Tag Archives: literary agent

May 13, 2013 · 10:48 am

Writing Queries: Three Tools for Success

1245687934448019525Minduka_Present_Blue_Pack.svg.medHere are some things you can do to give your query its best chance at doing it’s job!

1. Start by writing an impeccably good query letter. Um, really? That’s not such helpful advice. Yes, really. Here’s how to do it: Address it to the correct person (without anything smarmy, like “Dear respected agent”); include a snazzy intro paragraph that includes genre and word count; write a clean, quick synopsis with no spoilers and which leaves some unanswered questions; make sure your bio is short, sweet, and inclusive; sign off professionally and make sure all your contact information follows your name. Yeah, well what constitues “snazzy”?

2. In your intro paragraph, have that first sentence start with a fantastic hook. What’s a hook? It’s a one to two sentence teaser or elevator pitch. Like a Tweet, you know? Minus hash tags, of course. Something that will catch an agent’s eye (but not in a weird or scary way). How do I know if I’m being weird or scary? I’m not answering that.

3. Write a great manuscript. Aw, come on! You always say that! Yes, yes I do. Because honestly, even if you write the most kick ass query letter in the world, if your manuscript isn’t great (not just good… great) it’s always going to be a pass. No matter who you query. What matters is the manuscript. So don’t send your work out until it’s complete. That means it’s been through a number of drafts. Complete doesn’t mean you finished writing the story yesterday so you’re ready to send it out into the world today. Fine. Be that way.

You’re welcome.

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March 22, 2013 · 9:01 am

Feedback from a Literary Agent: A Tale of Two Stories

Glinda the Good Witch

Glinda the Good Witch

This was one of those weeks where I got to make someone’s dream come true and put a “perma-grin” on their face for a few days. But I’m afraid I also dashed some hopes. Perhaps that’s the case every week, as I go through queries, and for some I request a deeper peek and for others I just decline. But the fact that as an agent I have that “power” is never so in my face as when I hear pitches at a conference, or like last night, when I gave feedback on authors’ query letters at the WNBA-NYC Query Roulette.

 

Holy Picture Book, Batman!

Holy Picture Book, Batman!

First, the wish-granting story

I offered representation to a wonderful children’s book author earlier  this week! Not only does this guy clearly have talent, but we seem to share the same quirky sensibility and sense of humor, and he has done the things he needs to do to hone his craft. It’s not always about degrees and letters after your name, but let me tell you that going for that MFA has the potential to really kick your writing up a notch and have you stretch in ways perhaps you didn’t know you could. I may have to get me one of them myself. (See my post about writers educating themselves.) I can tell already my new client and I are going to be a dynamic duo. And I can’t wait to share his work with editors!


url-2Then there’s the hope dashing story

I hate that I am sometimes the person across the table that says something to an author about their manuscript that will make their lip quiver, their eyes brim with tears, and have them take a deep breath just to hold it together. And then that author may or may not have been heard crying in the bathroom. Oh my. That is not the power I want to have.

Unfortunately though, because I have a commitment to making dreams come true, I also am committed to telling the truth to authors. Especially authors who seek me out specifically to get feedback about their work. If I don’t think your work is strong, it’s my duty to tell you. If I think your query letter needs work (a lot of work), it’s my obligation to point out where. If I share what a tough market it is for what you write (memoir, picture books, a particular subject, etc…), I’m doing my job if I tell you the truth.

Your job as an author is to take it. Take the feedback, input, critical commentary, and use it. Use it to make your work better, or build a stronger platform, or perfect a pitch. Use it to put aside your current project and write your next manuscript. Or use it to help you decide that perhaps writing isn’t for you. Or to decide that writing is for you, but getting published really isn’t so important. But your job is to use it.

Of course though, telling the truth to authors doesn’t make my job easy.

How do you handle hearing the truth about your work?

 

 

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March 20, 2013 · 3:30 pm

Writing Tip of the Day: Improve Your Craft

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You know that about 99% of the queries that come in to my inbox get rejected. I’m not unique in this statistic. Most agents that I’ve spoken to have the same track record. 1 out of 100 hit the mark. I know that must be really daunting to hear, as a writer. On the agent end of it, it’s also dismaying. This past week, as I’ve been going through queries and reading a few full manuscripts that I’ve requested, what’s come up a number of times is, “I love the premise of this! I wish the writing were better…”

As an agent, I unfortunately don’t have the time (or inclination, really) to teach a client how to write. You need to come into the relationship with your skills intact. I can nurture you along, but I just can’t teach you to write. In order to garner more success on your quest to get your manuscript published, the best thing you can do is to really work on your craft. If you’ve pounded out a novel but have never read a book about the craft of writing, never taken a writing class, never been to a writing conference, workshop, retreat or seminar, there’s a really good chance you’re not going to succeed. Not because you don’t have talent, but because you need certain skills. So do yourself a favor, give your stories the best chance they can get: educate yourself.

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