The
process of submitting to an agent would be an easy one if it was a
standardized process; you could write one letter, then copy/paste it
to an email and send it to every agent interested in your genre.
Unfortunately, though, that is not the case, and I think this is by
design to discourage the number of submissions. Each and every agent
out there is particular in his or her preferences, and if you don't
bother to find their profiles and read, you may be discarded before
ever being considered, simply because you didn't follow instructions
or pay attention. The most important thing to look for first is an
agency that represents your genre--some agencies focus on a very
narrow selection of genres, so submitting something in a genre they
have no interest in is going to end up in the trash. Do your
research! Even though I quickly rule out anyone that doesn't list
sci-fi, I also need to try to figure what type of sci-fi a particular
agent likes. Sometimes they'll be helpful and it will be indicated in
their bio--I just read one that said “soft sci-fi and space operas
only, no hard sci-fi!” But most of the time, you'll need to do a
little detective work, and read beyond the agent's profile on the
agency website. Do they have a blog? Are they active on Twitter or
Facebook? Did the agent list some favorite sci-fi books, or can you
find what type of sci-fi books that agent has represented before?
Take note of these things, because this info will help when you write
your query letter...
As seven alien races struggle to co-exist in an uneasy alliance, the Inter-Stellar Union sends Union Guard agents on missions to preserve the crucial balance. These specialized operatives must do what regional security cannot, dealing with smugglers, pirates, terrorists, and even greater challenges in order to bring stability to a universe that needs it desperately. Without the Union Guard, the races will not be prepared to face a looming alien threat they can only hope to defeat together.
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