Finding the Right Agent for Your Genre

The single most common reason manuscripts are rejected is not bad writing. It is querying an agent who does not represent that genre. An agent who specialises in literary fiction cannot help a crime thriller writer, however brilliant the thriller may be. Research is not optional — it is the foundation of any successful submission strategy.

Why Genre Matching Matters

Agents build careers around specific genres. They develop relationships with commissioning editors at publishers who buy those genres. They understand what makes a crime novel sell versus a cosy mystery, the difference between upmarket women's fiction and commercial romance. Their expertise is genre-specific — and so are their contacts.

Querying an agent outside their expertise wastes your time and theirs. Worse, it marks you as someone who has not done basic research, which is a difficult first impression to recover from.

How to Research Agents

Start with our UK literary agent directory. Filter by city and seniority to narrow the field. Then for each agent you are considering:

1. Visit the agency website — most agencies list each agent's specific interests and current wish list
2. Check their current client list — who do they already represent? If they have published authors in your genre, that is a strong signal
3. Look at their deals — Publishers Marketplace (paid) and the Bookseller list recent deals by agent name
4. Read their interviews — agents frequently discuss what they are actively seeking in trade press interviews and on writing podcasts
5. Check social media — many agents post "MSWL" (Manuscript Wish List) updates on Twitter/X

Building Your Target List

A sensible first submission wave is eight to twelve agents. Too few and you narrow your chances unnecessarily. Too many at once and you cannot properly tailor each query, and if you receive feedback you want to act on before continuing, you have exhausted your pool.

Tier your list:

• Dream agents — agents with strong track records in your genre, at major agencies
• Strong candidates — agents actively building their lists, at reputable agencies
• New agents — agents who recently joined an established agency and are building a client base

New agents are often an overlooked opportunity. They are typically hungrier for submissions, faster to respond, and just as capable as senior colleagues — they are backed by the infrastructure and relationships of their agency.

What to Look for in Submission Guidelines

Every agency has submission guidelines — and they differ. Some want:

• The first three chapters and a synopsis
• The first fifty pages only
• A query letter with no sample pages
• Submissions only through an online portal

Follow the guidelines exactly. Sending ten chapters when an agency asks for three does not make you look enthusiastic — it makes you look like someone who cannot follow instructions.

Simultaneous Submissions

The overwhelming majority of UK agents accept simultaneous submissions — meaning you can query multiple agents at the same time. A small number ask for exclusive consideration, typically for a defined period. If an agent requests an exclusive, decide whether the wait is worth it for that particular agent.

When to Move On

If you have queried twenty agents with no requests for further material, something is not working — usually the query letter or the opening pages. Seek feedback from writing groups, beta readers, or a professional manuscript assessment service before continuing.

A form rejection tells you nothing. A pattern of form rejections tells you something needs to change.