At this point, I am starting to think maybe it is easier to get "a well-paying job, perfect health in my old age, a clutter-free closet" than to get a literary agent. 😢
I think it may have something to do with chemistry, like we love some Substack writers a lot more than others, or falling in love, but we can't explain exactly how it happened.
Regardless, you are one of the most talented writers I know. Whether you get an agent or not, that is a FACT! 👍🙏
You are so sweet, Yuni! Thank you for that incredible compliment and for being such a wonderful cheerleader. I'm so grateful for your friendship!! ❤️❤️
And regarding the hunt for the literary agent...I laughed at your comment. I think you might be right, at least for me! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that when the time comes, you'll find an agent in no time!! And I will be doing a dance when it happens! 💃💃
Thanks so much again for accompanying me on this journey! ❤️❤️
I agree. Diane is hugely talented as are you, Yuni. It’s difficult out there in publishing for sure and this just reiterates that really. 🤔🙈😫***Diane — I blame it on being half asleep — sorry.
I think the most important thing to do when querying (which is also the most tedious part of the process), is to read each agent's wish list and preferences, and if they don't mention the format of the query letter, then look at the agency's submission requirements. It can't guarantee that they'll read your sub, but it will definitely avoid irking them and ruining your chances.
Thank you so much, Leonora! You’re such a sweetheart! You’re certainly right about checking an agent’s or agency’s preferences. Maybe I’ve been too focused on my query—probably! But it certainly says something that we have access to a gazillion workshops about it. And it takes so little for an agent to say no. So we just have to press on. I hope this info is helpful to you. May the force be with you, too, my friend!! ❤️❤️xo
My feeling is that the 3 out of the 8 who didn’t want a pitch line probably don’t care about a pitch line as much as they care about the summary…not that they would toss your query over it. (I know you didn’t say toss the query but when we are desperate to do it right and have our query stand out, we tend to carefully follow rules.)
Pitch lines are an art! I’m doing a whole post on them in a month when launch stuff dies down. Meanwhile, fingers continued to be crossed for you!!
Thanks so much Sierra! Yes, I think those 3 of 8 just want a bigger summary. But it's amazing how much their wishes can vary. And my agent in the workshop prefers a 250-word query, too (even though she kept asking me to explain what I meant by things). It all just reminds me that we can only try our best. In fact, there are plenty of days when I don't think any of this matters as much as we think it does. In any case, thanks a million for standing in my corner, sweet friend! I appreciate you! And can't wait for your book to come out! ❤️
Good for you asking agents about this.Those who don't care about it are probably more old-school as well because the one-sentence pitch wasn't a necessity back when I first started in publishing. But it you have an amazing pitch, they certainly won't reject because you included it. When you don't include the one-sentence pitch, the agent has to look at the summary and think, "What's the stakes. Where's the inciting incident? Does the main character have agency>" That's a lot of mental work when you get a 100 queries a day. But if you do the pitch well, it's all there up front. So much easier.
This makes tons of sense. I’ll probably include a pitch in cases when I don’t know agent preference—including about the length of the query. My worry is that some agents might actually care more about having a very short query than anything else. At my workshop, that agent was really hoping for pitches under 300 words, which was impossible to manage given what was in my bio (which she thought I might even lengthen!) and the pitch. If I don’t have that much info on an agent, I’ll likely make it a 350-word query that includes a one-sentence pitch. All we can do is our best, right?
Thanks a million for the comment and for helping all of us so much a we prepare for the query trenches. You’ve got a fantastic newsletter going!!
Diane, thanks for including the crossover link to your Medium Q&A. I clapped and commented :)
I found this very interesting and good for you for reaching out to those agents. I was just happy to hear they weren't using AI to sift through submissions although I'd be willing to bet some are, just like resumes for jobs.
When I was younger I thought it would be cool to have one like in the movies where it's someone who is also a friend to the agent and will tirelessly sell them to get a great book deal while keeping them from despair.
Then there's the reality like you've described which I truly appreciate. As I start on my newest book next month, I already know I'm going to publish it myself as life is too short to jump through anyone else's hoops for me at this point.
It also seems like in books, movies, television they're not looking for unique voices like yours and mine. They want the next (fill in the blank) and want to reboot stuff for the umpteenth time. I've never understood this with so much original talent out there why but it's all about the "sure thing" financially.
Thanks for telling it like it is. I look forward to additional shares about your journey to publication. I truly hope you beat the odds and some smart agent pulls you out of the query pile very soon! Agents--hint, hint :)
Thanks a million for this comment, Melanie! I appreciate your friendship and support so much! And good for you for following your heart and self-publishing. You will be AMAZING at getting the word out about your book. Your communication/marketing skills are fantastic! I’m going to be cheering so hard when it comes out — and can’t wait to read it, too!
