tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post4084475132844615383..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Query Rant: why you really really really need to understand the rules are there to HELP youJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17011021244669819032015-01-10T12:15:00.355-05:002015-01-10T12:15:00.355-05:00This is why I will never, ever send you a query le...This is why I will never, ever send you a query letter because I have read your guidelines and know for a carved-in-stone fact that you do not rep YA. But just so you know, if you did rep YA I would query you. And I love your writing contests. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08697166619478748131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3396473227197935752015-01-09T20:33:21.635-05:002015-01-09T20:33:21.635-05:00One agent asked for my favourite sentence. Really?...One agent asked for my favourite sentence. Really?Gingermollymarilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684318210445109786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46714239366119196172015-01-09T20:27:31.633-05:002015-01-09T20:27:31.633-05:00Ms. Shark, you must have been thinking "Wtf!&...Ms. Shark, you must have been thinking "Wtf!" That's like driving without a car.Gingermollymarilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684318210445109786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46048584512465757672015-01-08T16:52:23.985-05:002015-01-08T16:52:23.985-05:00I went a little overboard with the bio section of ...I went a little overboard with the bio section of my first attempt at a query too. I think I got confused, and thought 'why are you the best person to write this novel' meant 'how did you come to be the person who wrote this novel?'<br /><br />Now I know the answer is 'coz no one else did.'<br /><br />Although I may not be the best person to *finish* this novel... *trudges back to the MS*Kallihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11272078032578217903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90517629740135444992015-01-08T10:05:44.077-05:002015-01-08T10:05:44.077-05:00Colin, I had the exact same thought when I first r...Colin, I had the exact same thought when I first read King's <i>On Writing.</i> For one thing, these days you gotta finish the book before querying. Been a while since he's had to query, huh? :)Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03365582623380288038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53303289020909515802015-01-08T01:57:23.399-05:002015-01-08T01:57:23.399-05:00Ah, Colin, if only we always knew what the 'ri...Ah, Colin, if only we always knew what the 'right' thing was *grin*.AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53530940660771932132015-01-07T22:53:44.021-05:002015-01-07T22:53:44.021-05:00AJ: I tell my kids if they behaved properly all th...AJ: I tell my kids if they behaved properly all the time, and always did the right thing, I wouldn't need to make rules. I think that applies to querying too... :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28753306851411770642015-01-07T22:11:01.004-05:002015-01-07T22:11:01.004-05:00"rules are there to HELP you"
Just had ..."rules are there to HELP you"<br /><br />Just had that argument with my kids this morning.AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78843172063087926312015-01-07T20:30:06.657-05:002015-01-07T20:30:06.657-05:00Well, I thought the question about what did you lo...Well, I thought the question about what did you love about your book was charming. I actually thought it was an awesome departure from "Just the facts, ma'am."<br /><br />I'm sure it would be no deal breaker if someone didn't put it in, but it was kind of fun to sit down and think about it. I think the agent wanted to hear the writer's passion.<br /><br />Dear Father in Heaven, I love scouting agents. It's like being at a huge select horse sale and someone says, "OK, darlin', pick a good one."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91747442365532833582015-01-07T18:53:56.696-05:002015-01-07T18:53:56.696-05:00I'm honestly stuck with the conclusion that th...I'm honestly stuck with the conclusion that this guy was querying to see whether Janet was free for lunch. Querying a novel? Not to go for the cheap, vogue snark, but truly this is doing it wrong. It's a little difficult not to leap to the conclusion that Snowflake got a little sure of himself.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39905765976925820642015-01-07T17:49:01.679-05:002015-01-07T17:49:01.679-05:00... except for this quote. From Barbara Poelle'...... except for this quote. From Barbara Poelle's column in the current (Feb 2015) Writers' Digest. I was going to Tweet it, but it's too long:<br /><br />"Saying an agent only finds a publisher and negotiates a contract is kind of like saying a spouse just buys you a ring and then hangs out with you until you're dead."<br /><br />Shutting up again. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56897771657950225432015-01-07T16:27:43.175-05:002015-01-07T16:27:43.175-05:00I know, Andrea. I mean, this is supposed to be a b...I know, Andrea. I mean, this is supposed to be a business letter, not the SATs or some literature exam! Sorry, this is supposed to be Janet's rant, not mine.<br /><br />And I'm supposed to be shutting up. For real now, folks. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33128021578315942152015-01-07T15:32:39.656-05:002015-01-07T15:32:39.656-05:00Really, Colin, "what did you love about writi...Really, Colin, "what did you love about writing this book?" ?<br />Not come across that one yet, just the "what makes you the person to write it?" Which probably makes sense for non-fiction, but I've seen this question for fiction submissions too. What makes me the person to write this story... well... God told me to write it? Wrong answer? <br />"Best" guidelines I've come across so far were to write a decent query because "if you can't even take the trouble to write a good query, it doesn't say much for you as a writer." Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328411110801244620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63262928506709422292015-01-07T13:53:59.609-05:002015-01-07T13:53:59.609-05:00OK, so I'm breaking the shut up rule to say......OK, so I'm breaking the shut up rule to say...<br /><br />Hi Julie!<br /><br />Thank you!! Having been in the query trenches more than once, I am very familiar with the tenor of agent submission requests these days: everything from the reasonable (i.e., Ms. Shark and her ilk) to the--well, let's be kind--not-quite-so-reasonable ("What did you love about writing this book?"). This is why I'm interested to know what querying was like back before communication was cheap and fast. I really do appreciate your sharing. :)<br /><br />Now back to shutting up.Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6434936063050307622015-01-07T13:44:33.758-05:002015-01-07T13:44:33.758-05:00Colin,
In a former life, I was querying the suspe...Colin,<br /><br />In a former life, I was querying the suspense. It was about a young cowboy who was a cutting horse farm manager. He gets suspicious when several champion cutting horses die under mysterious circumstances and quits to disappear into the rodeo circuit. His boss, who has mob connections, realizes he may have information the horses were being killed for insurance money and they've substituted at least one champion horse, so he hires hit men to kill the cowboy. <br /><br />It's not that boring, I actually had a decent pitch back then even if it was a terrible query. <br /><br />This was all taking place around 1990. I was also writing children's books for my youngest and trying to find an agent for them.<br /><br />I did everything wrong in that query. Dear sir or madam. I listed everything I had and everything I was thinking of writing. Actually, the only thing I got right was the pitch and I included the SASE. <br /><br />And phone calls and letters came pouring in. I was going broke printing off partial and fulls, shipping them off and paying for the return. Back then I was taking in ironing for extra money,and at $8 a dozen, it didn't pay for a lot of copying on good quality paper and shipping, etc, but I had a dream. I didn't have my posse then. I was participating in a workshop, but my writing was still rough as a cob. The horrible query was getting requests, but the agents were rejecting the writing, and rightly so.<br /><br />I did land dream agent for the children's book. I actually hung up on her because I thought it was a joke.<br /><br />I eventually got two new agents in their shiny new agency who didn't think that much was wrong with the book, but could I hurry and get started on another project?<br /><br />Things happened and I parted ways, most reluctantly with the fabulous children's agent. She was a doll. I stopped writing for years.<br /><br />Today if I pulled that dear sir or madam crap it would be an automatic delete. Plus all the other mistakes that would have been delete worthy.<br /><br />Go read the #askagent, #tenqueries, #querytip hashtags on twitter sometime. It drives agents nuts when people don't follow simple directions. You'll also learn the other little idiosyncrasies they don't or do like. One agent would love to see people put in their queries what is their favorite part of writing their book. Who would have guessed?<br /><br />I got a rejection, I know it's considered bad form to talk about rejections when you're querying, from an agent I truly thought Far Rider was ideal for. Mea culpa. I mean this seemed like a match made in heaven. <br /><br />Form rejection but thank all that is holy, it was not a no response means no interest. I followed all the directions to the letters. Well, except for the one agent who faithfully responds to every query in x weeks and has not responded to me, but I did add an extra letter to his name. Oops.<br /><br />So, I wonder. Was it the query? Was it the story? Was it the handsome pirate? Was it the 147,000 words? (I recently was advised no agent will look at anything over 100,000 words and 120,000 words is stretching it for epic fantasy.) <br /><br />I don't know why she rejected. It just wasn't for her for whatever reason, but it danged sure wasn't because I didn't follow directions. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81556442827494990432015-01-07T13:00:20.667-05:002015-01-07T13:00:20.667-05:00I intend to start querying next month (once my rea...I intend to start querying next month (once my readers tell me....anything....anything at all) and it's actually a relief to read this kind of thing. My query letter isn't <i>turrible</i>, that I can tell, and especially since I have no publication credits I HAVE to talk about the book! Jennifer R. Donohuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363886899308588391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64548801742470484762015-01-07T11:24:13.570-05:002015-01-07T11:24:13.570-05:00Ah. See? Now I've instilled a bit of paranoi...Ah. See? Now I've instilled a bit of paranoia here. I'm blaming Angie.<br /><br />*stares at Angie*<br /><br />I mean, honestly? Since when could I ever shut up?<br /><br />Carolynn, my dear, it's gonna be a cold one here too. I don't think anyone's escaping it. 12 tonight, and wind chill will make it sub-zero something. I just planted pansies too. Will have to cover them. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24206896459940454582015-01-07T09:32:49.659-05:002015-01-07T09:32:49.659-05:00Wow. I know it is so hard for us writers but you a...Wow. I know it is so hard for us writers but you agents have it super hard as well. I think I'd run screaming from my desk if I were in your position. Just was very humbled by your work load. Good luck janet! Still amazed you keep up with the blog and grateful.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08811437987574748865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87392243531736686422015-01-07T08:59:06.396-05:002015-01-07T08:59:06.396-05:00Carolynn: I meant in the years since 2000. I know,...Carolynn: I meant in the years since 2000. I know, we non-Millennials are so used to thinking of "turn of the century" as 1900+, but, along with using a single space after a period, I'm trying to keep up with the times. :)<br /><br />And I too broke a rule. I was supposed to be shutting up. Shutting up now. Really Really. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45277847936106653912015-01-07T08:44:43.858-05:002015-01-07T08:44:43.858-05:00Colin,
