Hello, dreamers. So I’ve written my query letter and synopsis. I’ve done my research on my target agents, prepared my sample pages, personalized my queries as best I can. I never thought I’d say it, but my query prep is complete and I’m happy with the results. It was a minor shock early last week when I sat back at my desk and suddenly realized I had no more query materials to work on. A perverse part of me felt the urge to write more query letters, but I resisted.

Now, I wait. September begins on Monday, which means more agents will be reopening to queries. September 1 is a holiday, which means there’s little point in sending them out on Monday. So on Wednesday I’ll be starting my query journey, diving into the trenches in search of an agent.

I’ve been talking a lot lately about the ins and outs of the query process, and on occasion I’ve mentioned Manuscript Wishlist. So for those unfamiliar with it, this week I’ll explain a bit more about this invaluable resource for querying writers.

Manuscript Wishlist

In querying, a writer must look for anything that gives them an edge. Literary agents sift through hundreds or even thousands of queries per year, so it’s all about finding a way to make your query stand out among all the rest. You think of catchy log lines, look for interesting comps, pad your bio with anything you can come up with. You enter pitch contests, design mood boards and agent guides for Twitter. And, if possible, you try to personalize each query letter for the agent who’ll be reading it.

Now, if you’re fortunate enough to have actually interacted personally with an agent, that makes it easy. But for everyone else, the question is: how do you personalize a query letter to an agent you don’t know? Personalization in a query letter is usually less about a direct personal connection (“I heard you like cats. I…have a cat.”) than it is about showing them you’re offering what they want. Now and then personal details may be helpful, but mostly in terms that relate to your work and their business (“I heard you like cats. A cat is crucial to the plot of my novel.”).

Websites like QueryTracker and Publisher’s Marketplace are great resources, but are often heavy on metadata and light on specifics. Likewise, while most agents will have a brief bio and “what I’m looking for” on their agency’s website, those aren’t necessarily updated regularly. So if a writer is looking for info on an agent’s specific likes and dislikes, where do you look?

Well, you start with Manuscript Wishlist.

I like to explain Manuscript Wishlist (MSWL to writers) as “Facebook for literary agents”. It’s a place to go to learn more about each agent, directly from them. MSWL profiles are created and edited by the agents themselves. They typically include more biographical data than an agent’s bio on their agency’s website will contain, written in their own voice, which gives writers a better feel for who they are as a person. And they typically include a lot of vital information on their likes and dislikes, and also what they’re looking for or are not looking for.

MSWL is invaluable to writers not only because it provides more detailed information about agents and what they’re looking for, but also because profiles are regularly updated. The literary market changes rapidly. New subgenres rise and fizzle out, trends surge and run their course, genres ebb and flow in popularity. And it’s not just about industry trends; literary agents are human just like anyone else, so their personal tastes change as well. While a literary agent may be willing to try selling a book in a trendy genre, in the end their own preferences matter. One of the biggest factors agents cite in their ability to market a book is their own passion for it. A book can be incredibly well-written and in a highly-marketable genre, but if they don’t like it themselves it may be harder for them to sell it.

On top of all that, as I’ve kept saying, a query isn’t just about telling an agent about your book; it’s a test of your marketing ability. Agents want to know that you understand the literary market and how it works. They want to know you’ve done your homework. I’ve seen more than a few writers grouse that they find it conceited for agents to expect personalized queries. But it’s not about conceit; they’re testing to see how diligent and prepared you are. If you send them something that’s clearly a one-size-fits-all query letter, it says you couldn’t be bothered to even learn exactly what they’re looking for.

And if you can’t be bothered to invest time in them, they won’t feel compelled to invest more time in you.

In the end, finding an agent is about more than just publishing a book; it’s about forming a relationship. Prospective agents are looking to form a long-term business partnership that will benefit both of you. So it pays to get to know them, and particularly to know what they want. I spent a significant amount of time researching my target agents, taking notes on what they were looking for. And to be honest, I tended to favor agents who were on MSWL (not all of them are). I did my homework, because this is an important decision. One that could shape my writing career and my life for decades to come. – MK