tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post4458381866907836620..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Another Submission CountBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-15300237858611910422008-07-19T19:03:00.001-04:002008-07-19T19:03:00.001-04:00"Julie - I'm with you. I've been told not to send ..."Julie - I'm with you. I've been told not to send thank you notes, since it becomes one thing the agent has to open.<BR/><BR/>Must re-think. :)"<BR/><BR/>I've come to the conclusion I need to start hanging around agent blogs I plan on submitting to when the time comes. They quite frequently will state what their preferences are beyond the standard submission guidelines.<BR/><BR/>While I think most are forgiving enough to ignore a mistake if they love the query, why make more mistakes than you have to?Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-7793475270859219752008-07-19T19:03:00.000-04:002008-07-19T19:03:00.000-04:00Hmm, I wasn't aware of the First Novel bit either....Hmm, I wasn't aware of the First Novel bit either. I always put "this is my first" even though it's not. Why? Because I'm unpublished. I guess I'll simply keep my query letter silent on the matter from here on out.<BR/><BR/>I've written 5 novels in the past 4 years. The first two I only did limited querying and learned about the publishing biz. The third I queried a bit and had some interest.<BR/><BR/>I'm querying the 4th novel now. I feel better about understanding the biz better with all the blog reading and research I've done on individual agents. Meanwhile, I've finished outlining my sixth novel and will start polishing my fifth as I await the rejections for my 4th to start pourining in!<BR/><BR/>Wheee.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920097731375075684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-12508135805068133262008-07-19T15:54:00.000-04:002008-07-19T15:54:00.000-04:00I find it interesting when agents say that they tu...I find it interesting when agents say that they turn down projects because they've been done before. I really do believe that all stories have been told-but it is in the telling and exploration of character that makes one story rise above the others. I learned this querying. You can't just write a decent query, you need one that showcases your writing as well as demonstrates what makes your story unique. It is all in what you bring to the table. It is all in the writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-37266471474946098502008-07-19T12:33:00.000-04:002008-07-19T12:33:00.000-04:00Julie - I'm with you. I've been told not to send ...Julie - I'm with you. I've been told not to send thank you notes, since it becomes one thing the agent has to open.<BR/><BR/>Must re-think. :)<BR/><BR/>Thanks Jessica for the post and Kim for the response in the comments.Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04521384704019863926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-77437348002791346842008-07-19T09:48:00.000-04:002008-07-19T09:48:00.000-04:00It actually leaves even a worse impression if you ...<B>It actually leaves even a worse impression if you tell me that this is your first book AND you've spent years polishing it. </B><BR/><BR/>Illuminating response, Kim. I'm not sure if I've ever read this before on any query letter do's-and-don'ts articles, but it makes sense. And it's one of the smaller mistakes that might be more easily made, too.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the posts!Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-15949761395408531912008-07-19T07:41:00.000-04:002008-07-19T07:41:00.000-04:00"And 5 of you were very, very sweet and sent thank..."And 5 of you were very, very sweet and sent thank-you emails after receiving my response. Thank you."<BR/><BR/>Interesting. I was told not to send a thank you as it just irritates agents with more e-mail. *Makes note once again about all agents being different.*Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-81259763157186232742008-07-19T00:24:00.000-04:002008-07-19T00:24:00.000-04:00All the agents SAY they're looking for something t...All the agents SAY they're looking for something truly original, but in reality, they pass on original concepts because they don't fit in with what has sold before.<BR/><BR/>Most agents are herders, too.<BR/><BR/>But when one vanguard agent takes a chance and breaks out with a winning new concept, the floodgates open and the copycats rush in for the next few years.<BR/><BR/>Other agents simply lie in wait like a cat and pounce when they see some small press newb blazing up the Amazon charts. But what agents don't do is take a chance on new material. "Not right for us" means "I don't think I can make money with this."<BR/><BR/>You've got to either find someone who belives they can make money with your book, or else start making money with it yourself until they come to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9906947263554639622008-07-18T21:14:00.000-04:002008-07-18T21:14:00.000-04:00It must be so difficult to ever find an original s...It must be so difficult to ever find an original story after reading such a volume of ideas... Colleen Lindsay over at Swivet usually comments on the trends (autism, unicorns, etc.) that eerily appear in query letters at the same time. <BR/><BR/>What an odd world publishing is!Gabriellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-63523188840722020802008-07-18T16:22:00.000-04:002008-07-18T16:22:00.000-04:00Thanks Keri and Kim. Like Kristin, I've read vario...Thanks Keri and Kim. Like Kristin, I've read various things about what to include in the elusive third paragraph, but examples always help.<BR/><BR/>My personal situation prevents me from joining any physical critique groups. I'm part of a small online group, as well as a large forum, but those don't strike me as the types of things an agent wants to know about. For now I'll stick with the happy to share bit.