tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post7219798473891410489..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Prioritizing queries by the quality of an agent's listJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73326068240315350942019-01-15T22:15:09.663-05:002019-01-15T22:15:09.663-05:00So, so true: "Your goal is not to minimize re...So, so true: "Your goal is not to minimize rejection. Your goal is to find an agent. Those are not the same things."<br /><br />To put things in the parlance of baseball, it doesn't matter what your batting average is; it only matters that you score one run. So, querying is all about plate appearances. The more you step up to bat, the more chances of hitting that home run. <br /><br />Batter up!John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64953962106636200112019-01-15T20:28:31.205-05:002019-01-15T20:28:31.205-05:00 I think you can tell a lot about someone from the... I think you can tell a lot about someone from the style of their correspondence. When an agent (who has never made a sale) starts out wanting to know what your business plan is...?<br />The more I query, the fussier I am. I don’t know if I will ever have an agent or a book deal, but I can confidently say that I’d rather have no agent than one I have little confidence in. <br />Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08941043145591116608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72846395933558253312019-01-15T13:19:11.162-05:002019-01-15T13:19:11.162-05:00I think the Shark is wrong about one thing: the go...I think the Shark is wrong about one thing: the goal is not "to find an agent."<br /><br />The goal is to find an agent that will get me a good deal for my book. Anything less is a colossal waste of time and opportunity. To me, an agent that's never sold a book in my genre written in my style doesn't seem as good a bet to do that as an agent that has.<br />Writer Geek Esqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09156835922844681547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84020117439635216982019-01-15T10:55:59.250-05:002019-01-15T10:55:59.250-05:00Well, I can't wallpaper my office with rejecti...Well, I can't wallpaper my office with rejections if I try to avoid getting them, so I personally think the "query widely" advice is perfect for me.<br /><br /><b>E.M. Goldsmith's</b> method is pretty much exactly what I plan to do. Especially the part about leaving the agents who want a synopsis farther down the list. <br /><br />I was going to start querying this month, but all the discussion about word count has convinced me that my scrubbed and polished and utterly <i>perfect</i> finished novel hasn't a snowball's chance of getting published as my debut. So I'm diligently working on #2, pretending it's contracted and I have 6 months to finish, and making sure it comes in at exactly 100k. (It's epic fantasy, so it <i>can't</i> be any shorter than that.)Elissa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10727748060605823895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30743896330692346022019-01-15T10:40:47.050-05:002019-01-15T10:40:47.050-05:00What Sam said. They may only want one in that nich...What <b>Sam</b> said. They may only want one in that niche.<br /><br />A reputable agent is going to know what publishers are looking for, even if it's not what you're looking for. But those are going to be clients you AREN'T in 'competition' with to get that publishing slot.Morgan Hazelwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17713547255894719134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89291990410497214642019-01-15T10:32:32.409-05:002019-01-15T10:32:32.409-05:00I just received my first "I like it, but it&#...I just received my first "I like it, but it's niche...and I already rep someone in that niche" so don't think finding someone with books TOO similar to yours is good either. XD<br /><br />What I'm saying is, if they're from a reputable agency and they rep your genre and haven't said "oh I hate X" with you writing X...roll the dice, why not, it isn't like you're only sending one query at a time.Sam Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12069749673374661798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62668627133444606342019-01-15T09:44:12.418-05:002019-01-15T09:44:12.418-05:00Little fish, big pond, big fish, little pond?
I h...Little fish, big pond, big fish, little pond?<br /><br />I have always been a big fish, little pond kind of guy. I think I'll keep rowing that boat.<br /><br />Is a big agent going to be able to give you the attention you need? Do they have an assistant that you could set up to ride over the top and therefore be forever grateful? If you write a small agent's first NYT bestest, will you have a special place in their heart and soul?<br /><br />Those are the kind of questions I am going to shoot for. It might be a shot in the dark, a shot in the foot, or something else. I don't know yet, maybe I'll let you know someday.<br /><br />My Queen, why don't you ever mention DePoy? I like his stuff.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16049928867691233352019-01-15T09:22:02.883-05:002019-01-15T09:22:02.883-05:00I don't think there's anything wrong with ...I don't think there's anything wrong with considering an agents client list and the kind of books she tends to represent. However, as others have said, it matters more that the agent is passionate about <i>your</i> work. Without that passion, it's hard for an agent to sell your novel to a publisher or anyone else.<br /><br /><b>2Ns</b>: The bathroom's down the hall on the right. Oh, you had a question! I think I know the answer... but I'll bite my tongue lest Her Sharkiness wants to answer. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28297650357648183182019-01-15T08:51:49.339-05:002019-01-15T08:51:49.339-05:00I don't comment often, but that last line/thou...I don't comment often, but that last line/thought is just too good.PAHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150112855344551488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74170398421211551272019-01-15T08:39:57.284-05:002019-01-15T08:39:57.284-05:00Best wishes for successful querying, OP.
I'm ...Best wishes for successful querying, OP.<br /><br />I'm catching up on posts and comments after a trip to a spot in the mountains with poor reception. I thought of you, Reef Fam, when we visited a delightful bookstore in a nearby town, complete with stacks of old books and an owner who wrote down each of our purchases, by hand, in her book. And a cat--of course. I'm sure many of you would love the place.Amy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324408700941398495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57201869997008372482019-01-15T08:29:57.089-05:002019-01-15T08:29:57.089-05:00The most important quality in an agent is their en...The most important quality in an agent is their enthusiasm about your work. <br /><br />You won't know how enthusiastic they are until you query them.<br /><br />Janet is right: roll the dice and take your chances -- when somebody goes stark raving mad for your stuff, sign with them. <br /><br />And keep writing -- a lot. <br /> <br /><br />Timothy Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07514224628760035696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84977091275924126792019-01-15T08:17:34.127-05:002019-01-15T08:17:34.127-05:00Raises hand. I have a question. Hey, hey, over her...Raises hand. I have a question. Hey, hey, over here, I have my hand in the air and I am NOT hailing a cab. I have a question.<br /><br />"Your goal is not to minimize rejection. Your goal is to find an agent."<br /><br />So...<br />Your goal (Janet) is to not find a book you absolutely love. Your goal is to find a book that will sell.<br /><br />In other words, have you taken on a book you disliked but took on because you knew it would sell, sell, sell?Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-48550202387283334252019-01-15T08:14:23.203-05:002019-01-15T08:14:23.203-05:00I am working on that same list myself but with no ...I am working on that same list myself but with no hope of avoiding rejection. Her Majesty is top of my list and she does not really represent my genre. Still, she is clearly an extraordinary agent. I have to try. <br /><br />However, the rest of the list is genre, experience, agency reputation (for the less experienced on list) and what materials they require. I am looking at pushing agents that want a synopsis into the second or third round. The intention is to query the first ten. When I get a response, negative or positive, I will send to next agent on the list. If no response after a month, I will treat that as a rejection (for queries), and again, next on the list.<br /><br />At least that is the plan. I am not much worried about what books agents have sold, just that they have sold books and what publishers they have sold to. I would also, for the more experienced agents, prefer to see that they are managing author careers (multiple books and projects) and not one and done sort of deals. <br /><br />I can't imagine how this will go, but hope springs eternal. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80612179136434402952019-01-15T08:03:50.113-05:002019-01-15T08:03:50.113-05:00Silly me. But I think quality of the scotch consum...Silly me. But I think quality of the scotch consumed is the best method for rating agents. Mister Furkleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07156977719916770984noreply@blogger.com