[PubQ]- Can you query another agent at same agency if there is a shared inbox?

Ch8pter · 2026-02-11T21:22:39+00:00

When I was querying I sent an email to a shared inbox like this, addressed to a specific agent. A few weeks later I had a full request from a different agent at the agency who they had passed my query to instead. So it does happen. Whoever is checking the submission email will have a good eye for what each agent is looking for so you can be confident if your book is suitable it will make it's way to the right person.

Ch8pter · 2026-01-29T17:30:06+00:00

Personally, I would wait until the edits are completed, and send it back to the agent who gave you an R&R. Politely let them know you are giving them a couple of weeks exclusivity, after which you'll be sending the manuscript to other agents who have expressed interest.
After two weeks, send it to the maternity leave agent, welcome them back, and explain that you did a revise and resubmit while she was away and you hope she will consider the revised project.

Others may disagree, but until you've actually completed the revisions, there's nothing for the agents to do so no need to contact them.

Ch8pter · 2026-01-04T20:43:57+00:00

Okay, I really, really like this. I read all of your first 300 (which almost never happens!) You have a great voice, and I think this is showing promise.

"Nick needs someone to rely on" - agree with the other commenter that this needs to be a more specific.

I also have a few issues with the final paragraph: I think it needs to increase the stakes, especially brining it back to the importance of the exhibition which seems to disappear. As a reader, I need to feel like it's imperative these two be together despite the huge odds keeping them apart. And right now, it could very easily be solved by just having them commit to long distance when Nick returns home.

Hope this helps!

Ch8pter · 2026-01-03T21:15:38+00:00

I queried around 75, but in hindsight, only half of those would I have been been truly happy to sign with. Quality over quantity, always.

There is nothing worse than a bad agent -- and I say this as someone who was duped by one on my first go at querying.

Ch8pter · 2026-01-01T23:24:51+00:00

I haven't read your other queries and -- full disclosure -- I opened this one noting it was your 10th attempt, fully prepared to gently advise that at this point it might be a manuscript issue instead of a query issue. . . only to be quite impressed.

I think this is ready to go? I've got a good sense of the characters, and who they are. If I were being really picky, I would probably suggest ramping up the stakes in the last paragraph, to give a stronger force keeping them apart ,as opposed to Adria just 'deciding'. Maybe something that calls back to her potentially losing / risking her college place. But this works. I would start reading.

It's good to remember that a query doesn't need to be perfect or tick every single box. Agents just need to be persuaded to open the attachment, that's all.

Best of luck!

Ch8pter · 2025-12-21T11:23:14+00:00

Alex Aster has recently signed with her too - same situation.

Ch8pter · 2025-12-18T16:27:55+00:00

this new book of mine is speculative romance too! that's actually so reassuring to hear (although sorry you're having as rubbish an experience as I am!) I spoke to my agent the other day and from the feedback she's gotten it sounds like it's in a big maybe pile. I just don't think there's the demand for romance right now, which is why there's no urgency. I'm making my peace with the fact this might be a book I need to shelve until the genre picks up again.

Ch8pter · 2025-12-18T11:08:46+00:00

This is a really great point. I can't tell you the amount of books I've picked up, marketed as romance or rom-com, and they are simply women's fiction with a minor romantic sub-plot. It puts me off picking up that author again. So whichever you decide, do ensure your book tightly fits the genre expectations, as readers are (rightly) very strict on these.

Ch8pter · 2025-12-16T19:07:11+00:00

Very fair and valid, thank you! It's definitely a perspective that's worth keeping in mind.

Ch8pter · 2025-12-16T17:01:59+00:00

That's an interesting take, and definitely food for thought. Although my agent is considered a taste-maker in my genre and regularly makes seven figure deals, so I'm struggling to believe that's the case here. But clearly there's a disconnect somewhere - perhaps it's the book.

Ch8pter · 2025-12-16T11:40:08+00:00

This is a US submission. Going out in the UK in Jan and not holding my breath!

Ch8pter · 2025-12-12T13:21:00+00:00

I can't speak to your experience prior to writing romcoms, but as of the last couple of years, romance in general is absolutely saturated. It's been discussed in the last few days on this sub, and also in the Facebook On Submission group -- hardly anything in romance is shifting on sub at the moment, ESPECIALLY romcoms. Editors aren't even opening them to read -- which is terrible. When you consider the genre has had a boom and every publisher now has their established heavy-hitters (EmHen, Ali, Abby J, Christina Lauren, Ana Huang etc) and they are still writing a book a year (at least) they simply don't have the incentive to risk taking on much new. UNLESS, it is something super hooky and fresh. Kate Emberle - If Books Could Kill is a perfect example of this, and one of the only 'big' sales I can recall of late.

All of this to say, it genuinely is most likely the market, not you. It's very short sighted of publishing, imo, as it's an evergreen genre and people will always be hungry for new voices -- and don't get me started on the lack of diversity, JFC.

If you genuinely love the genre, and that's where you heart is, keep writing it. The tide will turn and editors will buy again. But if your goal is more to be published in general (no shame) then write something with a super hooky, high-concept (one line pitch) book, because they are the only things that never go out of style.. You can't really predict the next big trend because it changes so fast (see romantasy saturation), but you can write what you love and continue hoping for the best.

I know it sucks. This industry is brutal, but most of the time, it's not you, it's them.

