How I researched agents to query for my high fantasy novel.

 As I am currently in what is known as "query trenches", I decided to document my research into the arcane world of literary agents in the hope that others who also walk this road (or fight in those trenches) could benefit from my experience. Before delving deeper into this occult ritual, I must warn you that the following contains detailed descriptions of what can only be described as "tedious dullness", which I tried to soften a bit using sarcasm and dark humor (no promises on the quality of that said humor).

Note: As a Computer Scientist, I feel the urge to put the word "research" in quotes since I am used to it meaning something rather different in the science and tech (STEM) world. Usually, when we scientists say research, we mean that we have exhausted the existing literature and the stack of hundreds of recently published articles in well-reputed scientific venues in search of the state-of-art methods and findings. We have hypothesized and brainstormed algorithms, methods, and solutions to the burning problems in our fields, then designed experiments and datasets to comprehensively and objectively test those methods to death. And finally, we publish our findings in a way that makes us look good.

Unlike most high fantasy authors, I practice conciseness in abundance! So without further ado, here's my process.

I use QueryTracker to not only search agents but also document my findings as well as rating them in terms of priority. The priority feature is only available on premium membership, but it costs 25$ a year which even for an unpublished poor author like yours truly constitutes a good investment. Despite a few shortcomings, this website is a real lifesaver for anyone trying to get traditionally published. And the best thing is that the creator of this amazing tool has announced a major update with new and improved features to come in April. There are, of course, already many great features, including: successful queries to each agent and the wealth of comments from fellow users who post their experience of querying each agent. 

To search agents who would be a match for my genre and story, I have combined the following two approaches:

Approach I  

This is a brute-force method that literally goes from A to Z on the names of literary agencies in a process that could feel as fun as preparing for a Colonoscopy. The QueryTracker search currently lists 1728 agents from which the ones who claim to represent some form of fantasy genre are limited to a small fraction. So, the first step is to select the "Fantasy" genre from the drop-down-list on the right (available in both free and premium memberships). This already narrows the search to the maximum of 356 agents (at the present time).

The list is sorted by the name of each agency in alphabetical order. I have begun from the very first agent on the list to the very last. In each case, I have done the following:

1. Right-clicked on the name of the agent to open the info in a new tab inside my browser. There are many useful categories of info here, most of which are to be used when one is actually considering querying that agent.
2. The first step is to check the agent's page on the agency's website. This could because very tedious especially since some agencies tend to use annoyingly fun way to separate themselves from the others in that they hide their list of agents and their wishlists deep inside the many layers of their website. This will likely make you appreciate those agencies with the sense to organize their pages in the most effective way. My favorite agencies and majority of those I query fall into the latter.
   
3. Since I'm limiting my search to only agents who represent high fantasy, I particularly need to look for any red flags in that regard (e.g., agents state that they only represent Urban or Light fantasy or explicitly mention that they do not represent high fantasy). Unfortunately, too often the agency pages don't include much into about each agent's wishlist. My favorite is usually the ManuscriptWishlist, which many good agents already link in their page. QueryTracker also has a handy link per agent to this website. Alas, not all agents use it. A possible, though less effective, source is the Publisher's Marketplace, which not always available (for free). QueryTracker further includes other resources like Twitter and co.
4. As soon as I find that an agent explicitly mentions "fantasy" somewhere, I check the box on the right of their info on QueryTracker that says:  Add this agent to my... Query List. Likewise, any red flags, particularly anything in the effect of that the agent only represents Urban, Grounded, or Light fantasy as well as the explicit mention that they do not represent high fantasy gets me to immediately check the Do-Not-Query List
5. There is a very handy feature that below the Query List choice, one can add a little note (of a rather limited length, which I have found out the hard way). There I add the best links for the agent info (my priority is their MSWhistlist). I also copy important info about both "how they wish to be queries" (including their preferred choice of title) to anything that they particularly like/dislike, as well as any "content warnings" they wish to get.
6. If I know that they represent a well-reputed client, I add that to the top of my notes.
7. I assign a priority value (premium feature) that goes from 1-being my dream agent to 8-those who say they represent fantasy, but I hardly can find more information about them. The level of detail and enthusiasm about their choice within the genre fantasy further plays an important role on how I rate them in my list. I've chosen two of the priority values for agents who I know represent reputable authors: one for those with top clients and another for those with okay clients.
8. That's it for now. I keep going from A to Z until I have exhausted the list.
   
    

Approach II

Since the first approach is as fun as preparing for a colonoscopy, I compliment it with the second approach which is as fun as sitting through an eye surgery. I use two sets of list. The first is the chronological list of fantasy novels and novellas winners in Locus, Hugo, and World fantasy awards (I don't go to short stories because they often don't require agents for publication and the authors might not ever get one). The second is the Goodreads Choice Awards, mainly for best fantasy, but I also check all the YA Sci-Fi and Fantasy as well as the Debut Novels (with covers that scream they are in the fantasy genre). Fortunately, Goodreads has both their own and the Locus, Hugo, and World Fantasy Awards lists handy on their website.

On each list, I start from the current year [2023 isn't out yet so only 2022 and older] and go back as far as 2011. But usually most books older than 2014 already tend to not be as helpful [since usually the person is either already very famous and accomplished or they were one hit wonder...or worse]. 

What might seem rather counter intuitive is that my focus is NOT on finding the best authors, but the best agents. If an author is already a celebrity [be it a TikTok sensation], has made a good career already in self-publishing, or such, then the agent might not be as effective working with a newcomer like yours truly. On the other hand, if the author or their books tend to be on the lower quality side, but has gained a lot of momentum through well-placed marketing, especially being featured in well-reputed book-club lists, as well as being published by leaders in the fantasy genre such as Tor books, then it is a good indication that the agent might be a real achiever. I, of course, want to work with an agent who shares my taste for evocative and beautiful prose as well as good plots and well-developed characters. And it is essential to find someone who can elevate the work. But it is essential that the agent is great at their primary function: getting the best deal for their clients, even if they leave all the editing and such to the editors at the publishing houses.

 

That being said, I have my reservations about working with those who might not share the same enthusiasm about high fantasy as I do. Moreover, it is essential that the agent is a good and professional person (no racism, sexism, bullying, etc.) and can form a passion for my novel and protagonists.

My Computer Scientist brain has formed the following steps to research the lists for authors.

1. For every list and every year check every eligible book.
2. Click on the author's name (all using Goodreads).
3. Check their website for the name of their literary agent. Some authors blessedly provide this in their twitter profile. Others usually write it in the contact section of their website (sometimes in the about section). In some case, the information is either buried very deep or isn't there at all.
4. In case the agent's name isn't anywhere to be found, QueryTracker's handy but hard to search list can be used: https://querytracker.net/clients.php [Beware that in many cases the client/author isn't there and in some case, the info isn't correct.]
5. Add the list of these authors to the little note on each agent in QueryTracker (one often need to search the agent by their name or the name of their agency). I usually use the format:  Rep. AuthorName (BookName, AwardName Year, AwardName Year...) with each author in a separate line. All of this goes at the top of the notes.
6. Unfortunately the list for YA novels could be disappointing in that despite the books' rather mature nature, the agent who represents them might only accept "Children's" books. Some agencies are even only devoted to Children's Literature despite these YA books featuring hardcore topics and grim covers.

That's pretty much it! Happy hunting... or haunting in case you don't make it [I'm joking]. Some agents are really into ghost stories. Perhaps they'll like it. Jokes aside, this is a hard and tedious process. Don't lose hope, respect the agents, do your best, keep your hopes up, and don't quit.