What's the rule on shopping more than one project around?

[MrsMcDowell]

I'm currently throwing my YA Paranormal novel out there with not a lot of luck, but I have a romance/family saga finished with a sequel in hand. I want to shop that one around as well, but don't know the rules about submitting more than one project at a time.

[MittensMorgul]

I'd give it a few months before you send a new project to an agent you've sent a previous project to, but since they're different genres (more or less), you'll probably find a lot of new agents to send your new project to who've never even heard your name before. I don't see any problems giving that a try, and then sending it to agents who you've already tried for your first project after a little more time has passed. Good luck!

[Tabris]

If you get the paid QueryTracker membership, you can keep data for two projects (or more) at the same time. It will also tell you when you're on one project what your other project's experience was with this agent.

There aren't "rules" per se about how to do it. If you get rejected with a personal note, it's okay to write back thanking the agent and pitch the other. Don't query both to the same agent at the same time (obviously) and also I would suggest not sending one to an agent at an agency where another agent already has the other.

Good luck!

[Falen]

I'm going to be in this boat too, in another month or so. It kind of freaks me out, just because i'm so worried about sending the wrong query/MS. Sigh.
I'll just have to be extra careful

And Amy, it sounds like a good idea to me, especially since they're different genres. Good luck!! 

[dougie]

I've been lurking for a while, but this is my first actual post. 

My thought is that you should go ahead and query both projects at the same time.  Presumably, since they're in different genres, you'd be hitting up different agents for each so you won't have to fear much about crossing wires. 

I've been querying for two different novels over the last few months.  Both might be considered "literary fiction," so I've really had to be extra careful in who/where I query.  My rule is that I should never have queries out for both novels at the same agency at any given moment, so it's limited how vigorously I've been querying. 

A month ago, one agent had read and kinda liked novel "A."  She asked if I had other novels.  I tried to dissuade her from seeing novel "B" because I thought it really would not be up her alley.  She asked for it anyway-- and to my surprise, she LOVED the first half of the novel but requested an R&R on the second half.  It may lead to nothing (I should have the revisions ready in 2 more weeks) but I never would have seen this glimmer of hope had I not be querying both novels at the same time

[LydiaT]

Thanks for asking this! It was on my mind too, since I'm finishing up an MG and am querying a YA. 

Like Falen said, since they are two different genres, I think you're fine 

[rnpudel]

I was wondering this too.

I had stopped querying my first novel about 5 months or so ago. I recently started querying my new ms, and within this last week I'd received two full requests on it. Then last night I got another agent email. I thought it was another request for my latest novel, but it wasn't. I had queried her December 1st with my first novel and she was wondering if it's still available and asked for the full. Now I have three fulls out with two different manuscripts. One is Christian adult historical fiction, and the other is YA dark fantasy. Very different markets and genres.

I'm not sure if this is a no-no, and if I need to let the agent know I have other fulls out there. 

[Tabris]

There's no need to tell an agent that other agents are looking at your work. The agents assume that other agents are looking, and also assume that if you receive an offer, you will notify them so they can either withdraw or read quickly themselves.