The Frontlist

Agent Resources

Challenges and weaknesses

As we read though the submissions process of literary agents we were struck by a common theme. The tendency to apologise or warn about a lack of resources. Most commonly: a large number of submissions. Of the 132 websites that provide submissions details (whether currently accepting or not), over half mention a insufficient capacity to fully service the submissions workflow. Wow.

Is it a little odd for an industry to systematically mention challenges with resources (most commonly the ability to service submissions)? Is this just a part of being a literary agent? What about those agents that do not mention it? Are they not seeing the same challenges? Or have they determined that writers don't need this detail?

Resource squeeze

Agents that mention resourcing challenges

51%

mention a lack of resources in some form: high volume of submissions, timescales, existing clients, being a small agency.

39%

of all literary agencies with submissions page on their website mention a high volume of submissions.

Why mention a lack of resources?

So why is a lack of resources mentioned? We found ten different reasons (ordered by decreasing frequency):

No response to submission (i.e outcome) The predominant reason for mentioning a lack of resources is to justify not responding to all unsuccessful submissions (i.e. indicating that a manuscript will not be called in).
No feedback on a submission Variations on not being able to provide any personal feedback or editorial guidance on unsuccessful submissions. But it does not mean that an agent will not notify a writer of a failed outcome.
A slow response to a submission Typically that an agent will endeavour to respond to all submissions, but that it will take time (usually in the order of several weeks).
No acknowledgement An agent is unable to acknowledge that they have even received a submission from a writer.
Low chance of representation A few agents tie a high volume of submissions to a low chance of representation(!).
Closed to submissions Some agents cited the submission volume as a reason for a submission hiatus.
A 'template' standard response Some agents cited the submission volume as a reason for a submission hiatus.
Don't chase us A few agents use the high submissions rate as a plea for patience (i.e. asking writers not to chase an outcome).
Not reading everything submitted Only one agent indicated that the high volume of submissions would mean that not all submissions would be read.
Compliance warning One agent indicated that the high volume of submissions would result in them being 'unable to respond to those who do not comply with [..] guidelines.'

Reasons to mention resourcing challenges.

Why mention a lack of resources?

Over half of the literary agencies the set out the submissions process mention a lack of resources in some form:a high volume of submissions, timescales, existing clients, small agency. Take a look at the listing on the left to find out what each excuse means.

Agents' reasons for mentioning a lack of resources

What is a high volume of submissions?

It is hard to get a good sense of what a high, versus acceptable volume of submissions is. Three agents put some numbers on the value, but only one gives an exact number:

"We receive between fifty and a hundred submissions every week"

"We receive hundreds of submissions each year"

"We receive thousands of submissions a year"

How do these numbers compare to the average? We don't know. And how many staff will read these submissions? We don't know that either.

Most passive aggressive.

On reflection we think these two quotes are worth drawing attention to. Do they hint to a writer that the large volume of submissions is somehow their fault?

"...the sheer amount of them has – in the past – been overwhelming"

"...we are currently receiving too many submissions"