Dear O'Abby: How long should I wait?

 Dear O'Abby,

I'm querying at the moment and I'm wondering how long I should wait before trying to rewrite my query.  I have done a ton of work on it with a professional editor, with other writers and submitted it for substantial feedback from agents in contests etc prior to starting querying.  I feel like it's really good now and truly captures the essence of my book.

But I have had six rejections already, from the first 12 queries I sent out, so now I'm wondering if the query really is as good as I think it is.  How many rejections should I get before I need to start thinking about re-writing my query?

Regards,

Rejected

Dear Rejected,

It sounds like you are very early on in the querying journey, so don't get discouraged.  I know it's hard to put your hard work out there and to get faced with nothing but rejection, but unfortunately, it's part of the business.  With only 12 queries out, I don't think you need to worry about changing the query yet. Especially since not all of these first batch have responded yet. 

It sounds like you've done a lot of work on the query, so maybe it's not the query that's not working.  Writers often get so wrapped up in creating the perfect query that they forget they need a near-perfect book to go with it.  Make sure your sample pages are as shiny as the query - and not just the first 5-10 pages.  Some agents ask for more than that and if your writing peters out after the first 10 pages, that could be the problem.

But basically, publishing is a tough industry and even if you have the most perfect query and a fantastic book, you will get rejections.  Agents and publishers often have something very specific they are looking for and if your book doesn't fall into that niche, they're going to pass. Taking on new authors is a lot of work, and unless they're confident your book is going to sell, they're going to pass.

So don't take it to heart.  Keep sending out those queries.

X O'Abby

 

Dear O'Abby: How do I avoid querying mistakes?

 Dear O'Abby,

I'm about to start querying my first novel and I'm terrified about making some egregious error and ending up on some publishing blacklist forever.  I've done a lot of reading, but I thought you might have a few extra tips that might keep me out of the industry's bad books?

Kind regards,

Querified

Dear Querified,

The best advice I can give you is to read carefully and follow directions.  Every agent has slightly different preferences and it's important that you adhere to these and send the agent what they want.  This means doing through research and double checking that you are following each agent's specific requirements.

But here are some other general tips you might find useful.  They may sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people don't do these things.

1. Personalise the query.  No one likes to be called "To Whom it May Concern" or "Agent".  If you've researched the agents who are the best fit for your particular book, the least you can do is address them by name.  And if you can also include the reason why you've chosen to query them, that's good too.  And don't send the query to multiple people at once - ccing other people (even bccing) is not cool.

2. Send them exactly what they are asking for.  Every agent is different, but most of them ask to be sent the query and a certain number of pages of the book.  Some also ask for a synopsis and some even specify the length of this.  Don't send 50 pages of your book and a 10-page synopsis if the agent is asking for the first five pages and a two page synopsis.

3. Don't send attachments.  Always include your query, pages and synopsis in the body of the email unless specifically directed to include them as attachments.  Most agents won't open attachments and including them will send your query directly into the trash.

4. Is your query really a query?  A query tells an agent about the book - what genre it is, length, audience and most importantly, what it's about - all in under 300 words or so.  Some writers try to get cute and send pages from their book in lieu of a query, or write more about themselves than the book they're trying to get representation for, or even try something entirely new.  This is not the place for being creative.  There are hundreds of query writing resources out there, so use them to write the best possible query you can.  You will probably need to tweak it for each agent as some like the housekeeping stuff (length, genre, audience etc) up front, while others prefer you to lead with the story.

5. Is your book finished? Don't query until it is.  It may be tempting to start early because publishing does tend to be slow, but if your book isn't ready to send when you send off that first query, don't send the query.  I've had requests for full and partial manuscripts come in hours after sending a query.  Not often, but it does happen, and you need to respond promptly.

6. Don't query agents who aren't looking for your book.  Agents tend to be specific about what kinds of book they are looking to represent.  Some have broad interests, while others may only be looking for one type.  There is no point in sending a query for YA fantasy to an agent who specifies that they are primarily looking for adult romance or celebrity non-fiction.  Agents specialise because they have relationships with editors who work with specific kinds of books, and they will not necessarily have connections with editors who represent books outside that niche.

And those are just a few tips.  And don't forget to include your name.  Especially if your email address doesn't make it obvious.  And talking of email addresses, if you've been using the same snugglekitty@hotmail.com address since high school, it might be time to set up a new account under your real name to make your queries look more professional.

