Can you Query me now?

Let's talk about selecting which agents to submit queries to.

Querying may seem daunting and full of rejection (we've talked about this before), but when you think about it, so is applying and interviewing for jobs. So why should we treat it much differently? Only, this is your dream job and it's filled with words and not the expired coffee beans of your last barista job.

Now, think about what's most important in an agent:

1. Someone you connect with, who believes in your work and your career.

2. Someone who's willing to fight to get you the best possible publisher for your book at the best possible price.

3. Someone who can help explain this confusing, inter-galactic process of the publishing world (ie e-Books, novellas, literary, commercial, traditional print...).

It's not all that different from accepting an offer for a traditional 9-5 job. For that you look for:

1. Doing something you like.

2. Having a pay that makes the revocation of your free time worth the job itself.

3. Working with people you like, who understand you, and accept you for your strengths and weaknesses (and, of course, understand you have a life outside of their walls).

So, next time you're scouring that agent search site, try not to panic and send a mass query to everyone who represents sci-fi novels. Research your agents. Make sure they sound like the type of person you'd want to work professionally with. Is the agency in line with what you want for your book and your career? Is this a place you'd like to "work"? If so, submit. If not, you could be entering in to a professional relationship that isn't right for you.