I’m Hunting Wabbits… I Mean Agents
by on February 22nd, 2010
filed under On Writing
Well I’m in the thick woods of Query Land again, on the hunt for that ever elusive prey- an agent.
This is my second go around. The first time ended with me learning a lot-about postage, what a Tyvek envelope is, the tenuousness of submission guidelines and how to take the word NO without crawling in a hole to die a broken, washed up author who never was.
This time its not so bad. The no’s I mean. Now the waiting… that’s something I’ve never been very good at. God bless the agents who are caught up on their queries, you’ve put me swiftly out of my misery or allowed me take the next step in sending you more of my work.
In my research, I found a few agents who don’t respond to queries, a general no news is bad news tactic. I’m sorry but I find that incredibly frustrating as an author. I took the time to send you my query, bound, polished, packaged & produced exactly the way you wanted it & you can’t offer me the basic courtesy of a form rejection letter? <<scratches head>> Why not?
Some authors don’t like form letter rejections. Not me. I got a really lovely one just today sent via the agent’s assistant-
Dear Ms. Yarnall-
Thank you for querying (The Agency). Ms. (Agent) has reviewed your query and asked me to pass along her response. Please find it below.
I wish you the best.
Sincerely,
The Assistant to The Agent
**Message from The Agent**
Dear Ms. Yarnall,
Thank you so much for giving (The Agency) a chance to consider your work. While I found your query intriguing I’m afraid I wasn’t sufficiently enthusiastic to ask for more at this time.
As I’m sure you know, publishing is a subjective business and I’m sure there’s another agent out there better suited to your work.
I wish you the best of luck and the greatest success.
Sincerely,
The Agent
Wasn’t that nice? What a terrific letter. And The Assistant… so sweet. Really, how could I be mad or sad with lovely letters like these? I was impressed by the time and care taken by The Agent and her Assistant to this nobody-on-her-way-to-becoming-somebody-author. If I’m ever in a place where I can pick and choose my agent, this agent will be at the top of the list.
Stay tuned for more adventures in Query Land.
Queries sent-60
Requests for a partial-2
Requests for a full-1
No’s-16
WOOT! Go Beth! Go Beth! Go, go, go Beth!!!
Keep those queries going girly!
Best of luck,
Finny
Aw, thanks girl!