Hope that helps, and best of luck with the querying!

X O'Abby

Dear O'Abby: An Agent Wants A Call. Help!

Dear O'Abby,

I just got an email from an agent I submitted my MS to saying she wants to set up a call to chat with me.  I'm going to have 'The Call'!

Sorry....  I still can't quite believe I'm at this stage.  I've been dancing around the house like a lunatic for a couple of hours now, but the reality is beginning to sink in and it occurs to me that I have no clue what to say on this call.

Do you have any advice on how to handle this?

Cheers,

Caller # 4

Dear Caller #4,

First up, congratulations!  Getting to 'The Call' is a huge step, and a very exciting one.  But it's also a very important one, so you need to be prepared for it.

This is your opportunity to figure out if you want to work with this agent, if you feel she is the right person to represent your book and any future books you might write.  So pay attention to how you feel while you're talking to her.  When I did my 'The Call', we did it via Skype so I had the added advantage of being able to see the people I was talking to to read body language as well as tone of voice, but you may not have this option.

You should have some questions ready ahead of time.  In the excitement of actually speaking to someone who loves your book and wants to represent it, you are likely to forget a lot of what you wanted to ask, so it helps to have it written down.

Important topics to cover are the agent's experience, what their agency agreement looks like and the terms and conditions, what her preferred method of communication might be and how responsive she is to communications, editorial style and how much editorial work she feels might be needed pre-submission, how much detail you will be given about the submission process and contingencies for things like the agency closing or the agent moving on.

If at any stage the agent talks to you about money for services, that's a red flag.  An agent should only take 15% of any sales she makes.  No money should change hands between agent and client until a book is sold.

If there is anything else really important to you, note it down so you can ask about it now.  There's nothing worse than discovering six months into an agent-client relationship that something you consider non-negotiable is not possible with this agent or agency.

And good luck!  I hope the call goes well and you and your agent have a long and lucrative partnership ahead of you.

X O'Abby

Guest Post: Pitching to Agents, by Megan Lee

I recently attended a writers' conference in Seattle that focused entirely on publishing.  Since I was pitching that day, and was scared out of my mind, the class focusing on developing and presenting a good pitch was extremely beneficial and helped me to sort out my thoughts and ideas to develop a great pitch.  Now I am just crossing my fingers that the requests for my MS turn into something more!

Here is what I learned from the May 2017 Seattle Writer’s Conference about pitching to an agent.

The set-up of a perfect pitch: in order

-Introduce Main Character

-Flush out the Main Character (Tell us what they want out of life or what makes them interesting.)

-Inciting incident (What propels your novel into motion- The Hook)

-What is the major plot of the book about (What does the Main Character intend to do about the incident):  Part three should automatically lead to four.  State the incident and what the Main character intends to do about it.

-Complications (What stands in the way of what the MC intends to do.)

-What will the MC do to fix the problem (Do not say whether or not they will succeed.)

-Stakes: If the MC fails.  What will happen to them?

A couple of other great tips for your pitching session:

-Start with your genre, title, word count and any relating novels they may be able to draw from (never use the classics like Harry Potter or Hunger Games: personal pet peeve of almost all authors)

-Never end the pitch with a rhetorical question

-Although agents prefer you to memorize your pitch, if you don’t feel comfortable, do what you are best at.  If you need to read your pitch, then do it.  Represent yourself the best you can.

-If you are looking to write compelling pitches and first pages your BEST resources to find and study are successful debut authors in your genre.  They have learned to develop an amazing roadmap in order to get published so USE THEIR ROADMAP.

Personal things I learned about my pitching session:

-First pitch is the hardest. I was shaking like a leaf.  But once I started, I got comfortable and was able to pitch with a lot more ease the rest of the time.

-The agents are human just like you are, so talk to them like a human, not a robot.  During my first pitch I realized I had brought an apple with me (pregnancy and anxiety do not go well together.)  I sat down and just said “Obviously I am pregnant and nervous because I brought an apple to my pitch session,” she laughed and I immediately felt more at ease.  I realized after that, that she is human, and was able to talk to her with greater comfort and ease.