"I'd be interested to know how mu...Colin, <br />"I'd be interested to know how much querying has changed even since the turn of the century--a question for another day, perhaps."<br /> <br />Which century my friend?<br /><br />The last one was only a few years ago. If you want to know about the previous one I could probably, because of personal experience and age (not quite), relate the changes, but because I promised myself to only comment once today, I will hold off. <br />See, I already broke a rule. <br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-1674312001260313392015-01-07T08:39:30.043-05:002015-01-07T08:39:30.043-05:00Ellipsis: I think it's a matter of mutual resp...Ellipsis: I think it's a matter of mutual respect. Agents need to respect writers enough to NOT make them jump through unnecessary hoops (or make them feel like they have to jump through hoops) just to get their query read. Writers need to respect the fact that most agents don't just work 9-5, and much of their ms/query reading happens during "off hours." For this reason, writers need to respect basic submission guidelines that are there to make sure the agent sees what s/he needs to see to properly and quickly evaluate your project.<br /><br />OK. I'm shutting up now. Really. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11288413930326266732015-01-07T08:37:08.165-05:002015-01-07T08:37:08.165-05:00You nailed it E Flood.
Every time I pull into the...You nailed it E Flood. <br />Every time I pull into the shopping center parking lot there is some yahoo who always parks in the fire-lane in front of the drugstore to run in to pick up a script. (Usually there’s a line so the car sits for quite a while.) It’s a no parking zone, yellow curb, signs everywhere but that driver thinks the rules do not apply to him/her. The arrogance and entitlement of that kind of thinking ticks me off.<br /> <br />I guess some previously published writers believe they are above the basics. I’ve had a gazillion columns, op-eds and articles published and you know what, I have never parked along the yellow curb. My car may be parked on the line or I take up extra space in the slot next to me but it’s not because I think I have the right, it’s because the stupid stick hit me that day.<br /><br />Oh, and Donna, I could share a couple of goofy seagull stories but not today. It’s so cold out there, their webs are frozen to the driftwood. <br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30940657430131451072015-01-07T08:32:43.027-05:002015-01-07T08:32:43.027-05:00OK, I wasn't going to say anything today but.....OK, I wasn't going to say anything today but...<br /><br />The ONLY fault I can find with Stephen King's ON WRITING is toward the end where he's giving advice on how to get an agent. To sum up, his advice goes something like this:<br /><br />* Get some publishing credits (e.g., stories in magazines)<br />* Start writing your novel<br />* Look up agents in literary guides/mags (e.g., Writers' Digest)<br />* Write to agents in your genre giving them your publication credits, a brief idea of what the novel you're working on is about, and offer to let him/her see samples of your work.<br /><br />Maybe that worked in 1999, but today? Now, my edition of the book is not the very latest, so I hope this section has been updated. If not, I fear people may actually listen to Stephen King rather than go online and research what agents want now. Mr. King's advice in the rest of the book will really help you write a novel. But when it comes to querying, from what I understand, his advice will guarantee a form rejection.<br /><br />[Actually, as a sidebar, I'd be interested to know how much querying has changed even since the turn of the century--a question for another day, perhaps.]Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52336973419165019072015-01-07T08:11:33.538-05:002015-01-07T08:11:33.538-05:00So the bottom line is that while the writer's ...So the bottom line is that while the writer's not a beggar at the banquet of publishing (who said that again?), neither is the agent.<br /><br />It all boils down to that feeling of being too good for the rules, which is almost never the case, especially when you think you are.Ellipsis Floodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03097098062834873232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65875812169282224962015-01-07T08:01:11.565-05:002015-01-07T08:01:11.565-05:00You're last line about thinking they didn'...You're last line about thinking they didn't have to was exactly what I thought. If nothing was provided on the new project, it seems the querier decided his previous successes would speak for themselves and carry him to you on a tidal wave where the both of you would then frolic in the surf, drink Mai Tai cocktails and share a laugh or two at the antics of the goofy seagulls.<br /><br />I bet he will wonder to the end of time why he received that form rejection. Lordy, I'm too paranoid to assume anything. <br /><br />And, as an aside, your description of your first of the year busyness has settled me down as I've been in a bit of a hold pattern since before the holidays.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com