Stats on Querying Agents for 2 Middle Grade Novels in 2024
A Thanksgiving Day visit to friends with the dogs. Joanie and Chip in the background and Finn, a French Brittany, in the foreground.
Two weeks ago I started querying literary agents about my middle grade dog novel, which I’ve been revising since attending Highlights’ Whole Novel Workshop in August.
I chose 5 agents who are very experienced and seem like they’d be interested in this story. I want an agent with great connections, who communicates well, and who understands marketing.
A few years ago when I was querying this novel, I wanted to find an editorial agent. That was my top priority. But my interests have shifted. If an agent is also editorial and gives good feedback, I’ll consider that a bonus.
Earlier this year, I queried 3 of these 5 agents about my zoo mystery. Two passed with a form rejection and the other with a personal rejection.
That agent has already sent me another personal rejection for my dog novel: “Thanks for telling me about your unusual middle-grade novel. It's an interesting concept and it is well done. But I'm full up with middle-grade projects right now.” Or maybe it’s just a very nice form rejection.
Since we’re now into the holiday season, I won’t query anyone else until January 2025.
Querying statistics on my MG zoo mystery
I began querying What the Raven Saw: A Zoo Crew Mystery in May 2024 and have contacted 37 agents about this project:
24 agents accept queries via Query Manager
12 agents accept queries via email
1 agent accepts queries via an agency form
Responses started within a few days. So far,
30 passes on my zoo mystery query letter and sample pages
Sample feedback:
“This has a lot of potential, it's a great pitch. However, my editorial vision for it didn't coalesce, so I suspect I'm not the right agent for this at this time.”
“Broadly speaking, I felt your concept wasn't quite strong and distinctive enough to stand out against the competition in your area of the market.”
2 full manuscript requests
1 still under consideration
1 rejected because “I didn’t fall in love with the voice”
5 queries with no response yet (and possibly won’t receive one)
5 agents use a “no response = no” approach
As of early December 2024, I don’t plan to continue querying my zoo mystery. I’m thinking of rewriting some of it in first person. It’s currently in third person with light omniscience, which is quite different from most MG mysteries published these days. I thought that would help it stand out, but maybe it’s making it easier to say no to.