-Be prepared.  I studied common questions that agents ask in pitch sessions and I had an entire typed out page of well thought out answers that I could refer to.  The agents asked a lot of questions, and I felt well prepared to answer them because I had gone to great lengths to research and develop my thoughts, especially the break-up of my plotline.  When they asked specific questions about my plot, I felt prepared to answer.

I hope this helps future writers to be more prepared for their pitch sessions!  Good luck to all of us in this huge and exciting undertaking.

***********

Megan Lee has a BS in Print Journalism and Law and Constitutional Studies and has published articles in several local and online resources where she has won small competitions.  She spent time editing talks for worldwide audiences and now spends most of her time nurturing two toddlers and dreaming up stories.

To find Megan Lee:

Facebook: Megan Sonderegger Lee

Twitter: @meganleewriter

Up and coming niche blog: Toddlertestkitchen.com

Writing Series: Querying, Four Great Query Resources

Writing a successful query letter is an art form. It's a skill that requires instruction as well as practice to hone those skills.

I could fill this post with advice on query letter writing, but I won't. Better, more experienced people than me have already written volumes on this subject, so my job today is to point you in the right direction.

I've been querying for years and have come across a few resources that have been helpful to me. When I first started, I couldn't get an agent's attention to save my life, but by honing my query writing craft, I've been successful in garnering requests for full manuscripts. So, here are some of my favourite resources.

1.  Nathan Bransford's blog. An author and former literary agent, Bransford shares a treasure trove of
query writing advice. The thing I liked most about this site is his upbeat attitude. He doesn't try to discourage writers with the dismal odds that are against them, but conveys information with a you-can-do-it attitude.

2. Query Shark. Literary agent, Janet Reid, runs this no-nonsense blog that walks writers through examples of lackluster queries and how to fix them. There are hundreds of examples available, and I encourage you to read through as many as possible.

3. Agent Query. Again, tons of information and advice about query letters and literary agents. This website has a database of agents, what they represent and if they're open for submissions. There is also a sister site called Agent Query Connect, a forum where writers can network and post queries for critique. My warning with receiving critique at AQ Connect is that it's often the blind leading the blind. Many have yet to write a successful query themselves.

4.  Writer's Digest New Agent Alerts. This site shares information about new agents or agents who have transitioned to new firms and are actively building their client lists.

Once you have a stellar query letter and a list of agents who represent your type of work and who you would like to work alongside, you're ready to start querying.

If you have any questions, please post them below.

********

Melinda Friesen writes novels for teens and short stories for all ages. Her first novel, Enslavement, was released in November of 2014 by Rebelight Publishing Inc. She lives in Winnipeg,Manitoba Canada with her husband and four children.

Should You Comp?

In the last several months there have been a lot of online writing contests.  As submissions come in, participating judges sometimes comment on social media about the glaring errors they see in queries and first pages. In a recent contest, a judge questioned why more people were not using comps in their queries.


If you're new to writing and/or publishing you may ask, "what is a comp?" A comp is a competitive title already in the marketplace that could be considered similar to your book. Many writers want to stay away from using comps because they're afraid agents may think it is too similar to what is already in bookstores. This can be true, but there is a reason why agents like to see comps in queries. This is the reason: If they are considering the book, they need to think about how they are going to pitch it to an editor. They also need to know where your book would go on the shelves at the local bookstore. These are all things agents may consider when deciding whether or not a book might be right for their list.


Say you want to use a comp. How would you go about finding one? With one of my recent manuscripts I used keywords to search both the Goodreads and Barnes and Noble websites. Once I read the summary, if I thought the book was similar to my manuscript, I either bought it or borrowed it from the library. After reading, if I felt it was in the same vein as my title, I used it as a comp.


A few other things of note regarding comps:


1) It is NOT necessary to include them in your query, but it IS one more thing that you can use to intrigue an agent into reading more.


2) DO NOT use major bestsellers as comps. No matter how brilliant of a writer you are, you HAVE NOT just written the next HUNGER GAMES or DAVINCI CODE. Rather, you should use middle market titles that have sold well and that agents may recognize.


3) You CAN get creative. In the query for ORIGIN, author Jessica Khoury likened her story to  James Cameron's AVATAR meets Ally Condie's MATCHED. If you've read Jessica's book, you know this is a pretty dead-on comp.


Queries are a tricky thing, but if you can find a good comp title you might want to think about using it. It may just be the added highlight that makes an agent request more!