Updated November 9, 2009
| The Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York City is a literary agency for professional novelists. Donald Maass’s pioneering work and writing about the development of fiction careers has made DMLA a leading agency for fiction writers. Agents Donald Maass, Jennifer Jackson, Stacia Decker, Cameron McClure and J.L. Stermer together represent more than 100 novelists and sell more than 100 novels every year to leading publishers in the U.S. and overseas.
Writers often ask us what we’re “looking for”. Excellent fiction, of course, but what does that mean? This page is designed to tell you. We’ll update it bi-monthly, so visit again. What We’re Looking for This Month – September/October 2009 Writers We’ve Rejected Did that get your attention? This month in lieu of our usual list of plot suggestions, I’d like to relate a trend I’ve noticed and issue an invitation. Earlier this year I was at a major mystery writers’ conference. An author approached me to say, “Mr. Maass, I just want to thank you. Several years ago you sent me a detailed rejection letter that was very helpful. I revised my manuscript, found an agent and now I’m an award finalist!” I offered congratulations aloud and to myself muttered something that was a little less celebratory. My muttering continued as this conversation happened not once but four times at this particular convention. This past summer I was at a major romance writers’ conference. Guess what happened? “Mr. Maass, I just want to thank you. Several years ago you sent me a detailed rejection letter that was very helpful. I revised my manuscript, found an agent and now I’m an award finalist!” Hmmm. Here then is my invitation: If you have been rejected (we prefer the word “declined”) by this agency in the past, try us again—in particular if it has been several years and your craft has improved. Strangely enough, writers tend to get better with practice. If that is you, we’d be glad to hear from you. Who knows? You might find yourself an agent and become an award finalist. -Donald Maass |
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We represent: What we are looking for…We are fiction specialists. All genres are welcome. We handle many authors of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, horror, romance, historical, literary and mainstream novels. To learn more about the clients we represent, check out our client list. Our list is always tight, but never totally full. |
We do not represent: What we are not looking for…Poetry. See individual agent profiles regarding non-fiction, books for young readers and picture books. |
Submission Guidelines |
How to submit…E-mail queries can be sent to info@maassagency.com and should include the word “query” in the subject line. Please know that we promptly and carefully read every e-query that we receive. We will respond to every e-query that is properly addressed and follows the submission guidelines below. We will not respond to e-queries that are addressed to no one, or to multiple recipients. Because of security concerns we do not open or respond to any e-mails that have attachments, so please be sure to put your query letter in the body of your e-mail. Please also paste your synopsis and the first five pages of your manuscript into the body of your e-mail. Alternately, you may wish to send your query letter by snail mail. We respond to every posted query that we receive. Please include your synopsis and the first five pages of your manuscript. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for our reply. If you would like to receive your partial or manuscript back if we should decline, make sure to include enough postage for its return. Please use U.S. stamps or, where unavailable, International Reply Coupons (IRCs) from your local post office. Do not send pre-paid FedEx or UPS mailers or metered postage for the return of your materials. If we like the sound of your novel, we will request sample chapters and a synopsis. If we like your sample chapters, we will request the whole manuscript. If we like the whole manuscript, you will hear from us! No reading fees or expenses are charged at any time. Whom should I query…If you are uncertain which agent at DMLA to query, address your e-mail or letter to Donald Maass (at the info@maassagency.com address). Your e-mail or letter will serve to query all agents at DMLA. If there is a specific agent at DMLA whom you would like to represent you, then of course query that agent specifically, but please do not send multiple queries. How long will it take…To answer your query letter, up to four weeks. To read your sample chapters and outline, about the same. To read your whole manuscript, overnight to a few months. (If we request it, please check with us.) Do we work with new, previously unpublished writers…Yes, all the time. More information…Donald Maass, Jennifer Jackson, Cameron McClure, and J.L. Stermer are all members of the Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR). Additionally, the agency is a member of the Author’s Guild, Mystery Writers of America (MWA), the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and the Romance Writers of America (RWA), and several other organizations.
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