How many submissions do agents get?

[GrownUp]

Hi John.
I have some questions which are not so much about publishing as working in publishing. I'm asking out of curiosity, which I am bursting with!

How many people are there in your agency to read submissions, and how many do you get?
How do you stop yourselves getting cross-eyed?
Is it like running a chocolate factory, do you go off chocolate?

[John Jarrold]

Hi there

I'm a one-man show, so I do all the reading myself!

Having worked in publishing for fifteen years before going freelance, and received maybe thirty typescripts every week, I've learned to pace myself!

I've always loved many forms of fiction and non-fiction reading, and I've never been put off reading SF and fantasy because I was publishing the genre, or acting as an agent! Reading the new Steve Erikson, THE BONEHUNTERS, at the moment, as well as a book on English archaeological history.

Hope that answers your qustions!

[GrownUp]

Originally Posted by John Jarrold

Hi there

I'm a one-man show, so I do all the reading myself!

Having worked in publishing for fifteen years before going freelance, and received maybe thirty typescripts every week, I've learned to pace myself!

I've always loved many forms of fiction and non-fiction reading, and I've never been put off reading SF and fantasy because I was publishing the genre, or acting as an agent! Reading the new Steve Erikson, THE BONEHUNTERS, at the moment, as well as a book on English archaeological history.

Hope that answers your qustions!

It does.

[John Jarrold]

Originally Posted by GrownUp

Hi John.
I have some questions which are not so much about publishing as working in publishing. I'm asking out of curiosity, which I am bursting with!

How many people are there in your agency to read submissions, and how many do you get?
How do you stop yourselves getting cross-eyed?
Is it like running a chocolate factory, do you go off chocolate?

Grown-up

Sorry, I didn't answer your question about how many submissions I receive at the agency. On average, it's about thirty a week.

[GrownUp]

You did answer that before! You said about 30 typescripts.

Thanks again!

[John Jarrold]

Sorry, that was when I worked in publishing. It's also about 30 a week for the agency now, which has grown since I started it in mid-2004. Interesting times...