tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post3586681049160914730..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: How to reference #MSWL in a queryJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49419859889402628212016-02-18T10:42:11.917-05:002016-02-18T10:42:11.917-05:00Thanks, Angie, I'll have to look at that.Thanks, Angie, I'll have to look at that.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52604129314450734552016-02-18T06:23:19.174-05:002016-02-18T06:23:19.174-05:00If you search twitter with the hashtag #readerwish...If you search twitter with the hashtag #readerwishlist there are lots of tweets.angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49736270281362570542016-02-17T22:29:46.147-05:002016-02-17T22:29:46.147-05:00Weighing in rather late on this - sorry! But I jus...Weighing in rather late on this - sorry! But I just wanted to add to what Christina Seine said about using a Twitter Client rather than just going to twitter itself. I used to use TweetDeck, and it *is* good for sorting out what you do / don't want to see - but I found (after looking through a variety of programs that offer this service) that I preferred HootSuite over the others, as not only can you can also use it for the other major social networks like Facebook, but I found it to be the most user-friendly. You get more if you pay for the 'Pro' version, of course, but even with a free account, it's great. And you can schedule as well.<br /><br />And thank you Janet, for that tip regarding putting the hashtag in the subject line. I wouldn't have thought of that! Not that I'm yet at querying stage, or have ever (yet) used #MSWL - but one day, hopefully :)Kae Ridwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10356868531870405990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40883141835902572322016-02-17T21:09:24.174-05:002016-02-17T21:09:24.174-05:00I got a request for a full proposal once from a #M...I got a request for a full proposal once from a #MSWL tweet. It didn't end up going anywhere, but I got the request within hours. Personally, I love #MSWL. But the rules are pretty clear.: Go to the agents website and see how they want to receive the query, don't reply on twitter. and yes, those folks who pitch on #MSWL drive me nuts. There is no better way to destroy this for everyone else.<br /><br />It's just another way to find out who's looking for what.Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41421820902257456962016-02-17T20:40:52.499-05:002016-02-17T20:40:52.499-05:00Thank you! I wouldn't have considered putting ...Thank you! I wouldn't have considered putting MSWL in the subject line of a query. Sherry Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04326605891373049617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21171617458679457072016-02-17T17:53:42.657-05:002016-02-17T17:53:42.657-05:00For awhile I was reluctantly obsessed with MSWL, t...For awhile I was reluctantly obsessed with MSWL, then I realized how misguided it can be.<br /><br />Not that it's not trying to be useful - it's just that the specificity of some of these "wishes" is nothing short of absurd.<br /><br />On one MSWL day, I was rolling on the floor over a bunch of tweets from "Literary Agent Vader" with the #MSWL - yes, the persona is, I believe a joke - a very funny one.<br /><br />One read "Twilight where she fucking kills the vampires instead of screws them books. #mswl"<br /><br />Thank you, Lord Vader, for helping me see through the madness. <br /><br />The last MS I queried, I did use the search bar in the site to target a few agents, but I no longer spend time going through the feed to see what agents are hoping someone writes.<br /><br />(Sometimes I secretly wonder if these are books that they themselves wish they had the time to write?)Timothy Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07514224628760035696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81156707897806271972016-02-17T16:09:01.294-05:002016-02-17T16:09:01.294-05:00Susan, I really like your idea about a wish list f...Susan, I really like your idea about a wish list for readers. Wouldn't that be an interesting way to nudge the market.<br /><br />I've seen MSWL and the various pitch events on Twitter and always wondered how useful they were as tools for authors to find agents. Several of you have helpfully weighed in on that so my curiosity is satisfied.<br /><br />Overall, I have found Twitter a useful tool for connecting with people who are also interested in writing and publishing. Plus lots of cute puppy and kitten photos.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23745204059977645742016-02-17T15:38:40.168-05:002016-02-17T15:38:40.168-05:00Been coming here for years, been writing for decad...Been coming here for years, been writing for decades, been a smart ass know it all, all my life and today, I learned something. <br />It's a good day.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52072967726627097302016-02-17T15:06:23.837-05:002016-02-17T15:06:23.837-05:00Brilliant information here. Thanks everyone.Brilliant information here. Thanks everyone.Marie McKayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11405271051226910312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40568898907568434992016-02-17T14:23:24.852-05:002016-02-17T14:23:24.852-05:00Since I had to google mswl, you can tell how much ...Since I had to google mswl, you can tell how much I've been using it to my advantage. Great info. <br /><br />I just hate it when you are looking at a potential agent's website, and all they list for the material they seek is 'fiction.' Huh? You represent FICTION? It's like when someone asks you what you do for a living and you say, 'I work in a building.' It doesn't give me any info to decide whether my ms is something they'd actually be interested in, much less to personalize the query letter. Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64080607695082610322016-02-17T13:46:08.041-05:002016-02-17T13:46:08.041-05:00Forgive me if someone's already mentioned this...Forgive me if someone's already mentioned this (only time to skim today), but if you hate twitter (or if it sucks all the writing time out of your day), you can use tweetdeck (tweetdeck.twitter.com). <br /><br />On tweetdeck you can set up columns and have multiple feeds based on your preferences. For example, I have a column for my notifications, one for each of my friends, one for each agent I stalk, and one for the #mswl hastag. I change things around frequently. That way I can hop on, scan the columns I want, and hop back off. Saves time.Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-34231212192308554152016-02-17T13:37:23.436-05:002016-02-17T13:37:23.436-05:00Racherin: I like tenqueries, too. It can give you ...Racherin: I like tenqueries, too. It can give you an eye into what the agents are thinking as they're reading queries - much like 'slush' or 'idol' workshops at conferences (these are sessions where the first couple pages of a work is read out loud, and the agents/editors on the panel will say where they stop reading and why.)<br /><br />Specifically, with tenqueries, you can see if an agent particularly likes or dislikes antiheroes or sex scenes or violence or science fiction with aliens. More generally, you can see what is being done too much, and you can see some of the pitfalls others have fallen into that you can now avoid (lack of clarity, wrong genre, etc.) Sometimes the agents will give more specifics than they say on their website (much like #MSWL), like "I do rep science fiction, but I prefer hard science to space opera" or "I might rep romance, but don't send me erotica (often with a link to an article that tells the difference)". <br /><br />I glance through these pages on Mswishlist.com (yes, they also put the tenqueries, etc., tweets there) while I drink my coffee first thing in the morning, before I'm lucid enough to actually do any work.)BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82891187960500169622016-02-17T13:27:10.146-05:002016-02-17T13:27:10.146-05:00I like #MSWL. Yes, sometimes the agents or editors...I like #MSWL. Yes, sometimes the agents or editors are too specific. Sometimes it may seem like they expect you to sit down and write that book today...<br /><br />But no. #MSWL is simply for writers to see, and if they have something that fits, then they can query more specifically. There are so many agents out there, and it can be hard to pinpoint which would be the best for your work - then BAMMO! You see they want what you got. Or you never thought about querying a certain agent because you didn't think they would like your work, then you see their #MSWL tweet and think, "Hey! They might like it!"<br /><br />As for "#MSWL vs website" - there is no 'vs'. The website is where you will always go to find out about an agent, their wants, and their guidelines. #MSWL just guides you to an agent (and their website). You will also take said agent through <a href="http://pred-ed.com" rel="nofollow">Preditors & Editors</a>, at the very least, before you query.<br /><br />#MSWL does not preclude the need for research. It just points you to an agent who might be interested in your work.<br /><br />As for the Twitter pitch parties - they can be fun and useful. They usually give you a 12- or 24-hour window to post your work. If you really want to post once per hour, then yes, you'll want to schedule that. <br /><br />Me, I think I've exhausted them. I've had some nibbles but no bites, and the nibbles have been fewer. The nibbles seem to be coming more from small publishers right now, and I'm not sure I want to go that route yet. Science fiction doesn't seem to be as popular in these parties. I might try #sffpit again, though, but I'll check to see what agents and publishers are participating first. If it's all the same ones, I won't bother. They've seen my pitches. They've had their chance. For the most part, I'm going to stick with querying for now. <br /><br />And pitch parties will never take the place of actual querying, anymore than pitch slams or pitch appointments at conferences will take the place of querying.<br /><br />Megan V: You missed #pitmatch, although that was on February 11, so it's over this year. :)BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46036222707246135202016-02-17T13:23:23.722-05:002016-02-17T13:23:23.722-05:00I also find the MSWL tag fun, for many reasons sai...I also find the MSWL tag fun, for many reasons said above. All the agents who have #MSWL'd YA fantasy that is NOT set in medieval Europe will be high on my list.<br /><br />I also think there's a fine line between squeezing a story to form and being informed about your genre and what's been DONE. Often themes emerge from a large clump of tweets. In my case, seeing agent reactions crystallized some thoughts I was having after reading about ten novels in my area in two weeks. I found parts of my WIP where I was being lazy. <br /><br />#tenqueries can be interesting for that reason, too. When four or five agents say "I've seen X too many times," I would personally be moved to either query in such a way that the brilliance of my take on X is apparent, and/or to make my take on X more brilliant. It doesn't make me neurotic to see agents or writers disparage elements of my story in the abstract.