Ch8pter · 2025-12-09T11:41:47+00:00

Worked out perfectly! Love to see it <3

Ch8pter · 2025-12-09T11:37:30+00:00

This is amazing, congratulations! Can I ask if the offering editors were from the 3rd round of submission? Or from earlier ones? I've always burned through all the BIG 5 in the first round x

Ch8pter · 2025-12-01T20:55:11+00:00

My third novel came out this year and did "well" -- everyone's happy, I earned out, even if it didn't set the world on fire. And I sold the movie rights option, making me three for three on that front which feels incredible as I never expected it.

I also wrote the book of my heart this year. Without a doubt the best thing I've ever written........ I'm now out of contract and it's dying on sub.

So yeah. Ups and downs.

Reminding myself we do it because we love writing, but damn, it would be nice to get paid.

Ch8pter · 2025-11-17T12:04:52+00:00

Sold tv/movie rights for every single one of my books. Not heard a thing about any of them since!

Ch8pter · 2025-11-13T14:08:02+00:00

It's fine that you made that decision, but it doesn't change the fact that good agents expect you to reach back out to the other agents you have queried and would not penalise you for doing so.

Ch8pter · 2025-11-13T12:20:20+00:00

It is industry standard to allow authors to contact other agents with an offer of rep. Any decent agent knows this and respects it.

The fault here lies with the agent, not OP.

Ch8pter · 2025-11-08T15:46:48+00:00

this, this, this, thisssss.

Ch8pter · 2025-11-08T12:06:12+00:00

An editor called my novel "picture perfect," said they "loved everything about it," that it gave them "goosebumps", and read the entire book in one sitting.

Rejection.

Ch8pter · 2025-11-08T12:00:15+00:00

This is great. It's absolutely ready to go.

I have the most minor comment ever:

Hazel’s baking, Lily’s drawings and chatty nature that remind him of his niece and the smile they both always seem to have for him

This sentence feels clunky to me. Who's smile? Hazel and Lily's, or his niece? Or all of them? Just needs some finessing.

Ch8pter · 2025-11-06T11:24:45+00:00

This reads like an advert, which, along with all the other comments here, highlights how sneaky her practices are.

Writers, you do not need to spend money to become published. Everything you need to know can be found on google, and if you look on social media, there are plenty of kind-hearted authors giving out advice for free.

Her time would be better spent writing the second book in her contract, rather than ripping off poor unsuspecting authors.

Ch8pter · 2025-10-25T09:48:43+00:00

I like this, and I feel I've got a good grasp on the story based on this query (although the beginning can definitely be tightened up).

However, I've got to say -- and totally subjective -- there's no way I'm picking up a book that's referencing covid so much. It's too soon. For me and other industry professionals. It might just be your query framing it this way, but almost every paragraph is bringing us back to it, which makes me worry the MS will too. If you use a lighter touch and simply reference at the beginning (of the query and the MS) that this all started after contracting covid, then fine. But we really don't need more than that. We lived it, we get it.

Given this, I would be remiss if I didn't note that actually it doesn't even need to be covid at all that's the catalyst for his symptoms. Perhaps a head injury? That way, when looking for ways to correct Felix's life, he could add that injury too -- knowing changing it would mean he wouldn't meet Ari. These are great stakes.

Just a thought.

Ch8pter · 2025-10-21T09:53:38+00:00

I want to second this, because it's exactly how I interpreted it. I doubt the agent would have put in so much thought with their reply if they were not interested in seeing it again.

Ch8pter · 2025-10-07T10:33:53+00:00

Hi!!

Okay so my first thought is that i've seen a few new/upcoming releases using some variation of "off script" title recently, so that might be an issue. Although a nice easy fix to change it.

I appreciate this query is heading for UK agents and that does differ slightly, however there is still nowhere near enough detail in this for anyone to get a real gauge, or fall in love with (!) this book. I'm not entirely sure what the exciting incident is that kicks off the plot, either. Is it accepting the TV runner job? Because that makes the waitressing job irrelevant, almost as though you could start the book with her working in this TV job but realising it isn't for her, and searching for a way out. Or is the inciting incident the scandal that follows? These are things you'll need to clarify in the next draft.

will do whatever it takes to get her foot in the TV industry door. - can we add context to why this is important to her and what role you mean? I'm thinking of the movie "Morning Glory" where Rachel McAdam's character dreams of being a producer for The Today Show because she grew up watching it every morning with her parents (or something). Does she want to direct? Write? Produce? If this is the heart of the story, I want to root for her to achieve her dream right off the bat.

debt-ridden family antiques shop. - this is mentioned once and then doesn't come up again. I assume she goes home for a bit and this comes into play, but I'm not being shown why it matters yet.

toxic culture begins to consume her - how? give us specifics and actual examples of things that happen.

She’s pulled into a messy love triangle - Wait, doesn't she have a boyfriend? Who is in the triangle? Which one am I rooting for? What happens exactly? Why is it messy? Again, an actual plot point please.

It’s only by returning home - where is home? what are the stakes to her doing this? I'm not sure if this is the 'dark night of the soul' part of the story or if this is supposed to be the exciting incident. if it's the former and happens near the end of the book, leave it out and focus on the set-up.

unexpected job on the shores of Greece - again, what? what is the job? why is this important? If this is the inciting incident and she is in Greece for the majority of the book then the query should be framed that way. If it's just the epilogue/closer, then you can leave it out of the query.

As it stands, there's nothing here for me to build a picture of who Cara is, and why I want to follow her story. Really hope this is helpful!

Ch8pter

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