The numbers are in:
146 agents queried
72 responded so far
58 no’s
14 yes’s
This means that 19% of respondents have requested to see a full proposal! Considering that most agents claim a 90-95% rejection rate, I’m feeling pretty good about these numbers. The blitzkrieg approach to queries is paying off. Hot damn! I’m excited. Now it’s time to polish that proposal.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Somebody Loves Me!
Three positive responses in one day!
From Barbara Collins Rosenberg (on a lovely, cream-colored paper):
“I have received you query letter and would like to know more about your book…”
From Jeff Herman (of the famed Jeff Herman’s Guide):
“We apologize if this is a late response and understand that your work may no longer be available. But if it is we would be very happy to review it.”
From Miriam Altshuler (who I had queried two years ago about my memoir, which she requested to review but ultimately declined. It has yet to be published.):
“Thank you for your letter and it is nice to hear from you again. I would be pleased to read the first 50-100 pages of your book.” (she remembered me somehow!)
It feels so good to finally get some positive responses. After mailing out over a hundred queries, I am inevitably getting quite a sea of rejections back. It’s easy to start feeling down, but these invitations for a proposal are making me feel a bit more buoyant. Hope springs eternal.
From Barbara Collins Rosenberg (on a lovely, cream-colored paper):
“I have received you query letter and would like to know more about your book…”
From Jeff Herman (of the famed Jeff Herman’s Guide):
“We apologize if this is a late response and understand that your work may no longer be available. But if it is we would be very happy to review it.”
From Miriam Altshuler (who I had queried two years ago about my memoir, which she requested to review but ultimately declined. It has yet to be published.):
“Thank you for your letter and it is nice to hear from you again. I would be pleased to read the first 50-100 pages of your book.” (she remembered me somehow!)
It feels so good to finally get some positive responses. After mailing out over a hundred queries, I am inevitably getting quite a sea of rejections back. It’s easy to start feeling down, but these invitations for a proposal are making me feel a bit more buoyant. Hope springs eternal.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Frugal Rejection: Apologetic Agents
Now, a sampling of the “we’re sorry we couldn’t be more personal” phrases from the more self-conscious agents in my ample rejection pile:
From Dunham Literary:
“Moreover, we apologize that we cannot respond in a more personal manner.”
From Nancy Love Literary Agency:
“We apologize that, due to the high volume of submissions we receive, we could not include a personal note.”
From Ellen Geiger:
“I’m sorry that sheer volume prevents me from responding personally to your submission.”
It seems that most of the agents who apologize have printed their form letters on plain white paper and cut several small rejection letters out of one 8 x 11 sheet (as opposed to many agents, who have fancy, stiff, off-white paper and their own letterhead). In other words, these rejection letters look something like a note you would post on a message-board advertising that you are looking for a roommate—and not a formal letter from a fancy schmancy literary agency. By the same token, I do wonder why an agency would waste expensive paper on aspiring authors who don’t pass muster. I would probably use the thin white scrap-of-a-letter.
From Dunham Literary:
“Moreover, we apologize that we cannot respond in a more personal manner.”
From Nancy Love Literary Agency:
“We apologize that, due to the high volume of submissions we receive, we could not include a personal note.”
From Ellen Geiger:
“I’m sorry that sheer volume prevents me from responding personally to your submission.”
It seems that most of the agents who apologize have printed their form letters on plain white paper and cut several small rejection letters out of one 8 x 11 sheet (as opposed to many agents, who have fancy, stiff, off-white paper and their own letterhead). In other words, these rejection letters look something like a note you would post on a message-board advertising that you are looking for a roommate—and not a formal letter from a fancy schmancy literary agency. By the same token, I do wonder why an agency would waste expensive paper on aspiring authors who don’t pass muster. I would probably use the thin white scrap-of-a-letter.
Blue Ink Rejections
More blue-ink scrawled “we don’t represent your genre” messages…
From Scott Treimel Agency:
Ms. Write—
We represent authors of children’s books exclusively.
Best of luck,
Mary Leigh Krasnieuicz
(Oops. Don’t know how that one slipped through the cracks. Oh well, it happens.)
From Linda Konner:
Dear Ms. Write,
Thanks for getting in touch, but I handle only how-to books. Best of luck.
L. Konner
(I’m pretty sure that wasn’t clear from her entry. It would have saved us both the effort had she clarified what sort of books she represents.)
From Joan Raines (this writing is really sloppy):
Sorry, not for me.
J.
When I get hand-written notes, it makes me wonder if these agents aren’t getting as much mail as the other ones. If I received dozens of useless queries each week, I would almost certainly use a form letter. On the other hand, the blue ink method does save paper…
From Scott Treimel Agency:
Ms. Write—
We represent authors of children’s books exclusively.
Best of luck,
Mary Leigh Krasnieuicz
(Oops. Don’t know how that one slipped through the cracks. Oh well, it happens.)
From Linda Konner:
Dear Ms. Write,
Thanks for getting in touch, but I handle only how-to books. Best of luck.
L. Konner
(I’m pretty sure that wasn’t clear from her entry. It would have saved us both the effort had she clarified what sort of books she represents.)
