tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post4505938988611352907..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Addressing Your QueryBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-75053188764559032392010-11-10T19:32:33.529-05:002010-11-10T19:32:33.529-05:00I tend to use just the person's full name, no ...I tend to use just the person's full name, no Mr. or Mrs. (i.e. Dear Jack Johnson or Dear Oprah Winfrey...).<br /><br />If you use Mr. or Mrs., you have to make sure you know the gender of the person. In my job, I got letters addressed to Mr. + my last name, even though I'm a woman, and that was very irritating. I ended up with a negative opinion of the author of such correspondence.RC Writer Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07825097243026042234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-14315810156122273582010-11-08T22:33:49.029-05:002010-11-08T22:33:49.029-05:00Thanks. A question I'd often pondered.Thanks. A question I'd often pondered.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57077844641379584542010-11-08T20:17:50.443-05:002010-11-08T20:17:50.443-05:00Even for Marilyn Monroe, it was "Mr." Pr...Even for Marilyn Monroe, it was "Mr." President, thank you.GhostFolk.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942600698461250382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-72078295256053575452010-11-08T15:25:55.015-05:002010-11-08T15:25:55.015-05:00I always stick to Mr./Ms. until the agent refers t...I always stick to Mr./Ms. until the agent refers to me by my first name, at which point (if I feel comfortable with it too) I switch to their first name.<br /><br />It's amazing though how such little details can be the cause of such worry and concern. I totally do this too--obsess over smaller details to try and make sure everything is perfect. Maybe it's because we have so little control once our queries/manuscripts leave our hands, that we want to make sure we've controlled the heck out of what we can.Meagan Spoonerhttp://meaganspooner.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-48782557640932540862010-11-08T12:13:02.305-05:002010-11-08T12:13:02.305-05:00I agree with Phoenix. That's standard business...I agree with Phoenix. That's standard business etiquette, too.Phoebe Northhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08922801801009495791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-8248378493091423252010-11-08T11:48:24.339-05:002010-11-08T11:48:24.339-05:00Miss Manners points out that Ted Kennedy used to r...Miss Manners points out that Ted Kennedy used to refer to John F Kennedy in public as "Mr. President." Whatever you think of the man's politics, the heightened formality showed respect for the office of the presidency and sounded classy.<br /><br />I take the same tack with writing to agents or editors. Until it's been made clear that they are not Mr. Smith or Ms. Smith, they get the honorific as an act of respect. It's much nicer to hear "Oh, please, call me Jane" than it is to hear "Oh, please, call me Ms. Smith."Jane Lebakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00851954297667846546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-88590440125551946852010-11-08T11:29:28.852-05:002010-11-08T11:29:28.852-05:00agree with Phoenix @9:50 -- I just mirror what the...agree with Phoenix @9:50 -- I just mirror what they do.<br /><br />If someone calls me Ms. then I address them as Ms. I'm pretty casual in real life but if they aren't that's fine with me, and I'll adapt accordingly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-53512780406798006302010-11-08T10:49:32.275-05:002010-11-08T10:49:32.275-05:00I do the same thing as Phoenix; I query with '...I do the same thing as Phoenix; I query with 'Ms or Mr', but if they respond by addressing me by my first name, then I respond in kind. I certainly don't feel comfortable addressing someone by title if they write me by opening, "Hey Fawn!" :) <br /><br />As an editor, I often go out of my way to request/address writers by their first names after the initial contact, because I'd prefer they feel comfortable with me enough to do so. If they continue to 'Ms' at me, I will definitely ask them to please address me by my first name. <br /><br />@April - you're only obligated if the agent asked for an exclusive. Otherwise, don't stop querying.Sarah J. MacManushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03430266551248332700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-84351232181710621042010-11-08T09:53:38.585-05:002010-11-08T09:53:38.585-05:00In any given publishing company, everyone goes by ...In any given publishing company, everyone goes by first names all the way up to the CEO, so when I first started querying, I did the same. Jessica, Kristin, etc. More and more blogs said not to do this including a few that I queried, so I stepped back to a more formal Ms. Faust. Then I ran into one who absolutely hated a beginning salutation of dear, since we did not know each other and how could we be dear to one another?<br /><br />Now I start all my queries Hello Mr./Ms. [last name]<br /><br />I really don't want to devote the research to keep from offending someone just so I can prove that I actually do know the name of the person I'm querying. The meat of the query is below and not whether I said dear or not.Joseph L. Selbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16629531390894108695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9931210468301352542010-11-08T09:50:38.839-05:002010-11-08T09:50:38.839-05:00She addressed me by first name in request for my p...<i>She addressed me by first name in request for my partial</i><br /><br />For requests, I always take my cue from the agent or editor. If they address ME by first name, I address THEM by first name. If they address me as Ms. Sullivan, I address them by surname, too.Phoenix Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03290349031002504007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-44634148347117684682010-11-08T09:46:48.412-05:002010-11-08T09:46:48.412-05:00I have always used the formal Mr. or Ms. with quer...I have always used the formal Mr. or Ms. with queries, partial and full requests or any other business letter. It's business.<br /><br />I would never be so informal as Dear Jane. Until the agent asked me specifically to do so.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-11217384349033358132010-11-08T09:45:57.649-05:002010-11-08T09:45:57.649-05:00April
Absolutely do not stop querying now. You&#...April<br /><br />Absolutely do not stop querying now. You're just at the beginning. You have no idea how much attention this agent is going to give your writing. Chances are, she'll look at it for about thirty seconds or a minute and toss it. I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic. Keep querying, do not stop until you have an agent. good luck, seriouslyhappy jackasshttp://www,brendanmcnallyauthor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-76195013864455610352010-11-08T09:42:30.472-05:002010-11-08T09:42:30.472-05:00Hello, I was wondering if you could answer a best-...Hello, I was wondering if you could answer a best-practice question for me. I have an agent who has requested to see my manuscript. Should I stop querying other agents until this other agent has passed on my work? I'm not quite sure what my ethical obligation is in this situation.<br /><br />Thank you,<br />AprilAprilnoreply@blogger.com