Writers Ask: Should I choose between the established agent with more contacts or the junior agent with more time?
Which agent is a better candidate to accept a non-published author's query: The senior agent with an established author list, but who has a stronger match to the work based on her specific bio/interests or a junior agent with a more generic match (i.e "looking for mysteries, romance, and cookbooks) who might have more time and attention to devote to a new author?
Obviously "it depends" is the likely the most accurate answer, but what is the most efficient and effective strategy while querying dozens of agencies? Alternatively, what are some of the things that it might depend upon and how could I integrate that into a query strategy?
— From Chris, in the query trenches
Dear Chris,
You’re totally right that “it depends.” I would look at the rejection policy of the house that the senior and junior agent are at. Is it a “a no from one is a no from all” kind of situation? Or do they allow you to query another agent at the agency if one agent passes? It will either state this in the submission guidelines on their website, or you can determine the policy by the email address they are asking you to submit to. Houses that ask you to email agents directly usually allow you to query other agents at the same house when one passes. Houses that ask you to submit to a standard agency email (submissions@agencyhouse.com, etc) are usually a single no is a no across the board situation.
IF you can query multiple agents at the same house, I would start first with the senior agent. If you receive no response after three months (for real) or you get a rejection from them, then move on to the junior agent and try them. Some agencies (like Writers House) will even encourage you to do this (i.e., “This isn’t for me, but you might try someone else at this agency,” etc.)
If it’s a single no across the board situation, then it kinda doesn’t matter. You can aim it to the senior agent, for sure. But agencies with that singular no policy are usually smaller, which allow them to pass queries among each other before they say no. Meaning, you may aim it to the senior agent, senior agent decides their list is too full but it might be a better fit for junior, so they pass it on to them. I’ve certainly queried one agent and gotten an answer from another at the same agency before. It’s just how some of them, especially boutique places, tend to work.
The rejection policy at houses can really help you decide your tiers and who to query first, etc. For example, on the book that I am now shopping to publishers with an agent, I queried one agent at Curtis Brown, got no response. I ended up revising the book later on, checked CB’s rejection policy and saw that other agents were still fair game there, even if I had already gotten a radio silence rejection from one. I queried Kerry D’Agostino and signed with her weeks later.
Happy querying!
Lisa