How To Pitch: Agencies

Rachel Kramer Bussel chats with the agent who’s willing to go the distance for her clients, even matching more novice writers with pros when she senses a great read in the making. Practically all fiction and nonfiction is welcome, although skip horror, fantasy and poetry. For non-fiction, send a query letter and bio via snail mail, emphasizing any relevant credentials. For fiction, send 5-10 pages of writing from the project, along with a bio and brief query. Read the rest of the details here.

While Bob Mecoy’s interests are “all over the map,” there are several key categories he’s looking to expand, according to Rachel Kramer Bussel: Graphic novels, sports, and science. Mecoy is eager for scientific works that speak to the general public. “One of the things I would kill for is writers who can write popular science as narrative. I wish I saw more people making that more accessible, in the same way history and adventure have become accessible to a large market.” What not to pitch: Romance, chick lit, history, cookbooks. Etiquette: Send a short (1-5 page) query via email.

This journalist-turned-author-turned-agent is a self-identified purveyor of “feminist smut,” writes Rachel Kramer Bussel. “Writing the Latino Gone With the Wind shoots you straight to the top of her slush pile.” Also welcome are vampire novels, fantasy, sports, pop fiction and women’s erotica. No reguarl romance, Westerns, non-quirky mysteries, children’s books, plays, screenplays, articles and short stories. Pitch via a one-page emailed query (no attachments).

An eclectic list of bestselling authors and a domestic rights arm still in its infancy makes this agency an ideal launchpad for authors seeking extra attention, writes Rachel Kramer Bussel. In fact, the only stuff they’re not looking for is poetry and textbooks. Make sure you query just one agent–submissions guidelines are available on the agency’s website.

If you’re looking for an agency with a human touch, TriadaUS might be the one for you, writes Aileen Gallagher:

Stender tries to set himself apart from other agents by bringing a bit of civility into the world and the industry. “Anybody who addresses me by name in a query — I will always respond to them. If I receive an email or query via letter, I will always respond even if it’s as simple as “I’m sorry, this is not right for me at this time.” I will always respond to the writers because I do appreciate their time. For them to choose to send me a query, I respect that.” Stender believes a prompt, polite response (he writes rejection notes by hand) is worth his time as he builds his agency. “I like to run my business in a good positive way. That’s a reputation that spreads.”

Make sure not to pitch historical fiction, short stories, poems or screenplays. Pitch via email but do not include attachments.

“Before opening her own agency in 1992, Amster worked on the editorial side,” writes Aileen Gallagher. “She spent 10 years as an editor at Pantheon and Vintage and was editorial director of Globe Pequot for two years. Her big-house background gives her plenty of contacts in New York – something that’s a requirement with an LA-based agency. ‘A lot of the people I came up with are now heads of houses. We’re veterans. Just knowing how it works and knowing how decisions are made and knowing the pressures editors are under – it’s all really helpful,” Amster says’.” The agency takes 2/3rds nonfiction, 1/3rd fiction. Make sure you do your homework on the agency before you pitch, and pitch by email only.

If you’re one of those bloggers dreaming of a book deal, the Folio agency may be for you. While they’re already flush with clients, they’re always keeping an eye on new media for new talent. Plus, writes Aileen Gallagher, the agency provides its own in-house PR department to work in tandem with publishers. They take almost anything other than screenplays and poetry. If you’re looking to submit, follow the guidelines.

Aileen Gallagher speaks with agent Julie Barer, who has a knack for editing and a love for small bookstores. This is a good agency for first-time authors, especially those from an MFA program. Short stories are welcome but hard to sell, but above all, no matter what you pitch, make sure it has an original voice (and that it’s not genre fiction such as sci-fi, romance, and westerns.) Submit a query by snail mail with a professional letter and no more than one sample chapter.

Are you a mystery writer? Janet Reid may be the agent for you. This former PR rep knows the importance of marketing a book, and is looking for good mystery writers. Reid is also a good match for writers looking for small publishers who don’t want to get lost in the shuffle at a biggie. Reid takes most types of fiction and nonfiction, but no science fiction. Get out your stamps: she accepts pitches by snail mail only.

“This longtime agent has a long backlist but an exclusive roster of active clients,” writes Aileen Gallagher about the Arthur Klebanoff, Scott Meredith Literary Agency. It’s tough to come in as an unsolicited client but this is a major agency if you’re a nonfiction writer (hopefully one with some sort of ‘name.’) To successfully pitch a nonfiction book, “The first element is the credential of the author,” Klebanoff says. “The second is something unique that that author brings to whatever proposal this is. It can’t simply be another book of X. It has to, although sometimes the credential answers this question already, it has to deliver the voice of the book. It has to be clear what voice the reader is going to experience.”
Don’t pitch fiction. If you do get in touch, if at all possible, do so via referral.