Does it work differently in the USA from the UK?

GigiF

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A friend of mine is querying in the UK and he was saying the submissions requirements consisted of a synopsis and 50 pages.

I thought the first thing you send is just a query email to most agents and then they'll ask for a synopsis and 50 pages (or the whole thing) if they're interested?

Have I misunderstood or have I been reading more about American submission guidelines because this site is more U.S. centric??
 

waylander

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Your friend is correct. Submission requirements to most UK agents are substantially different to those of US agents. You appear to have been looking at US submission requirements.
 

Treehouseman

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I've had UK agents only ask for a query initially (Zeno, for one) and US agents ask for a "50 plus synopsis" straight up (Foundry, Fine Print, Sterling Lord, some Writer's House agents).

The only difference could be in the AMOUNT of queries they get? If the US agencies get a lot more and often not in the right genre, it probably behooves them to answer from a query only.
 

GigiF

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Thanks for the replies. Sounds like it's more an individual preference thing than continental. Guess that's why it's SO important to read the subs outline carefully eh?
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