Agenting By The Numbers

My first five months

I’ve always been curious about different pockets of the writing and publishing world, and before becoming an agent, I didn’t know about the sheer amounts of correspondence that agents and editors receive, the fantastic amount of writers creating engaging and exciting projects, and the pipeline that helps writers find publishing success, or sometimes, and often not.

So I thought I’d give you a peek behind the scenes here for one, new agent, in hopes that it might help authors see the potential for finding an agent and a book deal, and also how it can often be a numbers game, even if we are dealing with creativity and art.

Emails:

Be wary of submitting to an agent’s email, especially if they are using QueryManager, because these emails will get lost and most agents won’t even respond to them. I’m trying to tag them, but it’s a tangle of roots in that inbox! I have 8 pages when searching the word “query” and I’ve only had this inbox since late February!

Query Manager: Opened on March 31, 2025

Total Queries: 784

Queries Responded: 570 or 72%

Queries unread/not responded: 214

Fulls Requested: 24

Clients signed: 4

Rep pending: 2

Pitch Events:

In Person: 1

ZOOM: 3

Upcoming: 2

How many queries?

I often get asked how many queries an author should send before getting representation by a literary agent, and, like everything in this industry, the answer varies. However, I’ve seen and heard that many authors send out around 100 queries before finding an agent. For some, this number is much lower, while others may send out many more, especially if they don’t find an agent with their first manuscript.

My best advice is to make sure that your manuscript is the best it can be, consisting of several drafts, of lots of precise revisions, and the use of beta readers and/or an editor.

Then take a step back and think of looking at your book from above, from the perspective of a reader in a bookstore. Work to position your book as a must-read, explaining how it will appeal to an editor and, therefore, readers. Make this a strong query letter. Follow guidelines and guardrails. The query’s main job is to get the agent to read your opening pages. Make those opening pages so intriguing, so clean, and so well-written that they balance all the craft elements, making agents want to keep reading and find out what happens. We are readers first. Grab our hearts and don’t let go, so we have no choice but to start thinking about which editors would be perfect for your project!

Live Pitch Events: Should you attend?

Yes! If it makes financial sense for your budget! I love getting to meet the author and hear about their manuscript. The personal touch goes a long way in determining whether I would be a good fit not only for the current project, but also for working with the author long-term, which is my ultimate goal. It can be both inspiring and vital to receive real-time feedback on your query and the marketability of your project. I often can’t wait to read the pages of the books pitched to me in real time! It’s a real net positive for me!

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Upcoming Events: