 One of the questions I hear frequently at events is a complicated one: “Do you need multiple literary agents if you write in different genres or categories?” This is a tricky subject, but one that I want to address, since I myself have multiple agents. Some writers get into writing with a clear focus in mind, such as penning young adult fantasy novels. Other writers want to compose books in different areas. Sometimes it’s not a far stretch to jump, from young adult to middle grade, say. Other times it’s a whole new world, like making a jump from paranormal romance novels to nonfiction books about gardening. THE 3 PROBABLE OPTIONS: Here are the three likely ways this will happen if you have a literary agent and want to branch out into new genres or types of books.  1. You will have an agent that represents everything you write. In fact, if you want to write in different areas, you should, if possible, specifically target agents who rep all your interests when you first query.
2. Your agent will make an exception to rep all your works. I’ve seen this before. Writers have agents who represent only adult fiction, but will make an exception for you and handle your children's books just to keep it all in the family. 3. Your agent will wish you well finding a second rep. If your agent neither reps your new area(s) nor cares to handle it/them as a favor, the only option is for you to find an additional rep. This makes things a little for complicated for the writer (having two agents now, not just one), but it’s a necessary step to move forward. UNDERSTAND THE DOWNSIDES The major downside to addressing this question is a big issue behind it. The more you spread yourself across different areas, you more you dilute your brand and have to start over again. If you’re only spending, say, half of your time writing books about parenting (as opposed to all your time), then that’s less effort to develop a platform and network. If you can only write one thriller every three years instead of every two years because you’re spread thin, that’s less of a brand and readership, most likely. If you’ve developed an author brand as a suspense writer, that platform and hard-earned readership will not translate to picture books, for example. In that case, a pseudonym is common — but the downside is that you’re starting over again with building your writer brand identity. BE UPFRONT WITH YOUR AGENT An important aspect in all this is to simply explain upfront to your agent what you’re considering. When I sat down to sign the author-agent agreement with my rep, she asked me if I wanted to write anything besides adult nonfiction. I said yes — screenplays and perhaps children's books. She said she didn’t currently rep those areas and had no desire to start, so I had her blessing to go elsewhere. I ended up finding a manager to handle my screenplays, and a second literary agent to handle my kidlit. My second agent never sold any books for me, and by the time I came up with new children's book ideas several years later, my original agent had gotten into kidlit, so she offered to take on those projects -- and she sold one! That means I am a rare example of two of the possibilities above happening to the same writer. If your agent has an issue with you writing across categories, this is her time to bring it up and be honest as to why. I’ve spoken with an agent once who said she does not represent clients unless she can be their sole agent. Others may be concerned you’re not writing enough projects that they can sell and they can be most productive parting ways. Most, I believe, will be A-OK with your decision — as long as it does not negatively impact them (and it is not likely to). Attend a writers conference in 2025:
CHUCK SAMBUCHINO is a bestselling humor book writer, a freelance editor, and a former editor for Writer’s Digest Books for many years. During his time with WD Books, he edited the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS as well as the CHILDREN’S WRITER’S & ILLUSTRATOR’S MARKET. His Guide to Literary Agents Blog was one of the biggest blogs in publishing, averaging more than 350,000 page views each month. He was named by Forbes as one of the top influencers in publishing in recognition of his personal Twitter. Comments are closed.
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