Five Questions I Ask After Reading a Query

Recently I held a “Pitch Me Day” on Threads, a day I created to give writers a chance to pitch their project in a low pressure way. If I “like” the pitch, they get to skip the query and send me their proposal and sample chapters. It’s a fun way to serve the writing community, and this most recent event resulted in nearly 200 pitches! That’s a lot to read and think about in one day!

Inevitably, however, when it’s time to close the event, I feel bad for those who didn’t receive the response they hoped for- and it’s impossible to provide feedback to that many people. I thought it might be helpful for those sending queries off into what often feels like a void, to know the questions I ask myself as I read them, that help me determine whether to request more.

Is this a genre I represent?

If the book doesn’t fall into a genre I accept, it makes my decision pretty easy whether or not to move forward. Although even this can be a grey area at times, due to genre-crossing titles becoming more and more popular.

Do I know of a publisher or editor who might be looking for this?

Though a concept might be excellent, if I don’t think I can find an interested buyer, it can become a fool’s errand to take it on. I’ll typically mentally run through a list in my head of places I could send a project, and how I might pitch it to interested editors.

Do I have something similar on my list already-and has it sold?

A wise literary agent will try to balance his or her list so as to not create competition among writers when it comes time to sell the project. If the project is too similar to another client’s, that can become a big problem when trying to pitch the project as unique and valuable. The other issue is whether another similar project has sold-and what was that process like? Did we get a lot of responses from editors, or did we hear crickets once we submitted?

Does this writer already have a platform up and running?

I know this is a dreaded topic among writers, but it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. If, after reading a pitch or query, I try to find a writer online, or on social media, and I come up with nothing-I know they aren’t ready. Not just because a publisher will want them to have a platform, but because it tells me they haven’t done their research into what publishing requires now. A public presence in the online space (that isn’t just for friends and family) tells me that a writer has done their homework.

Are there similar titles on the market already?

When a writer gives a list of comparable books, it can demonstrate a couple of things: there is a felt need for this topic, and the market may already have what it needs to meet it. (This doesn’t mean you don’t need competitive titles in your proposals- you absolutely do). If a writer comes to the table with a book that covers a broadly felt need, but does so in a way that’s been done ten times already (and by an established writer, at that), it doesn’t give me as a literary agent a way to market its unique way of serving readers. Always think of a way to make your book more compelling, and different from what’s already out there.

 

I hope this quick run down has been helpful to you! Do you struggle with knowing what your project needs to be more compelling to agents and editors? Are you stuck, and not sure if it’s really “ready” or even publishable? All of us agents at Books & Such are so excited to work one to one with writers on their individual projects at our upcoming Writing Intensive. Be sure to check it out here, and don’t miss the Early Bird Special if you’re planning to apply!  You can also listen to our new Books & Such podcast, where we chat all about the writing and agenting life!