Ah, the Query Trenches: that seemingly endless chapter of your life spent knocking on agents’ (metaphorical) doors. At night, you’re dreaming of seeing your book on the shelves at Barnes & Noble. During the day, you’re dealing with a stream of rejections — some loud and clear, others painfully silent. Entire books could be written about the Query Trenches themselves, then pitched to agents from within 一 talk about entering a meta literary dimension!
But querying doesn’t have to be a soul-crushing ordeal. You can make your life a bit easier by narrowing down your pitching scope. In this post, we’ll explore five questions to help you find the right agent for you and maybe, just maybe, escape the trenches once and for all!
1. Am I seeking a major publisher or an indie one?
The first thing to ask yourself is whether you really need an agent, or if an indie publisher is more what you’re looking for. The main difference between indie and major publishers is that indie publishers typically offer more creative control and quicker turnaround times — but they also have fewer resources to invest in your book.
Indie publishers are worth considering if your book is a bit unconventional, perhaps with a genre-defying premise or a structure that pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Independent publishers are often more open to these kinds of projects, and while they may be smaller, they still hold literary prestige and can serve as your entry point into the publishing world.
And of course, another advantage of indie publishers is that many (though not all) of them accept manuscript submissions on their sites. This allows you to approach them directly without needing an agent at all! If you’re confident in your book’s quality and potential, going directly to a smaller publisher might be the best call for you.
If instead you’re looking for other types of publishers, let’s continue with the second question…
2. What comp titles has my ideal agent represented before?
This is one of the most crucial questions to ask yourself: what comp titles — books similar to yours — has your potential agent represented?
It’s essential to find an agent who has a strong grasp of your book’s genre and market, and them having already sold titles in your genre is definitely a great sign. They’ll be better equipped to provide valuable feedback on your manuscript and pitch it effectively to their established network. (By the way, make sure to mention those comp titles in your letter, as it will help pique their interest!)
To find these comp titles, literary agent David Fulgate already shared a great tip on this blog: get a Publishers Marketplace subscription and keep an eye on the latest publishing deals for books like yours. You can usually find the name of the agent or agency there, and then search online for their contact info and submission guidelines.
In general, always keep an eye on the newest, hottest titles being published in your genre. Take it a step further by making an effort to network with their authors (or authors in your genre), either online or by attending live events when possible. These connections are often crucial in securing a publishing deal, as through them you often discover which agents are looking for what titles and when.
3. Would I prefer an established or upcoming agent?
Here’s another consideration: the agent’s level of experience. Senior agents bring years of expertise, a track record of successful titles, and a valuable network. By contrast, junior agents are just working their way up, but often have more time and energy to devote to your project. They also have a strong incentive to make your book a success — as their own success, in many ways, depends on it.
If you’re just starting out, you might want to focus on pitching to newer agents; more established authors, on the other hand, can aim for senior agents. There’s no strict rule here, but it’s a good general guideline to keep in mind, especially when deciding which agent to approach within a specific agency (as you can only pitch one at a time!).
You can discover newer agents by browsing the “New & Updated Agents” page on QueryTracker, checking for those who have fewer entries under “Known Clients”, or checking Writer’s Digest’s “New Agent Alert”, as well as similar publishing resources and newsletters.
4. Do I need an agent who offers editorial feedback, or one who focuses primarily on sales?
Some authors start pitching agents with draft versions of their manuscripts, while others wait until they’re confident their work is fully polished and ready for submission. In the latter case, the manuscript has gone through multiple rounds of professional editing and beta reading.
Exactly where you are in this process can influence which agents you pitch. Some agents are open to helping you refine your manuscript for the market, while others will focus primarily on the sales aspect. This isn’t just about whether the agent is willing to work with you, but also whether you’re open to manifesting a shared vision for your book and allowing your agent to shape it accordingly — whether it’s cutting or changing characters, tightening the plot, or other improvements.
If you’re looking for editorial support, pay attention to author feedback about your shortlisted agents, especially what it’s like to work with them throughout the process. Alternatively, after you pitch an agent — if they liked what they read — they’ll reach out for an offer call, in which you can discuss your shared vision and potential revisions. If this kind of editing-centric relationship is important to you, you can even mention it in your query letter — though be careful of putting the cart before the horse!
However, if you’re already confident in your book’s marketability, this aspect should be less of a concern. In which case, we can move onto our last question, one which may be relevant for all you social butterfly authors out there…
5. Do I want the agent to be geographically close to me?
Finally, a practical question: do you want to be able to meet your agent in person? If so, you should focus your search on agents who are at least in the same country, if not the same state. (This can also be a great way to narrow your focus, especially if your longlist of agents is a bit overwhelming!)
On one hand, finding the right agent is about building a relationship — not just for this book, but potentially for future projects as well. And there’s no denying that in-person meetings can foster a deeper connection.
On the other hand, limiting your options to local agents could reduce your chances of finding the best fit. These days, it’s possible to manage a successful relationship remotely. What really matters is how well they communicate, whether they’re responsive, if your visions align, and whether they’re an overall good person to marry… sorry, collaborate with!
There you have it — a list of questions to help focus your efforts and refine your process, and hopefully make the Query Trenches a bit less intimidating. Best of luck!
Dario Villirilli is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace and blog that helps authors with everything from honing their craft to actually publishing and marketing their first book. He loves reading, traveling, and offering advice to independent authors who are just starting out.
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