How to Publish Your Novel: Finding the Best Literary Agent for You

When you start searching for literary agents, the information can be overwhelming. You might end up with a list of hundreds of agents and agencies–but not all are the best fit. This is the method I use to organize that information and query the best agents for me and my project.

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Years ago, when I first thought I might become a published author someday, I started researching how to achieve my goals. What I found was completely overwhelming. I needed an agent, but there were thousands of them. Each of them wanted different documents I had never heard of. Query? Synopsis? What?

In this series, I’m going to share what I found and break down how to publish your novel. I’ll cover a the difference between the types of publishing currently available, writing a query letter, writing a synopsis, and finding the ideal agent to query. The process can seem overwhelming, but I hope to offer some clarity and simplicity so you can approach publishing with confidence.

Welcome to Part 3: Finding the Best Literary Agents. Catch up on previous sections here:
Part 1: Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
Part 2: Finding an Agent

Or, skip ahead:
Part 4: How to Write a Query Letter
Part 5: How to Write a Synopsis

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Literary Agents:
How Do I Find THE One?

If you read last week’s post, you’ve now poked around the internet and found lists of literary agents. Many, many agents. But you do you find THE agent for you?

This is the research method that works best for me. There is no “right” way, so take what you like and develop your own system. My system has evolved over the years and has developed into something that works best for my brain. In the last post, I covered where to find potential agents online. My preferred method is to use QueryTracker, which is what I’m discussing here.

To get started, open QueryTracker in one window, and the spreadsheet software of your choice (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.) in another. Using these two tools, you can put together a rough list of potential agents. This list will evolve and change as you do more research and as your journey progresses.

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Start a Preliminary List

First, create your spreadsheet template.

I usually have my list of agents down the left side, and notes about them across the top. Starting from the left, my columns are labeled, in order, Fit, Agency, Agent, Website, Notes, Query Method, Synopsis, Pages, and Response Time. That seems like a lot, but I want to save myself from having to look up information later–a lesson learned the hard way. As you go, you’ll find out which labels work best for you.

Sorting Through Agent Listings

Start by adjusting your settings on QueryTracker’s database. Firstly, select “Search by Genre” and choose the genre(s) that most closely match your own. This will immediately weed out agents who don’t represent your genre.

Next, sort alphabetically by agency. Usually I start from the top of the list for an easy way to keep track of my progress. On my first pass through, I prioritize agencies with more than one agent in the genre I’m looking for. That way, when I click through to the agency website, I can look at multiple agents at a time.

While I’m looking, I also keep an eye on the agent/agency’s country and select only those from the United States. Since I don’t want representation in the UK or Canada, I won’t waste my time researching those agents.

I also keep half an eye on who’s open to queries right now, but this is less important. Agents can open or close at any time, so it’s more important to focus on that detail immediately before you send your query.

QueryTracker has simple videos about how to get started if you need help.

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Filling in the Spreadsheet

With the spreadsheet template ready and QueryTracker database sorted, you’re going to start at the top of QT’s list. I prefer to do it this way because then I’ll know right away where I’ve left off if I have to stop. Plan to do this research over several days to several weeks. It is a LOT of information to go through. Staying organized will save you from looking at the same information twice.

You can either go through agency by agency, or, you can start with the more well-known agencies, or agencies that have a lot of agents representing your genre. I tend to prefer the agencies with more than one agent, because I only have to go to one site for information on multiple agents.

Click on an agent’s name, then click the link in their profile to the agency website. This is where you’re going to get all your information. Fill in your spreadsheet as you go.

Write the agency name under “Agency” and the specific agent under “Agent.” If more than one agent is listed for each agency, write them on a new line. I include a link to the agency website as well, so I can get there in one click later.

The Details

At the agency website, you’re looking for a list of agents and what types of manuscripts they want. Some websites have this information in a section called “agents,” some have it in “submissions,” or “about.” Some have it in multiple places! Scour the website. The whole thing. In your spreadsheet, start filling in some of the other columns–but only for agents who seem like a good fit.

Under “Notes,” jot some things the agent likes. Sweeping, epic fantasies. Mystery with a bit of romance. Stories about families. Corgis. That you grew up in the same place. Whatever seems relevant to you and your manuscript.

They will also have a preferred query method, typically email or Query Manager, which I note under “Query Method.” Note whether they like to receive a synopsis (Y/N). If they want a sample, how many pages or chapters? If there’s information on response time, put that in, too, including a “no response means no”. It will save you from wondering later.

