I recently spoke with an unpublished author who was unusual because she had two completed books (in two different genres) ready to pitch to agents.
Being the creative devil that I am, I proposed that she consider an unusual marketing strategy. I suggested she pitch both books at the same time, separately, to two different lists of literary agents.
And, of course, I wanted
to help her do it…
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Literary Agent Menage a Trois
Now, don’t be nervous (or disappointed).
A literary agent menage a trois isn’t x-rated. In fact is has nothing to do with sex. But it’s very exciting. So scroll below now to see what a literary “threesome” is all about.
Maybe it’s something you’ll want
to experiment with…
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What Are The Benefits of Having Two Agents?
Having more than one literary agent happens more often than you might think. Sometimes it happens out of necessity.
For example, you already have an agent. You decide to write a new book in a new genre and your agent isn’t interested in handling it. Your agent just doesn’t get it or doesn’t believe in it enough. Or maybe your agent doesn’t represent that genre and/or want to.
Or, you might be an unpublished author with two (or more) books in different genres. If that’s the case, I suggest you also consider using my multiple agent strategy. Not out of necessity, but to give yourself a competitive advantage.
Here are some of the benefits:
- Submitting your work to literary agents can be time-consuming, but there’s not much difference between the time it takes to pitch one book to one group of agents… and the time it takes to pitch two books to two groups of agents.
- Pitching two books (in different genres) at the same time to agents literally doubles your chances of getting an agent and a book deal(s) in a short amount of time.
- If you get representation with one literary agency for one of your books in one genre, it will then be easier for you to get a second agent for your other book in the other genre. That’s because you having a literary agent makes you more credible. If you already have an agent for one of your books, you must be a decent writer… right? At least that’s the assumption most agents will make. You’ll be taken more seriously and agents will be more likely to take on your other work.
- You could end up with TWO literary agents working for you at the same time, instead of just one. If that happens, the odds of you having a successful, long-term career as an author improve dramatically.
* * *
What Will Literary Agents Think About This Strategy?
After I shared this strategy with my prospective coaching client, she talked to an experienced copy editor about it… someone who’s been a copy editor for almost 20 years and writes reviews for a very prestigious book review company.
The copy editor had never heard of having different agents for different genres, so she contacted a couple literary agents she knows (one in LA and another one in NY) for clarification.
They said that they would never take on a client who had another agent concurrently pitching to publishers, and in fact, the author/agent contract with them would prevent them from doing just that.
That’s when I realized I needed to
clarify a couple things…
* * *
The Fine Print – Having More Than One Agent
If you’re already represented by a literary agency for one or more of your books, you should always give that agent the first right of refusal when it comes to new projects. In fact, there’s a good chance that you are required to give your agent the first right of refusal. Read your author/agent agreement. Most agents include a clause that gives them the first option on anything you’ve ever written—or anything you write during the term of your author/agent contract.
In some cases, however, your agent might want you to get another agent for you other book(s). They might even beg you to get another agent. For example, one of your books might be in a genre that the agent doesn’t handle—or want to handle. Since that project won’t compete with the work(s) your current agent is handling for you, they’re not going to care. In most cases they’d rather have you working with someone else on instead of trying to convince them to shop it.
Why should you trust me?
I’ve been there.
“No, I’m really sorry. Even though we’ve made lots of money together on your gift books, I’m just not feeling it with your non-fiction how-to-make-quilting-fun title. But you’re certainly welcome to try and find another agent to rep it for you. Matter of fact, why don’t I give you a couple names so you can stop pestering me about it?”
Okay, I didn’t say it quite like that.
But, I was thinking it!
Now… if you’re an unpublished author with books in multiple genres, and you use my strategy to try and get multiple agents, you have to do it right. In other words, make sure the agents you’re submitting to are only interested in ONE of your two genres.
Let’s say you have a mystery novel and a cookbook. In that case you’d submit the mystery query to literary agents that like mysteries, but not cookbooks; and you’d submit the cookbook query to literary agents that want cookbooks, but not mysteries.
Are you following?
Then, if a literary agent offers you representation for your mystery novel… at that point you’d want to disclose the fact that you also have a cookbook you’re shopping. If the agent doesn’t represent cookbooks, they’re not going to care. If you’re lucky, he or she might offer to represent your cookbook as well.
But, be warned, the agent will probably want to pitch the mystery first… and put the cookbook on the backburner for later (if/when your mystery sells). Are you starting to understand why it might be better to have two agents?
* * *
Conclusion – Literary Agent Ménage à Trois
Yes, I know…
This is definitely an out-of-the-box strategy. It’s going to make some people uncomfortable (especially any literary agents reading this, because it levels the playing field a bit in favor of the author). But that’s the best part.
At least that’s how I see it.
What do you think?
– Mark
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* * *
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
Good to know. I have two genres. One is a children’s made for animation book, which is finished. The other is a romance travel thru time book, unfinished. All your information is very helpful for us very green new authors.