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-12990077004908014492008-07-18T15:53:00.000-04:002008-07-18T15:53:00.000-04:00That's interesting Kristin. I'm only familiar with...That's interesting Kristin. I'm only familiar with groups you join to better learn your craft (obviously:O) and other things such as promotion.Keri Fordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03342480359177235075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-81047873339033255972008-07-18T15:23:00.000-04:002008-07-18T15:23:00.000-04:00In my opinion, if this is the first book you've ev...In my opinion, if this is the first book you've ever written and you don't belong to any writing groups, haven't won any awards, etc., then don't say anything. Because, honestly, there aren't any credentials worth noting. I'm much more interested in the book and why it's marketable. Leave your letter at that. <BR/><BR/>And numdlmum...<BR/>It actually leaves even a worse impression if you tell me that this is your first book AND you've spent years polishing it. We're always looking to build careers, not sell one shot wonders. So if it's taken you a long time to finish this first book, we'll be concerned about how productive you can be, and what kind of career you'll really be able to build.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-54574902656795264612008-07-18T14:55:00.000-04:002008-07-18T14:55:00.000-04:00Seconding Melanie's question. I have some ideas b...Seconding Melanie's question. I have some ideas but love hearing different people's takes on this.<BR/><BR/>Keri--if the writer has never published/won awards/do anything, they might not belong to any formal writing groups. (Some require at least short story credits to join, although it varies by group and genre.) Of course, this doesn't mean the writer isn't fully capable and publishable, just that they might be very early in their writing career and not have much to note there yet.Kristin Laughtinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01536556357622503501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-32012831622200299862008-07-18T14:44:00.000-04:002008-07-18T14:44:00.000-04:00Hi, numdlmom. Here's the link to a post about 'fir...Hi, numdlmom. Here's the link to a post about 'first novels'<BR/><BR/><A>http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-much-to-tell.html</A><BR/><BR/><BR/>Melanie, that last paragraph is a great place to put any writing groups you belong to. Mine is usually just a couple of sentences saying:<BR/>I'm a member of RWA,(then I list all the chapters I belong to). The full manuscript is available upon request.<BR/><BR/>And that's about it that I put in. If I'm not asked to include pages, I'll add a ditty saying a sample of this manuscript is available at my website (and then give a link to the site)Keri Fordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03342480359177235075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-46118097599548218702008-07-18T12:11:00.000-04:002008-07-18T12:11:00.000-04:00Lots of helpful information for any writer looking...Lots of helpful information for any writer looking for representation. <BR/><BR/>Thanks, Jessica, for the time and effort you put into these posts.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Kim, for hanging in there with me.Loraleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03642869592750484556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57974025177977305692008-07-18T11:21:00.000-04:002008-07-18T11:21:00.000-04:00Why does "first novel" not work for you? An autho...Why does "first novel" not work for you? An author could work, hone and edit a first novel for years before querying. It may be brilliant, but if an agent prejudges it based on the use of "first novel" in a query letter, what is an author suppose to do?Debra L Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15825531924522383449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-65967977005612108792008-07-18T10:55:00.000-04:002008-07-18T10:55:00.000-04:00I understand your logic on not wanting to know if ...I understand your logic on not wanting to know if it's a first novel, but what should a writer put in the paragraph that's supposed to cite writing credentials? If I've never published, haven't won any awards, and it IS my first novel, is it better to not say anything?Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-37840699819424084362008-07-18T10:24:00.000-04:002008-07-18T10:24:00.000-04:00If I were an agent, I would count reviewing querie...If I were an agent, I would count reviewing queries one of those parts of the job I dreaded. It might be fun for a week to see new ideas, but it sounds like enough bad stuff gets through that it would make me pull my hair out!<BR/><BR/>BTW: I now know you hate the words "first novel" but I didn't know that months ago when I queried, and you still requested my manuscript. It's nice to know some mistakes aren't the kiss of death!Heidi Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420802651029097379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-74796328431143193372008-07-18T10:12:00.000-04:002008-07-18T10:12:00.000-04:00Thanks for doing this. I always find it interesti...Thanks for doing this. I always find it interesting to see what the mail pile looks like at an agents desk. This sort of post never gets old for me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-88701696695221154062008-07-18T08:36:00.000-04:002008-07-18T08:36:00.000-04:00I agree with Mark Terry on this -- I can barely ge...I agree with Mark Terry on this -- I can barely get through my own writing stuff, I honestly don't know how agents do it sometimes. I got tired just reading that!<BR/><BR/>BUT, re: "...I realize I don't specifically say on the Web site that I don't represent YA, but I don't..." <BR/><BR/>Why NOT state on the website?<BR/><BR/>The community of kidlit authors really do try so hard to abide by the rules.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66630023493191380202008-07-18T08:33:00.000-04:002008-07-18T08:33:00.000-04:00Sort of reinforces a thought I've had before: I do...Sort of reinforces a thought I've had before: I don't think I'd enjoy being a literary agent.Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.com