Again, thank you for all of your cheerleading, Sub bud. So grateful to have you here!
Yep, it's been my experience that every agent has different things they want to see in a query. Some want the one-sentence pitch; some want a one-page synopsis while some don't require a synopsis. So I tend to always have those particular things ready to go. I know it can be confusing and frustrating, though!
I’m in this process as well now Diane and I’ve just resigned myself to follow each person’s particular set of expectations to the best of my abilities and let the universe do the rest.
I don’t have the mental capacity right now for much else.
It’s the right attitude to take for sure. Better not to obsess, even if you had the bandwidth! And sending you so much good luck now that you’re in the query trenches. Looking forward to hearing great news from you soon!
LOL, I guess my only advice is that a slight majority of agents seem to want them. And if you can somehow manage to write a short letter (meaning less than 300 words?!?! I can't manage that with a convoluted plot!!) that includes a one-sentence pitch, I don't see the harm. But if your query is over 300 words, you just have to take your best guess. That's just the nature of publishing--and what I was trying to convey. No rules really universally apply.
But I'd do whatever research you can on agents. Sometimes info like this is out there. That was the reason for my note. Try to get the info out there! It was really nice of five of them to indicate their preference so we can query, at least the five of them, with knowledge.
Good luck, my friend! I hope the writing is going well! Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
At this point, I am starting to think maybe it is easier to get "a well-paying job, perfect health in my old age, a clutter-free closet" than to get a literary agent. 😢
I think it may have something to do with chemistry, like we love some Substack writers a lot more than others, or falling in love, but we can't explain exactly how it happened.
Regardless, you are one of the most talented writers I know. Whether you get an agent or not, that is a FACT! 👍🙏
You are so sweet, Yuni! Thank you for that incredible compliment and for being such a wonderful cheerleader. I'm so grateful for your friendship!! ❤️❤️
And regarding the hunt for the literary agent...I laughed at your comment. I think you might be right, at least for me! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that when the time comes, you'll find an agent in no time!! And I will be doing a dance when it happens! 💃💃
Thanks so much again for accompanying me on this journey! ❤️❤️
I agree. Diane is hugely talented as are you, Yuni. It’s difficult out there in publishing for sure and this just reiterates that really. 🤔🙈😫***Diane — I blame it on being half asleep — sorry.
Thank you so much, Elaine! You’re sweet to say so! We appreciate your support!! xox
Yessss!! I second that. Your humour piece was incredible!
Thank you, Caroline. That's so sweet of you to say 🥲🥲❤️❤️
Kid, you have moxie. Bless your heart!
I think the most important thing to do when querying (which is also the most tedious part of the process), is to read each agent's wish list and preferences, and if they don't mention the format of the query letter, then look at the agency's submission requirements. It can't guarantee that they'll read your sub, but it will definitely avoid irking them and ruining your chances.
May the force be with you, oh brave of heart!
Thank you so much, Leonora! You’re such a sweetheart! You’re certainly right about checking an agent’s or agency’s preferences. Maybe I’ve been too focused on my query—probably! But it certainly says something that we have access to a gazillion workshops about it. And it takes so little for an agent to say no. So we just have to press on. I hope this info is helpful to you. May the force be with you, too, my friend!! ❤️❤️xo
My feeling is that the 3 out of the 8 who didn’t want a pitch line probably don’t care about a pitch line as much as they care about the summary…not that they would toss your query over it. (I know you didn’t say toss the query but when we are desperate to do it right and have our query stand out, we tend to carefully follow rules.)
Pitch lines are an art! I’m doing a whole post on them in a month when launch stuff dies down. Meanwhile, fingers continued to be crossed for you!!
Thanks so much Sierra! Yes, I think those 3 of 8 just want a bigger summary. But it's amazing how much their wishes can vary. And my agent in the workshop prefers a 250-word query, too (even though she kept asking me to explain what I meant by things). It all just reminds me that we can only try our best. In fact, there are plenty of days when I don't think any of this matters as much as we think it does. In any case, thanks a million for standing in my corner, sweet friend! I appreciate you! And can't wait for your book to come out! ❤️
Good for you asking agents about this.Those who don't care about it are probably more old-school as well because the one-sentence pitch wasn't a necessity back when I first started in publishing. But it you have an amazing pitch, they certainly won't reject because you included it. When you don't include the one-sentence pitch, the agent has to look at the summary and think, "What's the stakes. Where's the inciting incident? Does the main character have agency>" That's a lot of mental work when you get a 100 queries a day. But if you do the pitch well, it's all there up front. So much easier.
