Should Writers Query Literary Agents During the Holidays?

One of the questions I see most in online spaces among writers is some iteration of, “Is it worth my time to query literary agents during the holidays—are they even reading queries?” I can’t speak for all literary agents, but this one wants to give you a few reasons why sending your query to agents during the holidays isn’t just a good idea, it can make a lot of sense.

Reason #1: Publishing slows during the holidays

At first glance, you may be thinking this is a reason not to send your query, but it’s actually the opposite. During most of the year, literary agents are not only submitting to editors for our current clients, but navigating the publishing process with clients under contract for future projects. That means marketing meetings, overseeing requested edits, and meetings with clients about next projects. It leaves little time to read queries, but we squeeze it in when we can. As publishers slow their production process for a holiday break, the noise in our inbox begins to quiet and we now have more room to read queries and think about what kind of books our list could use. Most agents are in this business because we love books, and dreaming about new ones we could help bring into the world feels like a lovely way to spend a winter afternoon.

 

Reason #2: Signing clients and prepping proposals take time

The signing process for a new client is just that, a process. I’ll often have a meeting with a possible client to learn more about their writing goals and experience prior to offering representation. Once I’ve done so, and the client has accepted this offer, we can then turn our attention to the project we first want to take on submission. Books & Such is a very hands-on, editorial literary agency, meaning that we work with clients to ensure every proposal and writing sample that leaves our offices is in the best possible shape. It takes time and work to get it to this place, but it’s worth the effort. If you query an agent over the holidays, this gives an agent a bit more time to begin the process of considering your project, signing you as a client, and mulling over how to best market your proposal.

Reason #3: You’ll be ahead of the post-holiday rush

For those writers that hesitate to query over the holidays, they’ll be sending their queries en masse to literary agents in the early new year. This is also when our inboxes begin to light up again with emails from clients, editors, and those with other requests such as conference invitations. No one wants to be at the bottom of the so-called “slush pile” but once the year is in full-swing, it happens.

 

A gentle word of caution

As I said earlier, not all agents will read queries over the holidays, and response times can very well remain the same. Some agents won’t respond to you over the holiday period, but may take a peek at your query during that time. We all have varying processes for query reading and responding. As for me, I’ll be reading queries as my schedule over the holidays allows, most likely with a cup of coffee in hand, a blanket on my lap, and my dogs at my side. And it sounds wonderful.

How about you? Do you plan to query over the next month or two?

If this was helpful to you, you might enjoy our podcast where the agents of Books & Such give writers a peek behind the curtain of literary life and publishing. You can listen to all of our episodes here.