<br /><br />But maybe that's reflection of being early in my journey as a novelist. RachelErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510327163701754950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35398365007516700192016-02-17T13:05:04.084-05:002016-02-17T13:05:04.084-05:00Today's entry falls into the learn-something-e...Today's entry falls into the learn-something-everyday category. I had not heard of #MSWL before. Thanks to all for the education.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-423298077908212322016-02-17T13:03:11.095-05:002016-02-17T13:03:11.095-05:00I just love that #mswl is getting so much love tod...I just love that #mswl is getting so much love today!!!<br /><br />A short but worthy point about subject lines, some agents auto-tag incoming emails and one of the tags that I've heard have been used is the #mswl tag. It works best when this is in the subject line as Janet mentioned!<br /><br />Side note - Julie, I reached out to you on the Twitter machine. Let me know if you're able to lend a helping hand! <br /><br />Also, I miss commenting and participating every day around the reef! Hearing from other brilliant writers who hitch their wagon to a shark gives me a boatload of joy! Hopefully work slows down in March and I can connect more often once again! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279775404794792090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80479161757799968602016-02-17T12:41:41.156-05:002016-02-17T12:41:41.156-05:00While I'm sure many writers are lazy, the folk...While I'm sure many writers are lazy, the folks who come here sure aren't!<br /><br />Like others have described, Twitter is a tool in my arsenal. And as Dena mentioned, I have removed some agents from my lists when I assessed their demeanor via social media. I always always check the agency website first. Then I check for an individual agent's website (like how Janet has the blog here, separate from Fine Print). Then I check for interviews. Then I read Twitter. Then I check on Absolute Write.<br /><br />I was on an agency website yesterday which said "We are NOT looking for YA" and yet, two of their agent profiles on the same site said "Actively seeking ____ in YA".<br /><br />I was on another agency website which listed, in Submission guidelines, query letter (well ,paraphrased, they said "genre, word count, a description of your book, think jacket copy) and also wanted an author bio, a synopsis, and a submission history. Uh? You wanna know how many people have looked at it and sent me forms? Not responded at all? How many fulls requested? Or do you mean "Has it gone to an editor/publisher"?<br /><br />Sometimes, doing your due diligence means never knowing what's going on! ^^Jennifer R. Donohuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363886899308588391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76277309799834604352016-02-17T12:22:15.701-05:002016-02-17T12:22:15.701-05:00I don't mean to sound cynical.
Any source of ...I don't mean to sound cynical.<br /><br />Any source of information (especially online) is like a big store filled with things you *might* want, an awful lot you'd never buy, and somewhere in there is the thing you need.<br /><br />Twitter has a lot that is not my size. It's awright, I don't fit everyone else in the world either. (So I feel ZERO pressure to try to fit my work to others' tastes of the moment.)<br /><br />It's just like life: into every hashtag, a little dross must fall.<br /><br />We all have our rights to our preferences, methods, and standards, and agents certainly make no bones about theirs. For me to pretend I have none would not serve my work - any more than it would serve an agent not to use #MSWL et al to reach out.<br /><br />My process of elimination may be cynical or even snobbish. Some people think agents' methods are so. One thing we all have in common - we're exposed to breathtaking volumes of information every day. My means of winnowing out what I want to "hear" is faulty. But I don't mean it to be dismissive or cynical - any more than, I expect, most agents mean to be so themselves.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41199909867751308552016-02-17T12:01:20.276-05:002016-02-17T12:01:20.276-05:00I've looked at #MSWL mainly because I was curi...I've looked at #MSWL mainly because I was curious, and when I glanced at the specificity of what an agent was looking for, I thought it was helpful. <br /><br />An agency website's information is essentially static. It's formal, a representation of the collective bodies who work there. Some areas see changes throughout the year (adding new authors when books launch, or when awards are won), but all in all, it's meant to be the "presence" of a business. Like hanging out a tile.<br /><br />Twitter is a way to be more close, more personal and share what an agent is looking for. To me, it's a quick shout out to the world, "hey, I'd like this!" I.e. less formal way to share and very dynamic.<br /><br />That's my two cents - and I don't have a dog in this race, but just thought I'd share my thoughts.<br /><br />And also, this caught my eye. #ficfest which looks/sounds so much like fuck fest in our sub-header I had to comment On Topic so I could add that in.Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84564372511304158142016-02-17T11:51:55.888-05:002016-02-17T11:51:55.888-05:00One additional thing to mention, since I haven'...One additional thing to mention, since I haven't seen it brought out yet, is that we writers can get as specific as the agents doing a search for mswl. If you want to plug in a particular genre and see only tweets for that genre (as opposed to sifting through scores and scores of tweets that are meaningless to you) you can do it. Here, for example, is how you'd search for agents desiring crime fiction enough to tweet about it.