’ll meet and befriend other folks who share your interests and passions–and whose careers progress just like yours.  (To paraphrase Harry Potter teaching spells in the Room of Requirement, “All those mega wizards had to start somewhere, didn’t they?”) 

Publishers also recommend reliable agents to their unagented writers.

Thus it is, and thus it has ever been.  Except now, I hear, more agencies are realizing it doesn’t help anyone–authors or agents–to encourage thousands of submissions when the agency is booked.

When there’s room on the roster, the doors open.  Younger agents have more room, and say so on their websites.

I don’t see this as harsh, I see it as honest and time-saving on both sides.  

But that’s also because I encourage you to view your queries as agents do:  your query letters are job postings.   Help-wanted ads. There’s little sense inviting someone who is happy with their current job to quit and apply for yours.  Of course it happens–people are wooed away from top positions to other top positions (and closed agencies take on new bestselling authors from time to time.)  

The norm, though, and the best use of your time, is to find an agent–seek the employee–who is thrilled to get the work, and who actively needs you.

Go in the side door to the castle–there was always a moat behind the front door anyway.

 

 

Spread the Word: on Twitter on Facebook on Google+

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Practical Publishing, Queries Series, Rants and Raves, Working With Agents

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

General Advice

Praise

Thanks to (Author Planet), I have been able to serve as the force behind several events that have resulted in change for good…(more)
Trisha Pritikin
Kudos to Jody! She provided the substance and valuable information we sought. Jody has such an open, upfront approach; it was perfect for our casual atmosphere. (more)
Bonnie F. McCune
Jody is the consummate professional; she’s creative, a pleasure to deal with and her knowledge of book publishing is profound. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough. (more)
Madeleine Morel
Jody strives for the best, sets the bar high, and encourages others to do the same. Her success in the world of book publishing reflects her high standards. She knows the business inside and out–and her clients benefit! (more)
Dr. Lucy Spelman
Jody gives thoughtful and thorough assessments, a value to me, and I appreciate it. I take her words to heart.  (more)
Bill Nesbit
Working editorially with Jody Rein and her team at Author Planet is like getting a graduate degree in writing… (more)
Timothy Ashby
Jody’s suggestions are clear and concise, and effectively point me in the direction I need to go with my project. I’ve had a most instructive and enjoyable time working with her! (more)
Louise Hauck
Jody is beyond AWESOME! (more)
Mark Kistler
Jody actually takes the time to digest and understand what it is the writer is attempting to do before offering well thought out input. She has a more creative “big picture” mindset than most. (more)
Joe Lieberman
Jody has a gift for communicating in a clear, authoritative, engaging way that inspires trust and affection. (more)
Michael Larsen

Recent Posts

  • Literary Agents: The Right Way to Nag
  • Thru Dec. 9! Holiday Raffle for Art Books, Lessons and Equipment

More Posts

Publishing News

Writing a book? Confused about publishing options? Need a marketing plan? Don’t miss the 7th annual Nonfiction Writers Conference—a virtual event unlike any other.

Join 15 top speakers May 3-5, 2017 from the comfort of your home or office. For details and registration got to NonfictionWritersConference.com.

Note: This is an affiliate link. Jody knows and respects the people who run this conference.

RSS General News

  • Pop Culture Veterans Launch Endpaper Entertainment January 15, 2021
    Endpaper Entertainment is a new content development company focused on producing original stories in a variety of media, formats and genres and is being led by Rich Johnson and Syndee Barwick.

RSS Publishing Trends Feed

  • Top 5 Publishing Articles/Blog Posts of the Week 1/11-1/15 January 15, 2021 PT Editors

Self-Publishing News

RSS Self-pub news from PW

  • Autofiction: What It Is and What It Isn’t January 8, 2021
    Whether writing autobiographical fiction or memoir, writers must own their truths.
  • First Lines: January 2021 January 8, 2021
    Our monthly look at some of the best first lines by BookLife authors.
  • Pantser or Planner? January 8, 2021
    In many writing communities, there are two common approaches to writing a novel.

RSS The Book Designer Feed

  • e-Book Cover Design Awards, November 2020 December 28, 2020
    e-Book Cover Design Awards, November 2020 including The post e-Book Cover Design Awards, November 2020 appeared first on The Book Designer.
    Joel Friedlander
  • Self-Publishing: Carnival of the Indies Issue #123 December 25, 2020
    Self-Publishing: Carnival of the Indies Issue #123 including Darcy Pattison, Frances Caballo, Sandra Beckwith and many others The post Self-Publishing: Carnival of the Indies Issue #123 appeared first on The Book Designer.
    Joel Friedlander

Author Planet, Jody Rein News

Looking forward to the upcoming 2018 San Francisco Writers conference February 14-17, 2018. Jody will be teaching many classes, and offering free coaching sessions.

Hey, hey, teaching again at the wonderful 2018 Willamette Writers Conference, August 2-5 in Portland, Oregon. This time taught a SIX HOUR Query Master workshop–super fun!

Jody is doing the morning keynnote for theCastle Rock Writers Conference 2018, in October, in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Jody was interviewed by Stephanie Chandler in a teleseminar for the Nonfiction Authors Association on April 13, 2016.

Recent Tweets

  • Tweet Avatar RT @indivisiblefrr: Thank you for covering, @KDVR. Coloradans want accountability and we want freedom from elected officials who incite… https://t.co/zH3skHi6FM 5d
  • Tweet Avatar @CharlesSchwab You didn't respond to @forbes request to stop donating to MoC's who spread lies that incite US terro… https://t.co/gmxWlw39OT 5d
  • Tweet Avatar @TMobile Thanks for saying you're re-evaluating your donations to MoC's who spread lies that incite US terrorists t… https://t.co/btL121vMZt 5d
Follow @authorplanet

Copyright © 2021 · Log in