Betsy Amster of Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises

10.14.15

If I have many different forms of writing (self-published memoir, finished screenplay, completed short stories with an outline for a full short story collection, already produced commercials,  and short films) how do I approach an agent with the work? Do I focus on one form, or is it acceptable to send all projects, as a portfolio of sorts, to the agent?

Armand from Austin, TX
Betsy Amster
Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises
607 Foothill Boulevard #1061
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91012

Trying to flog too many projects at once tends to be a red flag for agents. We don’t mind learning how broad your accomplishments are in your query letter, but we want you to seek representation for a single project. Also, most book agents don’t handle screenplays, short films, or commercials, so by putting any emphasis on these, you may inadvertently suggest that you don’t understand our business.

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