Do you ever go back to something you hadn’t done in a while, and then after doing it again for a bit remember there’s an easier way? That happens to me every so often (maybe he’s born with it—maybe it’s ADHD), and I finally recalled some tips about querying agents I thought I’d pass along since I just posted about that and thought maybe other people could use the info.

Like I’d mentioned in that last post, I was using QueryTracker to look at filtered search results. In my case, filtered to show agents who marked they were interested in thrillers. Like I also mentioned in that post, my novel is a bit of a niche thriller—think less Tom Clancy and more Elmore Leonard. So I was looking at all these agent websites, reading their wishlists, and casting them aside when I saw they weren’t an ideal fit. Then it came to me in a flash: some advice I had read before and briefly implemented before my little hiatus.

Start small and slowly zoom out.

Rather than filtering down from 400 to 200 to 60 and so on, I started with three or four. I looked up the agents of some of the more popular authors that occupied the same space I do (or should I say, the space where I want to be). I started with names like S.A. Cosby, Jordan Harper, and Lou Berney. I tracked down who their agents were, looked up their websites to see if they were looking for more novels like the ones they helped sell, and if they were open to queries. From there I branched out to other authors, focusing on newer or debut authors, found their agents, and so on.

Where I stand now is with a list of 19 agents, and they all are interested in work very similar to mine. It’s still a lot of work, but far less tedious than the alternative. Of those 19, I queried nine, and have gotten three rejections so far. (For those keeping score at home, I got a five-word rejection, to add to my 90-minute rejection)

Most of the rest of the agents on my list are closed to queries right now. Around the time they start accepting again, I should have heard back from most of the rest I queried. Then I decide whether or not to tweak the query letter (a lot bigger decision than I’m making it seem), and send out another round. Then I branch out and look for more agents. And so on and so forth, until I’m rich and famous. Almost finished typing that with a straight face.

So if any of you are actively querying or starting the process of looking for agents, it might behoove you to start at the top and work backwards for more focused results. Either way, good luck and stick with it!