<br /><br />http://mswishlist.com/mswl/crime<br /><br />Obviously, just plug in your genre in place of crime and read some tweets.John Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702305890462479118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67361753940477727672016-02-17T11:50:11.485-05:002016-02-17T11:50:11.485-05:00I love looking through the MSWLs, though sometimes...I love looking through the MSWLs, though sometimes it bothers me for the reasons others have said--it puts a lot of pressure on the writers to squeeze their novels into the narrow confines of what the agent is requesting in the hopes of attracting their attention. When I was querying, there were many agents who said, "here's a broad overview of what I have in mind, send it to me if you think it fits. I'll know what I'm looking for when I see it." I respected this--it wasn't too detailed that it felt like it was impossible to satisfy them and it made me think they might be a good fit for the story I wanted to tell. <br /><br />On the other hand, I wish there was a MSWL for readers (non-agents). That way we can say, "I'm dying to read a novelized version of the Russian fairytale 'Twelve Months'" or "'The Secret Garden' in Central Park? I'd buy that." True stories--I have a thousand ideas for books I want to read but don't necessarily want to write, including these. Maybe it would even give the industry some insight into what readers are actually craving--a different way of looking at the market and discovering the next big thing. <br /><br />Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05332570278984058081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78846854711524006392016-02-17T11:47:59.610-05:002016-02-17T11:47:59.610-05:00Adib,
As usual, you nailed it. Let's be frien...Adib,<br /><br />As usual, you nailed it. Let's be friends. I have sweet tea.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2483412805878473672016-02-17T11:28:17.784-05:002016-02-17T11:28:17.784-05:00Thanks for the answer, Janet. Sending some chocola...Thanks for the answer, Janet. Sending some chocolate your way. Or maybe cupcakes? <br /><br />I know someone brought up the 'lazy' factor. #MSWL isn't something that should/can replace good ol' research. It's an extra tool designed to help writers. <br /><br />And I use every tool at my disposal. Yes, it takes longer to query (after you check their site, check the AbsoluteWrite forums and Query Tracker comments to see the reply rate and other writers' experiences with that agent/agency, check Twitter to get a glimpse of their personality, stumble across their #MSWL and rejoice, and finally--finally--hit send). <br /><br />It might be going overboard--and it's tedious--but I don't want an agent, I want the right agent. And if that means putting in extra work, well, nothing's as bad as the editing phase. <br /><br />And I found my writing community and my lovely CPs through Twitter. So yeah, you guessed it, I'm a fan. (But I had an awful learning curve; Twitter's not that big in my country). <br /><br />PS: I've noticed my queries with #MSWL in the subject line not only get a faster reply, but they tend to have a higher success rate. Of course, the sample's a bit too small to give a definitive answer. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14564636542312858269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91109963467052526912016-02-17T11:23:36.759-05:002016-02-17T11:23:36.759-05:00Jennifer, you can find all the pitch contests list...Jennifer, you can find all the pitch contests listed here: https://johnrberkowitz.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/2016-pitch-contest-calendar/?platform=hootsuite<br /><br />I've just recently dipped my toe into the twitter pitch waters. <br />My early impressions are it's time consuming and invasive in the idea you have to submit at exact times and dates, which interfere's with an already tight schedule.<br /><br />It also seems to be frequented by the same agents who are ever-present in the popular writing circles, workshops, blogs etc. So my question is, how many times can you pitch the same handful of agents your mss before enough is enough? Especially if you have already sent them a query for your ms?<br /><br />Maybe I'm behind the times, but I hope this doesn't take over for standard querying, as emailing queries has taken over from mailing paper pages.<br /><br />Now, back to my hammer and chisel, I have some editing to do. ;)JAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16508076712432128621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-1632674903008814822016-02-17T10:59:20.521-05:002016-02-17T10:59:20.521-05:00Tomorrow? Bacon, of course.
It took me a long tim...Tomorrow? Bacon, of course.<br /><br />It took me a long time to "get" Twitter. I found it dull, the content meaningless self-promo and rather like a large, echoey, empty room. Yet everyone raved about it.<br /><br />Where were the interesting people? Where was the scintillating conversations?<br /><br />Then one night I had insomnia.<br /><br />Honestly, I delved into Twitter in hopes that it would bore me to sleep.<br /><br />Holy cow! All the interesting people are diurnally opposite to me.<br /><br />Can't y'all have insomnia instead? I gotta get up at 5am.Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.com