This makes tons of sense. I’ll probably include a pitch in cases when I don’t know agent preference—including about the length of the query. My worry is that some agents might actually care more about having a very short query than anything else. At my workshop, that agent was really hoping for pitches under 300 words, which was impossible to manage given what was in my bio (which she thought I might even lengthen!) and the pitch. If I don’t have that much info on an agent, I’ll likely make it a 350-word query that includes a one-sentence pitch. All we can do is our best, right?
Thanks a million for the comment and for helping all of us so much a we prepare for the query trenches. You’ve got a fantastic newsletter going!!
Diane, thanks for including the crossover link to your Medium Q&A. I clapped and commented :)
I found this very interesting and good for you for reaching out to those agents. I was just happy to hear they weren't using AI to sift through submissions although I'd be willing to bet some are, just like resumes for jobs.
When I was younger I thought it would be cool to have one like in the movies where it's someone who is also a friend to the agent and will tirelessly sell them to get a great book deal while keeping them from despair.
Then there's the reality like you've described which I truly appreciate. As I start on my newest book next month, I already know I'm going to publish it myself as life is too short to jump through anyone else's hoops for me at this point.
It also seems like in books, movies, television they're not looking for unique voices like yours and mine. They want the next (fill in the blank) and want to reboot stuff for the umpteenth time. I've never understood this with so much original talent out there why but it's all about the "sure thing" financially.
Thanks for telling it like it is. I look forward to additional shares about your journey to publication. I truly hope you beat the odds and some smart agent pulls you out of the query pile very soon! Agents--hint, hint :)
Thanks a million for this comment, Melanie! I appreciate your friendship and support so much! And good for you for following your heart and self-publishing. You will be AMAZING at getting the word out about your book. Your communication/marketing skills are fantastic! I’m going to be cheering so hard when it comes out — and can’t wait to read it, too!
Again, thank you for all of your cheerleading, Sub bud. So grateful to have you here!
You're always very welcome Diane. You're too kind. You'll definitely get an ARC when the time comes.
One of the best things about SS is becoming friends with wonderful fellow writers like you and getting unconditional support and encouragement.
Keep those queries going. You'll land an agent yet.
Thank you so much, Melanie. Sending a big hug to you, my friend.
Awwh, right back at ya!
Good for you reaching out to them that way. I'm glad you're doing all the legwork so you can advise me if/when I finish my book, LOL.
You bet!! I’ll be so happy to advise!! Please reach out if there’s ever anything I can do to help. I’m a veteran of the trenches, no joke!!!
And thanks so much for reading and commenting. I’m so grateful for your support, Lynn! xo
Thanks for sharing your experience. Great idea reaching out to them.
Always pulling for you, Diane!
Thanks so much, Ricky! I appreciate it! Hopefully, the info benefits other writers, too. 🤞🤞
Yep, it's been my experience that every agent has different things they want to see in a query. Some want the one-sentence pitch; some want a one-page synopsis while some don't require a synopsis. So I tend to always have those particular things ready to go. I know it can be confusing and frustrating, though!
Wishing you so much good luck when you’re ready to pull the trigger!
Thanks! I figure I’ll be ready to start querying in about a month or so!
So exciting! I’ll be crossing my fingers so tightly for you!
I’m in this process as well now Diane and I’ve just resigned myself to follow each person’s particular set of expectations to the best of my abilities and let the universe do the rest.
I don’t have the mental capacity right now for much else.
It’s the right attitude to take for sure. Better not to obsess, even if you had the bandwidth! And sending you so much good luck now that you’re in the query trenches. Looking forward to hearing great news from you soon!
Congrats on your success with Belladonna, Diane! I just read the Q&A, brilliant and generous as always. And such a clever idea to poll agents!
Thankyou so much, Caroline! Big hugs to you for all of your support! I wouldn’t have gotten there without help from friends like you! ❤️❤️
Thanks for this Diane - illuminating and helpful 😀
Sending very best wishes if you are in--or soon to enter-- the query trenches! ❤️
Sooooo...one sentence pitch then?!
LOL, I guess my only advice is that a slight majority of agents seem to want them. And if you can somehow manage to write a short letter (meaning less than 300 words?!?! I can't manage that with a convoluted plot!!) that includes a one-sentence pitch, I don't see the harm. But if your query is over 300 words, you just have to take your best guess. That's just the nature of publishing--and what I was trying to convey. No rules really universally apply.
But I'd do whatever research you can on agents. Sometimes info like this is out there. That was the reason for my note. Try to get the info out there! It was really nice of five of them to indicate their preference so we can query, at least the five of them, with knowledge.
Good luck, my friend! I hope the writing is going well! Thank you so much for reading and commenting!