Keep in mind that for each agency you can only query one agent at a time. Sometimes, you can only query one agent, period. Note down if the agency is a “no from one is a no from all.” That will be important later.

A crucial note: Pay attention to what’s listed on the agency website. If QueryTracker says an agent represents romance, but the agent’s profile excludes it, treat the agency website as the primary source of information.

While you’re gathering info, you may also find links to the agent’s twitter, personal website, #mswl, or manuscriptwishlist.com. Feel free to dig deeper, but only if you think the agent could be a good fit.

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How Do I Find the Perfect Agent?

While you’re reading up on each agent, you’ll get a sense of their personality and preferences. You’ll also get a sense of whether this person may be right for you and your manuscript. Here’s where the “Fit” column of our spreadsheet comes in. Rank each agent from 1 (terrible fit) to 5 (absolutely amazing). I do keep a list of the ones who aren’t a good fit to avoid forgetting and trying to re-research them later.

By the end, you may have a list of nearly 100 agents with varying ranks. It’s time to pare down the list.

Start with agents ranked 4 or 5. Revisit their website.

I give these agents a secondary fit ranking, which I find helpful when dealing with a list this large. For example, if I noted someone was a 5, a perfect fit for my manuscript, and I find they’re still a perfect fit after a second look, I mark them 5-5, a dream agent. Someone who’s “merely” an excellent fit might get a 5-4. If you choose to do something similar, this will help you organize batches of submissions later.

These rankings also help if you have multiple agents from the same agency listed. You’re going to have to pick just one to start out with, and sometimes you have one shot, if the agency has a “no from one is a no from all” policy.

By the end of this exercise, you should have a viable list of candidates ranking from 3 (okay fit) to 5 (perfect fit). There will probably be a lot more 3s and 4s than 5s.

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Who Do I Submit to First?

Submissions should be done in rounds. Do a little rearranging of your list to create bundles of about 10 agents each, mixing agents with different rankings. You don’t want to submit to all of your top choices first, only to discover you need to tweak your query letter later.

Your first round of submissions might go to two agents with a 5 ranking, five with a 4 ranking, and four with a 3 ranking. I often look at the agents’ typical response times and choose several with quick turnarounds so I can get feedback right away.

If you’re submitting to a “no from one is a no from all” agency, think very carefully about which agent is best for you before submitting, since you’ll only get one chance.

Immediately before submitting, revisit the agency website to make sure your chosen agent is still open and still accepting your genre. You might have to switch things up if the agent has unexpectedly closed. Follow ALL agency guidelines, to the letter. Failing to do so is a great way to get rejected.

After submitting, note the date you submitted and the expected response date.

As you receive responses, note the date and what kind of response it was. If it’s a request for more materials, congratulations! Log that, as well as the date you sent them, and the new estimated response date. If it’s a no, log that, too. It sucks, but think of it as an opportunity to submit to someone else. If the agency allows multiple queries, pick the next best person at that agency, and send off a new query.

I would wait for at least a few responses before starting a second round. If you’re not getting any requests, revisit your query or your first pages and revise before you send them out again. Do this for each subsequent round until you’ve exhausted your list.

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Wait… What Happened to Using QueryTracker?

Why am I using an old-school spreadsheet? I thought QueryTracker was a submission tracker.

It is. And it’s a great one. But the spreadsheet gives me a lot more space to write down individual preferences, including themes, story types, etc. I can search this later, if I want, or see at a glance what should be included in my submission package. I can also see who uses QueryManager and prioritize those, since they are more likely to respond to queries. Most importantly, I can separate my queries into batches to keep myself organized and on task.

I do go back into QueryTracker and mark agents “To Query” (or “Do Not Query” for those who are a poor fit). I also log my queries on QueryTracker. This is where I find the premium subscription most useful. I can see far more information, like the agent’s response timeline and who else I’ve submitted to at the agency. QT also helps me see at a glance how many responses I’ve received and how old each query is.

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The Submission Package

Now that you’ve set up your list and separated the agents into a few rounds, it’s time to put together your query package. Although everyone seems to want different things, there are a few basic documents that most agents will want: a Query Letter, a Synopsis, and the first few pages of your book.

In the next post, How to Write a Query Letter, I’ll go over what this is and how to write one that will catch an agent’s eye.