tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post7822692706714381086..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: How to shoot yourself in the footJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13104328010690225612013-12-07T00:27:40.793-05:002013-12-07T00:27:40.793-05:00If this was stated subtly, apologies...
How long ...If this was stated subtly, apologies...<br /><br />How long should we wait before sending the initial letter? <br /><br />Two months?Michael Seesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03694187657718931214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68972186882487232402013-12-03T23:45:34.240-05:002013-12-03T23:45:34.240-05:00Dear Snookums!!!!! I adore this intro.Dear Snookums!!!!! I adore this intro.Keisha Martin Romance Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04075320694648296594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2545341576610348372013-12-03T20:15:29.482-05:002013-12-03T20:15:29.482-05:00Wait…we can address you as Snookums??Wait…we can address you as Snookums??Teresa Robesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848939225552527941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24666671986459435672013-12-03T15:30:46.301-05:002013-12-03T15:30:46.301-05:00Without sounding like a nervous Nelly, I find it d...Without sounding like a nervous Nelly, I find it difficult to email on progress, because there are so many rules...<br /><br />Some agents have guidelines on their websites or send the guideline on 'when to prompt' in their emails (woohoo for them!) but for the others; its so hard to know what is acceptable follow-up and what is considered being a pain in the butt.<br /><br />Is it 3-months? 6-months? If it is 6 months for agent-A and, unaware Agent-A doesn't like follow up for at least 6-months, have I just been bumped & dumped because I sent the update email at 4 months?<br /><br />I'm not saying all agents act like this but some do. <br /><br />This example is from a close friend (no really, its not me). Said friend had request for 100-pg partial from an agent. As it wasn't a full and as it was coming close to a holiday break period & 3 months had passed, Writer Friend send short professional email. <br /><br />Got a reply that MS was on list to read soon but had this added..."Unless you would like to withdraw your submission and if so, please advise as I have other submissions waiting..."<br /><br />I know what it said because Writer Friend sent me the email. I also know what Writer Friend wrote:<br />"On (insert date) you requested a partial for (insert MS name) via email, which I attached with my partial submission (and have included below). Given just over three months have passed since sending, I was wondering if you had taken a look at my pages?"<br /><br />The reason Writer Friend sent everything to me is because they were worried they had somehow offended said agent and pretty much blown that opportunity. <br /><br />As I say, following up is not an easy tightrope to walk.<br /><br />FYI - three days later Writer Friend got a FORM REJECTION for said MS partial.<br /><br /><br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09614043791335176864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61406829702781661892013-12-03T14:44:50.535-05:002013-12-03T14:44:50.535-05:00Great advice! Thanks!Great advice! Thanks!Christine M. Irvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01792278507050967225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47025527989650764592013-12-03T07:15:38.519-05:002013-12-03T07:15:38.519-05:00Your professional attitude is refreshing. Too many...Your professional attitude is refreshing. Too many agencies/agents take the full or partial then sit on it for months without doing anything with them.<br /><br />Personal experience: On two separate occasions, agents requested more pages then all I heard was crickets chirping. After six months, I contacted them. One never returned my email and the other put me off with "I'm reading. Loving it," for another year and half without ever saying yes or no. Gave up.Huntresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08155372788872245758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14157171233594183262013-12-03T07:03:46.369-05:002013-12-03T07:03:46.369-05:00I agree the 'no response' response is the ...I agree the 'no response' response is the hardest...I'd rather get the form rejection. However, the top of my I-don't-get-this list is the agents that tell me my story is interesting and complelling, but "too unique". I thought that would be a good thing.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08085034041347539195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35977850543804671232013-12-02T18:26:37.905-05:002013-12-02T18:26:37.905-05:00Great post, thanks! Can't wait to get to the &...Great post, thanks! Can't wait to get to the "No Fingernails or Hair Left" stage.Ravina Patthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14213365611878079768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79657318080199252362013-12-02T17:14:19.691-05:002013-12-02T17:14:19.691-05:00"aim higher...kneecap?" laughing all ove..."aim higher...kneecap?" laughing all over the floor omgosheeeee :DBPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16407715408242911362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38619072242327464132013-12-02T14:11:08.154-05:002013-12-02T14:11:08.154-05:00"No reply means no" is a Thing that make..."No reply means no" is a Thing that makes me very sad. I get that agents are very very busy, and I get that people are creepers and can't take no for an answer, but an answerless limbo is (in my mind) worse than a form "Thank you for submitting, but..."Jennifer R. Donohuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363886899308588391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-456591499532676842013-12-02T13:57:34.427-05:002013-12-02T13:57:34.427-05:00OK then, deep breath.
Waiting is the hardest thi...OK then, deep breath. <br /><br />Waiting is the hardest thing. You think writing a novel is hard? Fah! It's the waiting. Just waiting to hear something. Anything. "Maybe he wants to surprise me with a huge deal, the results of the auction he's been holding." Yeah, or maybe he's fallen out of love with you and doesn't know how to end the relationship.<br /><br />Because that's what it's like, isn't it? Like a high school romance where the girl has realized she has better options out there. So suddenly she stops calling (or whatever the kids do these days) and you don't know why.<br /><br />And so we wait, nervously, almost desperately, because no response is marginally better than "No."<br /><br />Deep breath. John "Ol' Chumbucket" Baurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17120550659339089195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57369976030023841012013-12-02T13:04:48.816-05:002013-12-02T13:04:48.816-05:00Great post! I've got a full that's been ou...Great post! I've got a full that's been out for a while. This reminds me to send a reminder email. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32518908678905314132013-12-02T12:41:03.868-05:002013-12-02T12:41:03.868-05:00Thanks. I used sample #1 as a guideline today afte...Thanks. I used sample #1 as a guideline today after I realized that several agents have had requested material for 5 months. Another has had the full for 10.<br />HollyD.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17008661025089698378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6480322008721642792013-12-02T11:43:48.211-05:002013-12-02T11:43:48.211-05:00But I want to read Apocalypse Poelle!
In my crim ...But I want to read Apocalypse Poelle!<br /><br />In my crim lawyer days I could see someone writing to the prosecutor, "As you have not responded to my kindly offer of allowing you to dismiss all charges against my client, we withdraw that offer and request a trial. Boy, are we gonna show you!"<br /><br />And to the foot-shooters, I say, "thank you, more good agents for us."<br /><br />TerriTerri Lynn Coophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07290316565247120848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76461400879828972532013-12-02T10:55:35.739-05:002013-12-02T10:55:35.739-05:00
aim higher......Kneecap?<br /><br />aim higher......Kneecap?french sojournhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14262858704848580714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62002383708217598612013-12-02T09:23:02.568-05:002013-12-02T09:23:02.568-05:00Great advice, as usual. :)Great advice, as usual. :)Ali Trottahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08786367680085861585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58465367337851953952013-12-02T07:08:21.837-05:002013-12-02T07:08:21.837-05:00"It's very easy to shoot yourself in the ..."It's very easy to shoot yourself in the foot. Aim higher. " <br /><br />Brilliant!<br />JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.com