Hi, I need some advice about multiple submissions to agents. I've selected a list of about 10 agents who I'd like to submit to, but I'm wondering what the best way to do it is.

Would you recommend submitting to one at a time, and giving them a reasonable amount of time to respond before casting my net again, or multiple submissions?

Thanks, Lorraine

If this is an initial query/ partial submission (first 3 chaps and synopsis type thing) then by all means send out many at once or you will be here until Doomsday waiting for a response. I heard of a 7 month plus response time from someone recently, so unless you have several years to kill...

Thanks. Do I explain that I've submitted to other agents, or is it normally taken for granted that we do?

It's taken for granted - don't mention where else it's gone. If they want to know, they'll ask. Best of luck with it!

Emma

As others say, send out multiple submissions, but as you have al ist of 10 agents I'd split them up into two batches, so if you find most of the first batch bouncing back with rejections in a week or two then double check if there's something in your covering letter, or a mix up in the submitted chapters, that's putting them off.

I send mine out in about batches of 6, Lorraine, then when one wings its way back rejected, i send another out.

Good luck.

I would try publishers, too. I know they all say 'bugger off' but most will look at a professionally put-together query; you just have to be clever about how you do it. It's worth at least trying, since the best progression for a writer is to have a contract on offer before looking for an agent. After all, an agent's primary role is to help you negotiate the best deal on your contract; so if you don't have one, you're automatically subservient to the agent. That may sound too strong a word but, believe me, that's the reality no matter how nice the agent may be. On a more general point, it looks as if an increasing practice with both agents and publishers is that if they're not interested in your submission they simply won't answer.

Terry

Thanks Terry. I hadn't thought about approaching publishers directly. Is there any difference in terms of approach or is it still the same cover letter/synopsis/sample chapters approach for a publisher as for an agent?

Big subject! Generally, no, there's little point in sending the usual submission package to a publisher who specifically states they don't take submissions. You're better off putting together an email query with cover letter, something that amounts to a pitch/summary/marketing points, and the first five pages of the book. Make it professional, irresistable and fun for the editor to read. Then try to find the right person to email it to: that's where the fun starts! You'll need to use a combination of contacts, e.g those you can get through various personal means, like attending conferences/workshops/conventions and meeting editors; reading their blogs, etc, and jalso doing things like subscribing to Publishers' Marketplace.

The key is to know that you have put together a viable, professional and exciting query/pitch: then, you'll be confident that any decent editor will be only too pleased to at least read it, despite what their websites might say to the contrary. Remember, all those barriers they put in the way of new authors are designed, understandably, to keep out the vast volumes of crap that get sent their way.

Terry

For publishers you would send them a Proposal, rather than a standard agent submission. That would include a pitch, comparisons to other authors/novels similar to yours, target readership/market, synopsis or outline, and sample pages.
Calling it crossover would be starting off on the wrong foot.

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(re: your other thread in IC).

I'd be careful about approaching the big publishers on your own though - wouldn't you Terry? Firstly, a lot of them don't like it and secondly, it's off-putting to agents (if you go down that road at a later date) if they find out you've already pitched your work to the big guys on your own.

I don't think i've ever heard back from big publishers that i've politely emailed (having been given the right names to approach from friends inside the business).

I guess you really need to sit down and think, Lorraine, whether you want an agent or not. I've appraoched smaller indie publishers on my own, and usually they are all very keen, polite, responsive and friendly and i could see myself dealing with them on a day-to-day and contractual basis. But, dunno, if i thought my work stood a chance with a big imprint, i'd feel more comfortable with an agent, otherwise i'd feel a bit out of my depth. Although i suspect this is more down to lack of confidence on my part.

Guess it depends also on whether you want to pay to have someone hold your hand or not I shouldn#t imagine you do, Terry

Pubrants blogs examples of pitches she's written to commissioning editors:
eg, http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2009/01/editor-letter-for-real-life-liars.html



<Added>

When contacting publishers directly you also need to sell yourself, not just the mss.

I'd be careful about approaching the big publishers on your own though - wouldn't you Terry? Firstly, a lot of them don't like it and secondly, it's off-putting to agents (if you go down that road at a later date) if they find out you've already pitched your work to the big guys on your own.

Yes, you have to be careful, of course. That's why I put in the caveat earlier, that you have to be sure you're querying in a professional way and that the book in question is viable. If so, then I wouldn't say 'a lot of them' (editors) don't like it. I've been submitting a novel direct by email to editors. Some have not replied at all (but that's common now); some have replied positively but not taking it on; and one has asked to read the full ms. Not a single one expressed irritation at being queried (although I suppose it's possible those that didn't reply might have been put out I went to them direct). It really is a myth, that only agented books get published. Editors are human and love to get a great query/submission from a new writer, or even an old fart writer like me. It only takes them five seconds to scan your query and reject/ignore it.

As for putting off agents by submitting to editors: really, this is where writers need to shake off the glamour agents have created about their position in the industry. It's your book, your career; if you get an agent at some stage, their job is to help you with it, not to get annoyed because you were trying to push it forward on your own.

Terry

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"When contacting publishers directly you also need to sell yourself, not just the mss."

True. One of the best ways to do that is by shaping your query/proposal so that you do the editor's work for her, i.e. when she has a couple of minutes only to sell your book to her colleagues.