Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTIONS ABOUT QUERIES

query@dunhamlit.com is the email address. You can find complete instructions for querying on our How to Submit page, and we recommend reading the page before submitting. Every agency is a little different, and paying attention to the details makes a difference.
We do not accept queries sent by postal mail. Times have changed, and saving trees is good.
Over the years since Dunham Literary opened in August of 2000, technology and communication have changed. There was a time that Dunham Literary accepted queries only by mail. We have transitioned to sharing all our files electronically. Older guides may still have a mailing address for us, but if you send our query by mail, it will go to an old address where we no longer have an office so we will not receive it. Please remember that we do not control the content of anyone else's book or website.
We receive a high volume of queries and do our best to respond promptly to each one. Some seasons are busier than others, but please be patient and trust that if you emailed us a query you will hear back from us.
We are proud of our track record for responding promptly to query letters. Some agencies have a default to “if you don’t hear from us, it’s a no,” and we would rather you receive a brief reply from us than nothing at all. Due to an increase in volume of queries received, it may take a month or more from our receipt of the query letter to reply.
Please have a full proposal ready if your project is non-fiction, or a complete manuscript if your project is fiction before you contact us. We don’t offer representation based on just an idea. Lots of people have good ideas; it's the writing and the execution of the idea into a book coupled with strong author credentials that make a salable project.
Yes. Dunham Literary is based in the US, but we have clients who live and have citizenship in other countries.
We ask for the first five pages of the manuscript pasted into the email below the query letter. That way we get a brief sense of the writing before requesting a longer portion or the whole manuscript.
Yes, that’s fine since your manuscript is shorter than five pages. We ask for the first fives pages along with the query letter. If your manuscript is shorter than that, then it falls within our page limit.
No. We prefer to see the first five pages to read how the story starts. These are the most helpful pages at this point in considering your project.
We do not read or respond to direct messages on social media. If your question isn't answered on on website, emailing us is the best way to contact us.
No. Please send one query letter which gives an overview of your work as an author. While we are considering one manuscript, we're also considering you an author. It's important for us to look at the various kinds of books an author writes in a comprehensive way.
No. We don't accept pitches on social media. We don't read or respond to direct messages on social media. When we participate in pitch events on social media platforms, we ask that any pitches with like (heart) are sent to use by email afterwards.

QUESTIONS ABOUT REQUESTED SUBMISSIONS

Everything you need to know is on the website. If you’re reading this information here, you are already in the right place learning everything you need to know.
No, you don’t need to copyright it before it’s published. If a book is registered with the Library of Congress, that’s done by the Publisher as part of the process of getting published. You can protect your work by including the copyright symbol © and your name and year of creation on the manuscript.
There are several reasons why we need at least three months (and frequently more) to consider submissions from writers. Two of the biggest reasons are that very little of our working days are spent reading manuscripts, and that we have a responsibility to prioritize current clients over potential clients.
No, we don’t sign non-disclosure agreements before reading proposals or manuscripts. We don’t share writing by current or prospective clients with anyone unless authorized to do so. Good ideas are common; it’s the execution of the great idea into a story that is hard. If we start working together, we’ll have to share your work with others without using a non-disclosure agreement when we submit
Don’t. If a writer tries to write a book specifically for an agent, it means they aren’t tuning into their own inner fire to create a story that they’re passionate about, that is new and fresh, yet not outside the bounds of standard book categories, that is uniquely theirs

QUESTIONS ABOUT REJECTION

Please remember that if you get turned down by our agency (or any other agency for that matter), it doesn't mean that your writing is bad. It means that we (or that other agent) aren't the right match for you. It's more of a "not us" response than "not you." Every day agencies turn down perfectly good writing and writers who go on to become successful later. Turning down writers is one of the tough parts of being a literary agent.
While we're glad you're motivated to improve (and that motivation will help you be successful), we don't provide a critique service for query letters or manuscripts. Each agency and agent has different reasons why a particular writer or project is or isn't a good match for them.
Technically, yes. Keep in mind, however, that our response related to your project more than to your query letter. If there's nothing new or changed about your project, it's highly likely that our response to your query will be the same.
Please do not send multiple emails to Dunham Literary. We have a team approach and share queries internally. Please write to one agent specifically; if that agent's interest isn't piqued, your query may be shared with other agents who might be interested.

MISC. QUESTIONS

While we often give our clients feedback, it is the writer's responsibility to have the manuscript polished. Another set of eyes can be helpful, and there's no single right answer for who is best to read an early draft of a manuscript. Sometimes beta readers are trusted writing partners, critique groups, or freelance editors.
While our preference is for creators who can both write and illustrate a picture book, we do represent picture book writers who are not illustrators. We occasionally represent illustrators who don't also write, but we're primarily a literary agency rather than an artists' representative so we may not be the best fit for an artist who does not also write.
No. Dunham Literary does not partner with self-publishers to receive kickbacks for referrals. We are not in need of SEO help, improved telephone service, cleaning services, or other unsolicited services or products. If you’re surfing the web to see if you can get this type of business with us, remove us from your list. Also, we are not responsible for the content of any query letters or solicitations.