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Uh. You'd think this would fall into the 'logic' category, non? I've been hopping around blogging sites that deal with queries for a while, and I'm often surprised at how informal and 'blurby' most queries are. When I look at all the information available, it seems the best thing is to stay professional and know what you're pitching and to whom.

Maybe it is because of the blogs many agents have. We feel we know you agents, you write some pretty personal stuff, so we do too.

We overhear cell conversations all day long, computers, email, facebook, twitter, we are privy to a lot of what an agent or anyone for that matter, is about.

Hard to stay professional when we learn how moved you are by a dedication,or how tired you are from ready all those querys, or how pissed you get when someone addresses you as Jennifer.

That's insane!

LOL...Jessica, I don't even count on you remembering me and you've been my agent forever! When dealing with anyone who has an impact on my career, I try and keep it professional, supplying all background info pertinent to my request. As "creepy query girl" says, it falls into the logic category. The last thing I want a busy editor or agent to do when reading my mail is to have a "huh?" moment. I'd rather provide all the information in one spot and make it as simple as possible.

Regardless of how well you feel you know an agent via their blog, it is just common sense to remember they don't know YOU.

Hello? Some peeps are just nuts.

But, with respect to this particular query: assuming a writer has revised her query since you last laid eyes on it, and has had requests from other agents, is it permissable to re-query you again?

Maybe I am just old-fashioned, but I think a certain level of formality is called for in business and this is indeed business. So sad to see language's slow decline into the informal. At least the query wasn't written as if it were a text message or chat room blurb. Can't you just see it now? "R U gonna take this? Some1 else wants it 2. CYA." It may come to that yet!

Rebecca
http://rebeccatlittle.blogspot.com/

If you follow agent blogs for even a week or two, it's easy to get an idea of how many queries they're dealing with. It should follow that this is a no-brainer (but, of course, that would make life too easy!). I get Anon 10:04's sentiment about how agent blogs make it easy for us to feel like we know you and that perhaps you know us, but based on just the query stage? You'd have to have a bionic brain to remember everyone!

I can't believe people do this, and I sure don't envy agents for having to put up with it.

Sounds like someone needs a shot with the good old clue gun.

I've been getting a lot of queries with hand-written messages at the bottom saying they really enjoyed conversing with my boss, but often there are no specifics - over the phone? at a convention? etc. I check in with my boss and sometimes she has a difficult time recalling if she did talk to them or not, which means there is a possibility she DID talk to them and couldn't remember, but so many come through in this format that I wonder if it's a new technique...?

That's too funny. I guess the real trick is to be professional in writing and personable when actually "in person." Thanks for the post!

I think a lot of lonely people write.

I think she just assumed you guys were close friends. And of course that isn't how a query is supposed to be. Maybe it was like a friend letter asking how Jenny was. :P

Though I doubt that could be it.

TMI...

And don't ever mention your DIVORCE in a query letter. Professionalism, above and beyond all else. I don't see the point in mentioning it in the first place. What does that have to do with anything? We all have personal lives that we continue to write our way through.

Yes, one day it may come to this: "R U gonna take this? Some1 else wants it 2. CYA."

Until then, I don't want to be acting like a teenager.

That "got my life back" query is simply spooky.

I recently had the chance to query an agent who had been interested in a different novel about a new novel. I decided that, since I had no idea whether the agent thought my writing was crap or wasn't interested in the plot or what caused the rejection, the easiest thing for me to do was re-query as if I had never queried the agent before. It's a different novel (I'd never dream of re-querying with the same novel unless I was specifically asked for revisions), and thus it gets a different query letter. I decided not to even mention that I'd sent along a partial of a different novel in the past. It didn't seem pertinent to the query this time around.

I am an amateur writer so I was excited to click on that link and read the article. I had to look up the meaning of "introductory participial phrases," which, since I had to look it up, makes me a REALLY amateur writer. For others who don't know, a participial phrase begins with an -ing verb. "Walking down the street, she stepped in some bubble gum."

Thankfully, I don't have any introductory participial phrases in my manuscript.

I went through the list and marked off the rules I broke. Dialogue formatting- perfect. Homophone mistakes- I have none. I have a few quote tags here and there (I'm a big fan of "she hissed," or "he chuckled") but I can see why overuse is a sign of an amateur. I'll have to see what I can do to fix those.

Hopefully my manuscript disguises the fact that I am an amateur writer. Once again, thanks for an informative article!

'understands that they aren’t trying to make her a clone of everyone else'

Ohmigoodness, I hope I get to work with an editor and an agent I can believe this about.

Because I do review books and I swear there's a Heroine Cloning Plant out there somewhere.

And it must be destroyed!

