So tell me: Who was your first?
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Query Virginity
So, my blogging friends, I have a question for you all. Think back to when you send off that first query letter. Everyone remembers their first time, right? You have these lofty expectations, envisioning the agent dropping everything, mouth opened wide as he/she stared at your awesomeness. So when your first rejection--you very, very first rejection--comes back, you remember it quite well.
Tell me, friends, who was it that took away your query virginity.
For me, it was the handsome, Nathan Brandsford
When I was a foolish young writer, I queried a PB to Steven Malk. He has broken my heart several times now.
ReplyDeleteFunny.
ReplyDeleteSara Crowe wasn't my first query sent, but my first rejection. And now looking back, I can honestly say I can't blame her for that rejection!
Mine was Russell Galen, within 5 hours of sending it, BUT he was extremely nice and it was a personal rejection email giving a very good reason why he couldn't represent my project.
ReplyDeleteKristin Nelson for me! And my first rejection may have been Sara Crowe, but Ms. Nelson rejected me about three seconds later. Literally.
ReplyDeleteChristina Ward. Her negative came back about two hours after I sent it.
ReplyDeleteJim McCarthy, form letter, one hour later! I've been afraid to open responses ever since!
ReplyDeleteBarry Goldblatt. I think that rejection took two weeks.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember my first, but I do remember my first with feedback. It was from John Grisham's first agent, who has sinced passed away. He said I was a good writer and not to give up even though what I'd written didn't fit with what they were looking for at that time. He made my day with that rejection.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember my first rejection, now it's been three years later and you have made me feel like the slutty querier, HA.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! :)
DeleteHmm I don't remember my first query reject. I DO remember it was an actual paper letter rejection from my mailbox :D My first submission rejection was either Roberta Brown or Nancy Coffey, both of whom sent very nice personalized letters. And this was for the very first version of Treasured Lies :D Interesting to see what happens 5 years down the road ;)
ReplyDeleteSuzie Townsend. Of course I have a long line of rejections since then and hers was the nicest.
ReplyDeleteMy first query and first full rejection was Michelle Andelman. I was still green and made a whole lot of query mistakes, but she was very patient. Even though time has passed and I think it's for the best it didn't work out, I sometimes get jealous of Kirsten Hubbard and sigh "That could be me!" - I say this with a lot of humor. Michelle and I follow each other on Twitter and I offer as much support as I can for Kirsten. Though there are times it's like being single when an ex is dating someone new.
ReplyDeleteStephen Malk was my first agent query and personal rejection...bitter sweet.
ReplyDeleteSara Crowe...she did give me a good feedback though, so I appreciated that.
ReplyDeleteFunny post! My very first query went to Submissions at Writers House, so I can't remember who wrote me back, but it was a snail-mail query. As far as my e-query virginity, that went to Nathan Bransford. Dude responded within five minutes! So fast. Even though it sucked to be rejected, it got me hooked on the faster pace of e-querying. I don't think I've sent a snail query since.
ReplyDelete