How do you query agents without spamming them?

Short answer: Ismita Hussain’s advice: Follow each agent’s directions and query a considered group of good-fit agents in batches; avoid both one-at-a-time querying and sending to every remotely possible agent at once.

Answered by Ismita Hussain, Senior Literary Agent, Great Dog Literary.

Create a free LitConnect account and submit your pitch.

The agent’s answer

Ismita recommends following every agent’s submission directions and answering requested questions completely. She advises querying in batches: one-at-a-time querying can be unnecessarily slow, while sending to every possible agent at once removes the opportunity to improve the package. Aim for agents who are credible fits for the book rather than trying to identify a single perfect match; publishing decisions remain subjective even when an agent appears ideal on paper.

In Ismita’s words

Agents get a lot of queries, so don’t query one by one, but also don’t carpet bomb.
Ismita Hussain, 07:26

Source: Query Letters 101.