Seriously though, I need an agent who's a good communicator. I can communicate in written form with people I create myself, but, huh, like Han Solo says, "Going against the living, now that's something else."

From experience - this is to other writers - be grateful if your agent is this meticulous and this committed to your work. It's rare.

I'm currently working with my agent on revisions before going to submission. I trust her implicitly, and am doing my very best to bring the vision we have for my novel to light. I haven't agreed with every suggestion she has made, but I've agreed with most. She's brilliant and insightful and "gets" my writing. Working closely with her to make my work as perfect as possible is an absolute dream come true, and I look forward to delving deeper into the process with an editor. I feel absolutely blessed.

Jessica,
Quite right. My work goes through x + 1 + 1 sets of revisions. I do x, until I think it shines. My agent does +1, and I've learned to heed her words. Then my editor adds the final +1, and I try to transform her suggestions into better writing while retaining my own voice.
Wasn't it Michener who said he wasn't a great writer, but was a great editor? Both are necessary for success.

That last line is GOLD!!

Every author should have that taped to her computer!!

You have to think of your agent and editors as team members...everyone has to work together to make the book a success. If you go into this process thinking your work is perfect...you are not going to make it very far.

Love this! (Suppose it helps that I enjoy revising.)

Thanks.

You want to have a good team together that will give you good criticism. I try and take it and listen carefully to what would improve the book, becuase lets face it we all want it to be successful! Listening is important!

Great post!

Well said. A writer has to remember that the agent and editor etc. want what they want -- the book to be the best it can be. I say, "Bring it on and let's make this book the best damn book it can be." No one should ever settle for mediocre. If you're willing to settle, I'm not the editor for you. I tell my reporters this all the time. I'm simply not interested in working with people who don't want to do the best work of their lives. I'm committed to helping them do this and I expect them to be committed as well. If they aren't, they can go work for someone else. Might sound harsh, but that's the way I feel. Turns out I have a great team who feel the way I do. They want tough editing. They want to be challenged. They want to learn. As a writer, I want that, too.

I'm in fourth revision of a manuscript (incorporating 95% of my agent's feedback, because it was spot-on).

I'm glad she doesn't want to send it out before it's ready. I'm also frustrated that I can't know it's there before I click send, but every revision I've submitted has been a vast improvement, and I think I'm getting very close to the final draft.

Please cross your fingers for me! Mine are too busy typing for me to cross them myself.

Oh definitely! I'm always so relieved to know beforehand, before I let readers down or make a fool of myself, LOL. I'm not as worried about the latter, but when I know in my heart about the former, I can beat myself up for years. Revisions are a relief!

This is my first time here, and Jessica, that last line IS gold.

An excellent post. Well done.

(hey, my word verification is "wrimo". Interesting, that.)

~Lola

I'm curious...if a manuscript has to be gutted or practically rewritten, what about it made the agent take on the author as a client to begin with? Or are these coming from writers who are already clients?

Brilliant post.. I know that this will be necessary once I get published.. But it's surprising how many will think it's not necessary, and how easily it can be forgotten. I honestly look forward to the day when i hear from my agent and editor regarding their thoughts, and I will keep this article in mind because while it may be difficult to take the criticism at first, it'll all be worthwhile, and you reminded me (and I'm sure countless others) of this crucial fact.

Great comments. I've learned that one of the best way to learn to deal with revisions is to let a lot of people see your work and express their opinion about it. I know the process has given me thicker skin.

My fingers are crossed for you, Rick. Good luck! :)

Love the last line too, Jessica.

Honestly, I feel very ambivalent about this. I get alittle nervous about the idea that the I'm supposed to turn control of my work over to someone else who isn't.....me. :)

I absolutely value feedback, of course. It's essential. So, I think this one would depend upon whether the agent or the editor shared my vision for the work. If they did, it could be truly wonderful. If they didn't - hopefully, I'll be smart enough to gently end the relationship and look for someone else who does share my vision.

I think the most important thing in this post is "trust." I am very lucky in that I trust both my agent and my editor to steer me in the right direction, but they also trust me to know what my story requires. I've done numerous revisions for Jessica and they've always made the work better--and the really cool thing is that my editor has requested very few revisions because Jessica's gotten to them first. It's a win/win situation, and I honestly think the result is a much better book.

Thanks for this wonderful post, Jessica. As an unpublished writer who participates in critique groups with other unpublished writers, I really struggle with this one. It's so difficult to know when to take advice and when not to. Even with line editing help, it's difficult, because you want your own unique voice. But does anyone want to read a unique voice that uses unnecessary words? I haven't figured that out yet: if there's a simpler way to say something, should we always write it? Or does that "clone" us and neutralize our unique voice?

