AgentQuery has steadily developed into one of the best resources for those looking for up-to-date information about legitimate agents and what they represent. Now the site has begun a monthly symposium, and to kick things off, five agents were asked to discuss the submission process of a new client's novel or nonfiction proposal to editors.

The common theme is to match the right author with the right project. "You don’t want to send a literary novel to a house that’s known for its commercial fiction," said Trident Media's Jenny Bent. "Having said that, these days most houses do a wide range of projects, so it’s even more important to be focused when you’re identifying the editor."

Diana Finch thinks about her own pitch as soon as she reads query letters coming in over the transom. "As I read a query letter I am intrigued by, I am thinking: can I envision myself calling an editor and pitching this book to her? Do I know what I would say? Is there anything I can anticipate that the editor would have questions or reservations about, and how would I handle those? I try to have the toughest, most discerning editor in mind when I do this. If a query, even one I am drawn to, doesn’t pass this 'pitch test,' I will pass."

Writers House's Dan Lazar agrees. "...when I'm not just admiring the author's work, but already matching it up with appropriate editors in my head -- the ones who know me, who take my calls, who don't mind catching up for 10 minutes about their vacation or the weather or their crappy ex-boyfriend before even turning to business matters -- then I'm clearly the right champion for it."

Ben Salmon of Rights Unlimited has a custom method of submitting: "My first round sizes range from 1 to 8 to 10 to 12 to 16...I recently sent out a book to 19 editors for the first round. Wow, it was a lot of work (and our messenger service scolded us for neglecting to tell them that one bike messenger couldn’t handle the load), but it was right for the project. Once in while I’ll send a book out for a week exclusive or head start for various reasons, but only if the match is just too perfect."

Though not every agent was forthcoming about the nitty-gritty (some citing proprietary measures or general reluctance) they work hard before declaring a submission dead."I really do believe that a submission is never dead," said Jonathan Lyons, "but the only way I am able to have that conviction is to be extremely selective in regard to who I represent. I have to have good answers to the questions I mentioned above or else I will pass on a project."