Should you query a new agent? #amquerying

Have you ever applied for a job that you really, really wanted, but you were turned down because "you didn't have experience," but you knew you could do that job if the employer would "just give you a chance!" 1/?

Well, a new agent is the same. We just want the chance to prove ourselves to authors and editors. We are eager and willing to work for /free/!

You say, "But new agents have no sales!" 2/?

That may be true. And you didn't have experience as an author until you started writing. As a new author, you also have no sales, but agents take a chance on new authors every day, so why not take a chance on a new agent? 3/?

I was a new agent only a couple of years ago this April. I took things slowly because I have a day job. I only signed a few clients my first year, so my first sale came slower. It was a pre-empt to a big five with a fantastic editor. 4/?

My following sale was an auction that included big 5 publishers. Which I was only /just/ allowed to announce.

This brings me to Publishers Marketplace. Not every deal will show on there. My illustrator had a deal with a huge company for an online short story. 5/?

We weren't able to post on PM, but it was still a really good deal. I have a few deals in the works that are not announced yet; some with top-tier publishing companies.

So, a new agent can have deals, but they might not be able to announce them yet. Don't only depend on PM. 6/?

My first clients took a chance on me, and I'm making sales. So as you query and do your research, be sure to weed out bad eggs, but don't weed out the new ones. 7/7

Erin also touches on good points! https://twitter.com/erin_clyburn/status/1353467743119568897?s=20