It's a difficult balance to manage, as a writer, dealing with criticism. And you have to be diplomatic all the times so you don't look like a diva. But there are ways to deal with criticism that isn't needed (or bad criticism you don't like), and it takes a certain amount of clever, polite manipulation, on the writer's part, to know how to "handle" the agent or editor and let them think they are right at all times, even when they are wrong. And from what I've found, most of the time they are.

This way everyone is happy and no egos are bruised. And the writer still gets what's best for the book without hurting anyone's feelings.

And when the writer learns how to manipulate people this way, and always remains looking good at the same time, that's what I call the true sign of a real pro.

Oh, that's probably true. No wonder we are warned not to be difficult writers/revisers. =) Thanks for the post.

This is one area a solid critique group is helpful. First, as a writer you learn to deal effectively with critiques and realize quickly NO MANUSCRIPT IS PERFECT. Second, after agents/editors suggest changes there are other who can pick through the rewrites to find anything you might have missed before you resubmit.

One of the first things I did when deciding to pursue writing a little over a year ago, was apply to a crit group. It's one of the best choices I've ever made.

I can't wait for the an agent tells me to fix something, because that means, I'm on my way.

Thanks for the post. :)

Another reason a crit group is good...they can read things, like my post above (when my son is on my lap helping me type) and say, "Gilbert, you missed a few things, like, spelling and grammar."

Got to love having a 4 year old helping you out.

The time and effort you put into your clients careers are what make you an awesome agent! I hope one day I am lucky enough to have an agent so dedicated to her job.

I know the round of edits that come after signing with an agent and then signing with a publishing company can be seemingly never-ending, but as you said it's to make the author bigger and better.

Most non-book writing gigs -- magazine articles, corporate material, etc. -- tend to be highly collaborative with a lot of drafts. You get accustomed to accepting and (here's the important part) analyzing feedback so you can use it to improve the work. Sometimes feedback needs to be interpreted. And sometimes it needs to be rejected. But it should always be listened to.

I don't want an agent messing aorund with revisions. That's what editors are for. I want an agent SELLING. Reject it if you can't sell it. Don't try and play editor. Ain't your job.

What you say is true. You have to learn what is good advice and what isn't. How much to edit, how much to strip, how much to add, who to listen to.

great blog.

ann

Anon at 3:04, you are going to leave yourself a very small pool of agents who meet your criteria. And why wouldn't you want to collaborate with an agent who sees literally thousands of projects, probably reads about the same number of books each year, and knows what works for the editors they are pitching to?

It IS the agent's job to make sure a manuscript is ready to be pitched. If you don't know that, you don't understand this business.

Anonymous 3:04 --

I guess everyone has their own perception of what their agent's job would be.

I think, however, that most of our clients would disagree with you. And I certainly consider revisions part of my job. I'd feel as if I were "slacking" if I didn't help them bring their work to its fullest potential. I'm not going to just slap our letterhead on a project and send it out to a mailing list. I wouldn't feel I was earning my commission that way.

You are insane. I'm taking a closer look at your last two posts in my blog tomorrow.

You must be coming apart--no one talks to other human beings this way.

Gordon Jerome
A Literary Experience

yawn. princess gordo is a douche

Gordon:

I've seen your blog. You're the last person I'd listen to on how to speak to other human beings.

Kim:

Your comment made me curious, so I checked Gordon's blog. You don't love it? It's exactly what I'd write, were I afflicted with some terrible disease that prevented dissimulation.

I'm with Anon 10:33- posts like these make me so confused. Everyone always insists that before you even think about sending off to agents your MS has to be pretty much perfect, which to me translates as, "Your work must be a masterpiece or else it's Form Rejection for you."

So I guess my question is, what kind of editing gets done by agents/editors? Is it small things like grammar/wording/inconsistencies? Or is it big things like character/plot in general?

Timely post, Jessica. I will be getting my editor's revisions at the end of the week. While not extensive (this is entirely subjective of course), they may require a fair bit of rewriting. Three or four things I will have to think about. Will be interesting to get these and see exactly what this means. This is my first go around with this process, and it's both exciting and intimidating. I handle critique fairly well, so not worried much on that end. My greatest fear really is that the editor's view will veer in a direction radically different than my own. While I don't foresee this, I trust she knows what needs to happen to make this story better and more viable for the market and because this is a series, orienting things for the long run. This isn't something I have expertise in. I've never written a series, so how can I do anything but trust the ones who have the expertise? Besides, they want my story to succeed as much as I do. We're in this together, and while I'm putting the words on the page, this is now a group effort. And I for one and happy to be a part of it.

