But would you really want an agent who would get het-up (and refuse to work with a writer that she would otherwise want to represent) just because she was referred to as Ms, Mrs or Miss? The idea of continuing to deal with someone that hyper-sensitive doesn't sound too appealing.

I'd make an exception for Miss Snark though because I can understand that anyone who submitted to her and didn't call her Miss is not very observant.

Unless they're shopped/whistleblown by a disgruntled ex-employee, of course.

Though I do remember the Race Relations Board sending out applications for being a trainee solicitor, and finding - suprise, surprise - that applications with Asian names were turned down when the identical application with an English name wasn't...

Emma

But would you really want an agent who would get het-up (and refuse to work with a writer that she would otherwise want to represent) just because she was referred to as Ms, Mrs or Miss?

No, but it wouldn't be a very good start to the relationship with a terrific agent if you addressed Bru as 'Dear Mr Docherty,'

Emma

Agreed but it's not quite the same finding out the sex of the agent you are submitting to and finding out their marital status.

Can't say I've tried, but I think it might be quite hard to find out the sex of an agent, though, yes, even harder to find out their marital status if female - and, for instance, what about my agent, who is clearly female and is married, but doesn't use her married surname professionally.

Which is why name+surname seems so much easier all round: it's about the only option which may not be very euphonious, Rosy says, but really, really can't offend. I agree that an agent who made a big deal of it might be a bit silly, but I'd always rather not offend if it's possible. And they are human - if I get the hump at being addressed as Mrs, why shouldn't they?

Emma

This discussion about the sexing of literary agents reminds me of a similar problem with baby chicks...

Rosy.

Hamsters are tricky, too.

Emma

Came to this thread late and just read the last couple out to hubby who says 'send 'em round, and he'll be happy to do it.'
(NB. he's not talking about the chicks or hamsters)

Does anyone on this thread actually think that if an agent received a script that was incorrectly addressed, either by spelling, using first name or "Ms", and the script itself was good enough to follow up, they would cut off their nose to spite their face, just to pander to their own snobbery.

Fuck's sake. Wake up. They are running a business, and the business is scripts - not etiquette.

Perhaps agents for butlers work differently.

Even those agencies that look like one-man-shows may have a new, up and coming agent working with them, so unless you've dealt with a particular agent before you really don't know if you're going to get the one mentioned in WAYB. So, if in doubt, either of name, title or sex - and it's enough to worry you, then do the PFD agency suggest and address it to "The Reader, Submissions Dept." and begin your letter "Dear Reader".

Colin M

<Added>

then do as the PFD suggest - oops.

if I get the hump at being addressed as Mrs, why shouldn't they?

I suppose that's it. We tend to apply our own sensitivities to these situations and I couldn't give a fig what title I'm given. Even if I was referred to as Mr I wouldn't care. (Although I'd be offended if it was in a face-to-face meeting. )