From Joan Raines (this writing is really sloppy):
Sorry, not for me.
J.
When I get hand-written notes, it makes me wonder if these agents aren’t getting as much mail as the other ones. If I received dozens of useless queries each week, I would almost certainly use a form letter. On the other hand, the blue ink method does save paper…
Rejection #2: Memoir, Anyone?
From John A. Ware (Agent for John Krakauer, and also for Eric Brende, author of Better Off, a book about a year living in a Mennonite community with no “modern conveniences.”)
Scrawled in blue ink on top of my query letter:
“Sorry, no memoirs, categorically. Good luck with it.”
Well, my book is not exactly a memoir. In fact, I had chosen to query Mr. Ware because I felt that my book was very similar in genre to Eric Brende’s book, which was represented by Mr. Ware. Oh well, at least I was treated to a hand-written, thick-inked denial instead of the standard type-written form rejection. Still, agents, it’s not nice to lie. John Ware, you clearly don’t categorically deny memoirs.
Scrawled in blue ink on top of my query letter:
“Sorry, no memoirs, categorically. Good luck with it.”
Well, my book is not exactly a memoir. In fact, I had chosen to query Mr. Ware because I felt that my book was very similar in genre to Eric Brende’s book, which was represented by Mr. Ware. Oh well, at least I was treated to a hand-written, thick-inked denial instead of the standard type-written form rejection. Still, agents, it’s not nice to lie. John Ware, you clearly don’t categorically deny memoirs.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Rejection #1: Not Joining Barbara Kingsolver
My first rejections are beginning to file in, so I thought I'd share a few of them on the blog. Here's one from Ellen Geiger, of the Frances Goldin Literary Agency (which represents Barbara Kingsolver! Damn!):
Dear Author:
Thank you so much for sending your project to me for possible representation. I’m sorry that sheer volume prevents me from responding personally to your submission.
I am so busy these days that I take on very few new clients. In this case, I just didn’t feel your work was right for my list at this time. In this highly competitive environment, you need an agent who can represent you with 100% enthusiasm.
I wish you every success in placing the book.
Sincerely,
Ellen Geiger
All in all, a pretty nice rejection: well-written, straightforward, apologetic but not overly so. Thanks, Ellen.
Dear Author:
Thank you so much for sending your project to me for possible representation. I’m sorry that sheer volume prevents me from responding personally to your submission.
I am so busy these days that I take on very few new clients. In this case, I just didn’t feel your work was right for my list at this time. In this highly competitive environment, you need an agent who can represent you with 100% enthusiasm.
I wish you every success in placing the book.
Sincerely,
Ellen Geiger
All in all, a pretty nice rejection: well-written, straightforward, apologetic but not overly so. Thanks, Ellen.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Finding Agents to Query
Here are some useful websites for agent listings:
http://www.agentquery.com/
http://everyonewhosanyone.com/agus1.html
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/browse.htmlhttp://www.mediabistro.com/content/archives/pitchinganagent.asp
Remember, if you’re on a budget, the 2006 Writers Market (or Jeff Herman) can work just as well as the 2007 version. There might be a few new agents each year, but:
a) you can generally find them online,
b) unless you get Writer’s Market right when it’s published, those new agents (with a special symbol alongside their entry, announcing that they’re new) are going to be deluged with query letters,
c) most of the (good, well-established, well-connected) agents are the same from year-to-year,
d) you’re supporting used bookstores (which are almost always independent),
e) and besides, if you’re sending out 100 queries, chances are you’re going to get some bites anyway, even if you miss a couple of newbies. (Save your money for stamps!)
I do recommend buying a book, and not just relying on online entries. A book is a good, quick way to get your list started.
Most websites have very simple listings of agents – just name and address. Books often have more information about the individual agencies, and they save you some time trying to track down additional information about submissions guidelines and preferred genres. (Writers Market and Jeff Herman both include how to query specific agents and what sorts of books those agents represent.)
http://www.agentquery.com/
http://everyonewhosanyone.com/agus1.html
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/browse.htmlhttp://www.mediabistro.com/content/archives/pitchinganagent.asp
Remember, if you’re on a budget, the 2006 Writers Market (or Jeff Herman) can work just as well as the 2007 version. There might be a few new agents each year, but:
a) you can generally find them online,
b) unless you get Writer’s Market right when it’s published, those new agents (with a special symbol alongside their entry, announcing that they’re new) are going to be deluged with query letters,
c) most of the (good, well-established, well-connected) agents are the same from year-to-year,
d) you’re supporting used bookstores (which are almost always independent),
e) and besides, if you’re sending out 100 queries, chances are you’re going to get some bites anyway, even if you miss a couple of newbies. (Save your money for stamps!)
I do recommend buying a book, and not just relying on online entries. A book is a good, quick way to get your list started.
Most websites have very simple listings of agents – just name and address. Books often have more information about the individual agencies, and they save you some time trying to track down additional information about submissions guidelines and preferred genres. (Writers Market and Jeff Herman both include how to query specific agents and what sorts of books those agents represent.)
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