So You’ve got your query letter and synopsis fine-tuned. Your first fifteen pages sparkle. You’ve done your revisions from beta reader feedback. Your book has been through a developmental edit, a line edit, a copy edit, and a proofreading pass. Finally, you feel ready to start querying agents.
But…where do you start?
Here are the resources I used to create my list of potential agents:
Writer’s Digest’s Guide to Literary Agents (30th edition)
You can search the index at the back to find agents who represent your specific genre. There are articles on query writing, creating the synopsis, and how to know if your manuscript is ready plus many others. Every agent listing gives all the pertinent details you will need to create your list.
The Query Tracker website offers twenty-four pages of agent listings. Each one opens to that agent’s page and gives information like whether or not they’re currently open for queries, the agency they belong to, and what they represent.
https://querytracker.net/agents/
The Manuscript Wishlist website is one of my favorites. Agents share books and authors they like and do call outs for things they’re currently looking for in new books. Again, the agency where they work is listed, and what I particularly like about this site is that the agents also give all the sub-genres they like. I find this feature super helpful.
The third website that I use is Publisher’s Marketplace. Again, each agent listed has their own page with all the pertinent information. And again, their profile page has the agency where they work and their literary interests and desires.
But don’t stop there!
Make sure you go to the agency website for each agent you are vetting. Check several sources to get the most updated information. See what the submission guidelines are for either the individual agent or their agency. The more information you gather, the tighter your list will become.
When you find a potential agent to add to your list, check social media next. Are they on Instagram, X, Threads, Bluesky or Facebook? Follow them and see what they are posting. Sometimes, they will post a specific want that isn’t listed elsewhere because it’s so new to their wishlist.
To avoid unnecessary rejection, make your potential list of agents those who are the best fit for your writing. And probably the most important thing of all when querying an agent is this:
Make sure you read and follow their guidelines. What do they require in the submission package? Do they rep your genre? How do they want you to send your submission?
Getting an agent is hard enough. Don’t sabotage yourself before you even begin. Do your research.