Like quality writing, each step of the submission process is important and requires your utmost attention. The submission process begins with a query letter. For tips on writing your query letter please see our Writing a Solid Query Letter page.

As indicated, we receive thousands of query letters a year and the best way to stand out amidst the crowd is by adhering to the following instructions. The Knight Agency currently ONLY accepts email queries. Please note that the Knight Agency stopped accepting Paper Queries submitted via the US Mail and any and all other means (including Fax, Fed-Ex/UPS and even door-to-door delivery) in 2006. If you should submit a query via any means other than the provided submissions email address, your query will not be reviewed or returned.

All queries should be sent to Submissions(at)KnightAgency(dot)net. When typing this email address, please use the @ symbol for "at" and a period for "dot." We request that queries be kept to approx one-page in length and that all text be contained in the body of an email. Queries can either be addressed to our submissions coordinator, Melissa Jeglinski, or to the specific agent that you feel the project would be best suited for.

Due to internet security it should be noted that we are unable to open any attachments. At the query phase we only ask for a standard query letter, this is not yet the time to submit sample material. (Again, should you submit additional material it will not be reviewed or returned). All queries will be reviewed on an individual basis by our submissions coordinator and relevant agents. The majority of these will meet with a polite rejection, as they do not currently meet our agency's needs. A small minority of queries will meet the requirements of the openings in our agency’s list. Please accept our apologies in advance, but we are unable to offer tailored critiques or specific reasons for passing on your project. However, a fair amount of time will always be given to your letter in the review process.

If we feel that your project matches the Knight Agency's needs, we will then request additional materials from the author. In such cases, authors will be asked to submit a partial manuscript (for fiction) or a proposal (for nonfiction). For more information regarding preferred proposal content, please visit our Proposal Guidelines page. At the time such an invitation is made, we will provide you with instructions regarding the proper method for submitting the appropriate additional materials. All submissions are also to be made electronically.

Review of manuscripts currently takes eight to twelve weeks from the time of receipt. Please do not call to check on the status of your manuscript. If you are concerned of its receipt, e-mail is the best way to inquire. If after 4-8 weeks you have not received a response to your initial query we ask that you simply resubmit your project via an alternative email address. Due to neccessary spam filters query letters, and at times our responses, have been known to go missing. We ask that you understand these unavoidable inconveniences and appreciate your patience. And as a final note, there is no way to cut in line, or go around our standard query procedure. Attempting to do so will most likely be met with a kind rejection.

  Approaching A Literary Agent: Do’s & Don'ts

  Things You Should Watch Out For In Choosing An Agent

  Writing a Solid Query Letter

  Terms of Representation

  Frequently-Asked Questions

  Recommended Reading