No salt needed
I take all advice with a grain of salt. Personal, professional. I accept what I need and leave the rest. I’m pretty good at sifting through and determining what works for me.
As I continue to inch toward the query process, I stockpile good information from the published authors, literary agents and publishers I read online and know in real life. I follow along closely as more than a handful of writer acquaintances and friend tally forth ahead of me…waiting to hear from agents, then waiting to hear from agents again, then waiting to hear from editors.
It’s exhausting to watch y’all do your thing, but the advice is worth more than many books or lectures combined. But when I happen upon some straightforward, no-nonsense — yet still nice — advice I’m all atwitter. Some bloggers have the nasty-gene. Some agents, though amusing and helpful, were mighty snarky. Holly Root, of The Waxman Agency, is just offering advice. And all of it is valid. I’m filing it away for future reference.
If you’re where I am, I hope it helps you too.
Need to pepper her list with some of your own thoughts? Go right ahead. Shake away.
Love this post. It’s just spicy enough to make the writer’s dish a little better.
I totally agree. Information from the beentheredonethat crowd is more valid than and accurate than anything else. I have friends who are successful writers and the one thing they all say is that the winds of the market are either blowing in your direction or they’re not. Trends are everything and the financial climate dictates it.
Very true. Opinions are like noses.
I’ve also noticed this “nasty gene.” The internet is a big place in which people can get lost and be anonymous, and while anonymous they can behave in any way they like without consequence. That makes the internet suck some days.
And I’m glad you found some good and helpful advice, minus bitchiness. Everybody thinks bitchiness is cute, until it’s aimed in their direction.
She’s covered alot here, I like her tone. I could pepper a few thoughts onto the list, just from experience.
-Keep queries short, to one page. It forces you to make each word & thought effective.
-I’ve found that e-queries elicit far quicker & positive response than snail queries.
P.S. And Good Luck!
Thanks Joanne, that’s a great reminder and a great point. I have a friend who got an agent thru a snail mail query though, so I guess it’s possible. I much prefer the idea of email queries, or one of those online submission forms some agencies have. Funny you mentioned a one-page query, over at Litpark there’s a new interview and the agent (oh geez, can’t think of his name) talked about giving a talk to writers and having someone storm out when he spoke about short queries. I am pretty sure it’s Litpark.com.
Zoe, the internet can bring out the nasties because people hid behind their monitors, even if they’re not anonymous. I recently got what I considered to be a ridiculous survey from someone who seems to be an author (not the qualifier there). I visited her site etc. and was going to shoot off an email about the ridiculous nature of what I saw and read, and then deleted it. That’s not my m.o. Who I am to comment on someone else’s ideas or choices?
Val, trends are so interesting too. But I’m not really the type to hitch my wagon to trend — are you? I mean great storytelling is always in fashion!! (Just a little optimism before bed, eh?)
Angie, I agree. I thought this post was basic, yet imperative. It was straightforward yet thorough.
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS!!!
Some agents like it when writers get out to writer’s conferences and meet them in person, especially if the writer did some research ahead of time and pitches a project that is up the agent’s alley. Keep in mind, an agent might meet tons of people at the conference, so you need to follow up after.
That said, I secured an agent through email and pointing them to my blog. Having a blogging presence is huge these days.