Thanks Mark,
C.Perry Vassel
Thank you Chris and have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Exactly what I plan on doing when I finish the first book in my second trilogy. If I haven’t found an agent for my first, why not keep querying while trying to find an agent for my next? But here’s the thing…. they are in the same genre! Might make things a leeeetle more tricky, lol.
Hi Nikki, that won’t matter… and you can also use a pseudonym if/when pitching the other project. Two possible ways to be successful can’t hurt, as long as you keep track of your submissions. 😉
Have a great week and stick with the submission process.
You only need one,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Mark: just as a sign of life. An interesting variation for someone who has one agent already, if that agent is lukewarm on the next book. As several others said, I’ll be happy to start with ONE.
Hi John, I like it… yes… for those who are currently agentless… best to focus on getting the first one… and then… getting the second one… if needed… is a lot easier. 😉
Have a great week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Mark,
That is a very good article on getting two agents. I’ve been sending out a fair amount of queries to agents of print type books. The responses that I have gotten are: Your premise is VERY interesting, however we don’t see it as a fit. I approached two e-book publishers with the same basic query and both of them jumped on my book, they publish for Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kindle, Etc. I was wondering, and maybe you can help. What do they see that print publishers don’t?
Hi Bob,
Very simple, agents and publishers have a higher bar… they’re going to invest more time and/or money into helping be successful… so they have to be more discerning… doesn’t mean your work isn’t worthy… just harder to get their attention.
Have a great week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I find this article very interesting. I have just started my third mystery, and I have also written a spy novel, a women’s interest story, and an adventure. People tell me I need to pick only one genre. I just want to find an agent who wants to get me published.
Thank you JB, and, to that end… if you haven’t already done so, make sure you click here to access to all the valuable resources I have about getting an agent in my private, members-only area (no charge): http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. Once you’ve entered your name and email address there, click on the link that says, “Audio Training Library”. Then you’ll see my main audio training (and text transcript), which reveals the 7 Insider Secrets You Need to Know to Get a Top Literary Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal.
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/.
Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Would a MG book and a YA book be considered in different genres to the extent that one agent would not be offended if you offered one to a different agent?
Hi Carl, many agents who represent MG or YA also represent the other genre… and if you have an agent… you’ll always want to give that agent/agency the option to consider your other work… even if you’re not sure. 😉
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
How about THREE agents? One of my books is a general fiction drama set in a Rocky Mountain town in the 1970s. The other is a modern romantic suspense thriller. And some readers have been asking, in regard to both books, “When is the movie coming?”
From what I’ve gathered, we’re talking three hats here, not only in genre but also is pitch techniques.
Hi David, if that’s what it takes… that’s what it takes!
But one agent might be able to handle all of that.
Have a great week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Mark, I’ve also written thousands of poems. Different agent?
Del
Hi Del, depends on the agent… if an agent represents all the genres you write in… you might just work with that agent. 🙂
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
My first book was quite different from the one I’m writing now, even though they’re both about
the airborne. The first covers the training and experience of jumping out of a plane.
But it was self-published by Author House.
Can I re-sell that first book, called, “Be A Man Fergod Sake? with an agent? Is that legitimate?
Otherwise, I prefer one agent
Del
Hi Del,
It’s never too late for a previously published author to get a literary agent, traditional publisher, and book deal… but it can be tricky. Read this article which talks about that, and a few other things you might find interesting and helpful: https://literary-agents.com/its-not-what-you-say/.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Good stuff, Mark. Yeah, I’ve been wondering if authors were allowed to do this–getting two agents I mean. Definately good to know. I’ll most certainly be incorporating this strategy in the near future! 🙂
Hi Adam, glad to hear and let me know if you get two agents… your success is my success. 😉
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I’ve often wondered about this, and believe we’ve talked about it since I write adult horror as well as children’s stuff. When you write in various genres, it makes sense that you might need more than one agent to represent (and sell) you at a better advantage. 😉
Hey Becca! There’s a really great (bad?) joke/comparison in here somewhere about those guys (like the one on TV) that are married to many wives. But I’m just a third of my way through my first cup of coffee… so my wit is not warmed up yet. 😉 Have a great Friday and make sure you (at some point) check out today’s column that I’ll be posting in a few hours. You won’t believe what one of my 1-on-1 coaching clients emailed a top literary agent after she rejected him. Ouch. Talk soon. Mark
I have enough with just one book to give birth to let alone twins. As always thanks for another great feature article, Mark!
Hi Ron, I know it’s been a while since you posted this but I wanted to thank you (as always) for reading my posts and leaving comments. And here’s to not having twins or triplets! Have a fantastic Friday and see you again soon. Make sure you check out this week’s column by the way. It will be sent out in a few hours. I’m referring to it as a disturbing daisy chain of emails between one of my author clients and a top literary agent. Spicy stuff. See you soon. 😉 Mark
What I think is that it sounds great, but 2 books ready in different genres? I should be so lucky!
