Agent Query - Page Count

[Lydia777]

Apologies if this is a silly question - I am currently querying agents for my middle grade series. Most agency websites request the first 3 chapters - some state no more than 10,000 words. As my chapters are about 2500-3000 words long (8500 words for 1st 3 chapters,) this is fine.

However, some agents ask for 1st 3 chapters/ 50 pages. Usually these agencies also have adult writers as clients so presume average chapter length is longer. But my first 3 chapters are only 27 pages...

Am I ok just sending in the first 3 chapters?

Again, apologies if this is obvious to everyone else - just don't want to annoy an agent by not sending in what they request.

I stay as close as possible to what they've requested. If they say three chapters, that's what I send even though my chapters are quite short.

If they say three chapters/fifty pages I send the 50 pages (roughly because I end at a natural break, but no more than 50 pages) on the assumption the '50 pages' is to account for books with shorter or longer than average chapters (or no chapters).

I've never had much luck with agents, so don't take what I say as definitive! But if you look at their blogs, podcasts and interviews, most of them mention the need to pay close attention to submission guidelines so I assume that's what they want people to do.

Good luck with your submission.

Thanks so much Weetabix - really appreciate your reply.

I would stick as closely as possible to what the agency gives as guidelines, but is there some reason you don’t want to send 50 pages if the guideline says ‘first three chapters or fifty pages’? Why wouldn’t you want to show them as much as possible of what you’ve got?

Bear in mind, too, that some agents read the synopsis first and only open the text if they like the synopsis —so work equally hard on that. (Some obviously do the reverse and check the quality of the writing first before reading the synopsis, too...)

As your chapters are short I would send 50 pages (or thereabouts depending on a natural break) and in the cover letter just mention 'please find attached the first 50 pages as per your guidelines as my chapter lengths are fairly short' or something along those lines. So then it explains why you've sent more than 3 chapters but you're only doing as requested.

Is 2500 short for a chapter? I thought it was quite long for middle grade.

Thanks everyone, I will send 50 pages - it's not that I don't want to send that much. I was just thinking maybe I misinterpreted the instructions. Thanks also on the advice regarding the synopsis!

From what I've read, 1500-2500 seems to be reasonably average for middle grade.

Whatever you send, have the rest ready in case they want to read it.