Friday, October 26, 2012

I'm querying you because...



From the incoming queries this morning a query writer says h/she chose me:

"because of your agency's undeniable success with various authors."


No.

If you elect to include the reason you queried an agent it has to be specific:

"I chose to query you because you you represent Stephanie Jaye Evans and I loved her book FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH"

"I chose to query you because La Slitherina herself Barbara Poelle can't stop laughing when your name is mentioned in her presence...that's a good thing, right?"

"I chose to query you because my first choice Jenny Bent said no"---even THAT is better than some weak-sister empty gush.

But honest to Betsy, you're querying me because I'm an agent looking for good work. That goes without saying.  Save the real estate in your query for the only thing I care about: what is your book about?
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13 comments:

  1. Simon Hay10/26/12, 8:29 AM

    I queried you because in my dreams you look like Trinity from the Matrix movies ;) Easy to love, Janet, easy to love.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mandler10/26/12, 10:54 AM

    I'm querying you because I've got no place else to go!

    - R. Gere.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Walter Thurman10/26/12, 11:49 AM

    I'm querying you because the voices told me to.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Elissa M10/26/12, 1:04 PM

    OO! I like this game!

    I'm querying you because I didn't bother with the minimal research it would have taken to discover you don't represent my genre.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mister Furkles10/26/12, 1:47 PM

    I’m querying you because Binky Urban said, “Yeah, right. Try that shark woman; see what she does to you.” That’s like, you know, for sure a totally professional referral.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Janet Reid10/26/12, 2:14 PM

    oh great, now I'm choking on my lunch of crushed hopes and dreams cause I'm laughing so hard.

    ReplyDelete
  7. BW10/26/12, 2:57 PM

    I am querying you because you are the best shark out there!

    Plus your blog is a hoot.

    ReplyDelete
  8. thepopeofbeers10/26/12, 3:25 PM

    I'm querying you because 'begging for representation' has too many letters.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Daisy Bateman10/26/12, 3:48 PM

    I'm querying you because restraining orders are hard to enforce across state lines.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Brooks Sherman10/26/12, 5:28 PM

    I like this blog post a lot! It is very interesting and much like the link I have come to spam you with, that, if you click it, will almost certainly give your computer a virus.

    Also, Mr./Ms. Agent, I am querying you because of your strong interest in books.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Michael Seese10/26/12, 10:15 PM

    I'm querying you because this Internet thing makes it so easy to stalk...I mean...create a list.

    Janet Reid...no.

    Next up: Jessica Faust.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous10/27/12, 2:52 PM

    I'm querying you because we have the same first name and I'm just taking it as a sign from God.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anastasia Stratu8/12/14, 10:55 AM

    I'm not querying you because I'm protecting you from cannibalism. Big sharks shouldn't eat baby sharks - "it is known".

    ReplyDelete

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