Hi Ellen, it doesn’t happen that often but sometimes. 😉 By the way, sorry it took me so long to reply. I’ve been working, working, working. All good things but very busy lately. I even skipped posting a new column last week! But I think this week’s (to be posted shortly) makes up for that. Hope you are doing well, I’m thinking about you a lot. Have a great day and see you soon. Mark
I would LOVE the option of negotiating and talking with and asking questions of two literary agents at the same time. It seems to me a great learning experience and a way to “sense” the place my product and their intent for my product is in ‘their world.’ Sense means awareness and logic – two ingredients that compliment one another and demand that I listen. Great article Mark!
Hi Janet! Oof. Did I really take 11 days to respond? There are literary agents out there that respond to query letters faster than that! Anyway, thanks for posting. And yes… I would love the same for you. Having choices is one of the most wonderful gifts we can ever have in this life. And too often we feel like we don’t have one. Have a great Friday and see you soon. Let me known what you think about this week’s article, going out soon. Mark 😉
As someone who writes in different genres, that’s good to know, Mark. It hadn’t occurred to me that an author might need more than one agent. Since I’m also writing screenplays, perhaps it’s possible to need three agents.
Hi Jalynn, if you get a literary agent for your fiction first… they might shop your work for film. But they might also get a “co-agent” instead… an agent more experienced with film. So you would have two agents for that particular project, in that case. However, your literary agent would take care of all that on the back end. You wouldn’t have to do a thing. 😉 Mark
I think you’re brilliant! My thoughts as well, which is why I pitched to an agent a totally unrelated story while planning out my current novel. I’d be fine with one agent, but seems like most of them focus on specific parts of the publishing industry, so I might as well try for more than one agent when the time comes. Whatever works.
Hi Dale, a big part of the writer’s brain (mine included) would prefer to have one agent handle everything and do everything we want in the way we want. Wouldn’t that be nice? I’d also like to write just one check every month for all my expenses (instead of many – what a time-saver that would be)! And I’d like to have just one person that would be my executive personal assistant, cut my grass, clean my house, do my grocery shopping, cut my hair, polish my shoes, wash my car… and 100 other things. But I haven’t found that person yet either. I guess the good news is that I do have my beloved Ingrid. With her I get to hold hands, laugh, cry, complain, share all my secrets, and… well, a lot of other unmentionables. 😉 Mark
You have yourself a good one 😉
I hear ya, Mark. We gotta do what we gotta do!
Again, Mark, you’ve provided unique and helpful information on another aspect of the publishing world. I haven’t considered double agents and the pros and cons of having them before because it isn’t personally apropos right now…but it’s always good to gain a broad-spectrum view of whatever arena it is that a person is contemplating jumping into. I also appreciate how you’ve also discussed the ethics and legalities of this situation in regard to someone already having an agent and a contract.
Hi Rhymster, that’s why I like writing about some of these things. Most authors aren’t yet at the point in their publishing careers where they would begin to think of something like this. But it’s better to think about it now, rather than later when it can be too late. Thanks for taking time to comment. Have a great week. And talk to you soon. 😉 Mark
Hi Mark,
Very interesting blog post. I know that my agent doesn’t like it if one of her clients has two agents even if she doesn’t sell that type of book. She has no hard feelings if a client wants to leave for an agent who handles a different genre. It can be frustrating because I’m never really sure if she thinks a book idea won’t sell because of the marketplace or if it’s her own particular feeling about the non-fiction topic. As Yul Brynner said in “The King and I,” Is a puzzlement.
True. Agents will almost always be a bit nervous about losing their client to the other agent, it’s true. I went through this with a couple of my own clients when I was an agent. This is just another example underscoring the fact that an agent’s agenda will sometimes be slightly at odds with the author’s agenda. But, as an author, you have to do what’s best for you… and sometimes your agent might not like it. All relationships are like that. 😉 Thanks for posting. Mark
Hi Mark,
I have to say, I think your strategy is brilliant. More and more often lately, I’m seeing “out of the box”, unconventional solutions for all kinds of marketing problems being extraordinarily successful.
I’ve known you (and your lovely wife, Ingrid) for quite a long time now, and I must say, you both belong in the “marketing genius” genre!
Kudos
Jane
And I have to say that it’s great to see you. We think about you a lot and even talk about you once in a while. All good things. 😉 Thank you for stopping by my blog and sending us love. Have a great weekend and be well. Mark
When you first ask the question; “What is a literary agent menage a trois?”, the first thing I thought, “A train wreck waiting to happen!” But after reading the article… it totally makes sense… GOOD sense! 🙂
My other thought was, being in bed with two AGENTS (any type of agents – not excluding the FBI and CIA) at the same time, I’d have to be on crack… Although now that I think about it, no… never mind… I’ll leave it at that.
Good article!
Funny. By the way, I searched for about 10 minutes trying to find a woman in the middle of two men… or some other gender variation… instead of the more predictable man between two women. I know someone is going to ask me why I went with the cliche. Oh well. Besides, the guy with the glasses is hilarious, isn’t he? Now, you behave… no more talk of trysts with secret agents and handcuffs and who knows what else? Well, I guess you can put it in your book. Keep doing what you’re doing. 😉 Mark