Juggling two projects and looking for an agent(s)

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

I think you answered your own question: go for what's ideal. If you can't find an agent who handles both genres, then you can try separate agents.

Oh, btw, it's a good idea to test market your product here. Once you have 50 posts, you can post your query in the Query Letter Hell (QLH) section of SHARE YOUR WORK (SYW) and the first bit of your novel in the appropriate section of SYW.

If you don't want to go that route, you can test drive it, by asking for beta readers. We have a section for that too.

And be sure to read the successful queries in QLH.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

If the novel's ready to query, then you query the novel. When and if you get to the point of a phone call with an agent, he or she will ask if you have other things in the works. That's when you bring up the non-fiction book.

Most agents won't want you looking for a separate one, as most agents are "for the career" rather than "for the novel." If a given agent in an agency doesn't handle something, there's likely another agent in the agency who does and who can help out if needed.

Maxie16 said:

Thanks to both of you for such quick and thoughtful replies.

Here's another wrinkle: I queried an agent on the nonfiction project a couple of years ago, and he gave me some promising advice. I've applied that to my latest version and would like to be in touch with him again, but he does not represent fiction. He also seems to be a solo agent, so there's no one else in his firm who would obviously handle fiction.

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What project do you want to spend most of your writing time on?

From what I think I know about querying nonfiction -- the book isn't written yet, right? You just send a proposal. And if someone accepts it, then you write the book?

Or if you want to go the fiction route first, there is a lot of waiting. You could use that time to either write more novels in the series or work on the nonfiction proposals.

I'd personally pursue both projects. Just be aware of the risk that happily, you could be under some killer deadlines to finish the non-fiction book and revise the fiction book at the same time.

But there's a hella lotta downtime in publishing so you may be able to do both just fine.

Try the non-fiction proposal with the non-fiction agent, letting him know if he offers rep that you also have fiction manuscripts.

And in the meantime look for an agency that reps both. But I'd start querying on the fiction novel if it's ready. Why wait? Good luck

Jamiekswriter said:

But I'd start querying on the fiction novel if it's ready. Why wait? Good luck

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If it's your first novel, make sure it's as ready and polished as you can make it. Most agents aren't interested in the unfinished manuscripts of first-time novelists. If you have a strong non-fiction book proposal, you might want to go with it. If you're successful, it's likely your agent will continue to represent you. There's nothing like success as a motivator! Good luck!

Sage said:

Then look for agents who would rep one or the other. You can query them at the same time or focus on one and then focus on the other.

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But just don't send two queries in one email, or two queries on two different projects to the same agent.