Anon 10:33 and 6:51 --

After offering representation on a manuscript, we rarely ask that the book be "gutted" or completely rewritten. If it requires that much work but we still like the writing, then we would more likely offer editorial advice and tell the writer that if they choose to take our suggestions and would like to resubmit, we'd be happy to take another look. That said, I don't think I've ever taken on a client and told them I didn't think the manuscript needed any work at all. It's probably more than just grammar issues, but less than an entire reworking. For example -- a section could be tightened here to improve the pacing, or when the character says this it's really hard to sympathize with him, etc....

I do discuss these issues with the writer when I first offer representation. Sometimes they like my suggestions and it encourages them to sign with me. Sometimes another agent's response resonates with them more and they go elsewhere.

For established clients on their second, fourth or seventh book, however, we often become their critique partner and so we become more involved from the very beginning. Unlike their first book that we offered on, they haven't had as much time to hone or receive as much feedback from peers, so they welcome revisions. As Jessica said, they may not always agree with our suggestions and that's fine, because ultimately we understand that it's their book. But it's important that we respect one another's perspectives and remain open to hearing each other out. That's the mark of professionalism that Jessica's talking about.

Anonymous 3:04--It must be nice to have your confidence. I take all the advice I can get. :)

"I think, however, that most of our clients would disagree with you."

I'm sure they would, in front of you. Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing what they are really thinking.

"That's the mark of professionalism that Jessica's talking about."

That's one way to look at it, I'm sure.

But another mark of professionalism, for a writer, is to agree with everything, smile and nod, and then figure out a way to get what you want without bruising anyone's inflated ego. There's a psychology involved that comes with time and experience.

When it ultimately comes down to who is going to take the heat in reviews and comments on a book, it's the author. No one else! And I've seen too many good authors take the heat because an agent, editor, or some other know-it-all made the wrong suggestions. The one thing I've never seen is a blog post about this topic. I wonder why. Could it be that when this happens everyone who gave the adivce jumps ship and leaves the author stranded?

Sorry for the rant. I understand this post wasn't written with bad intentions. But when you're posting about author-agent relationships you should take into consideration that there aren't just unpubbed writers reading these posts.

I think I did well working with the editor on my last novel, but I've had only one similarly good experience with an agent. A couple of other agents signed me, sent notes, and when I wanted to discuss them suddenly they were unavailable. I got the feeling that I was a "problem" client, and before long I wasn't a client any more.

I'll be searching for an agent again in a few months, and that is my biggest fear. That they will not want to hear from me about their notes, they will just want me to execute. Sigh.

Thanks Kim:

That makes a lot of sense. I, for one, WANT an agent who makes revision suggestions. Why would anyone turn down an opportunity to have two different experts (agent and editor) helping them better their book - and therefore, their career?

As for all you folks who seem to be in a perpetual bad mood or unnecessarily negative....you don't deserve agents like Kim and Jessica.

Anon 10:33

"Why would anyone turn down an opportunity to have two different experts (agent and editor) helping them better their book - and therefore, their career?"

Some of you people are so dense.

The writer takes the final hit, not the agent, editor, or publisher. And if you can't trust your own instincts as a writer, maybe you shouldn't be doing it.

PS:

You want to see an agent or editor run faster than a speeding bullet?

When book reviewers slam something in a book that they advised the client to write.

I'd expect, and I'm sure most writers would too, that revisions will occur. I want my best work to be read, and I tend to lose objectivity. Bravo to you for being passionate and committed to your authors.

To tell you the truth, then, I'm no pro.

Yet.

The last time I interacted with an editor, she wanted me to rewrite history. I was so flabberghasted that she believed I made up my facts after MONTHS of research, I never responded. I had no idea what to do, except clean the coffee spit off my computer screen. An agent really would have come in handy.

I still have no idea how to handle a situation like that.

Thanks for the reply Kim! That makes a lot more sense now (actually I don't know why I didn't think of it before... it seems so obvious??)

Thanks again :)

- Anon 6:51

Late to the party here, but I had to respond, having just gone through revisions with Jessica on my seventh contracted book. She's invaluable to me in helping me see the big picture, since I'm so deep into the words and sentence structure I sometimes can't see the forest for the trees. And I know what's in my head--well, sometimes I can't quite remember if what's in my head stayed on the paper--so it's great to get a fresh read from someone who's very interested in seeing me succeed and my career grow.

Jessica doesn't give me a line edit--she just tells me what in the story didn't work for her. She'll often give me suggested fixes which I often don't agree with. This time she suggested developing one aspect of the story more, but I didn't want to go that way so instead I decided to tone that part down. The point wasn't the specific fix, it was that there was a problem. I ran the revised story by her and she thought it worked the way I'd done it.

I sometimes fuss at her when we have these conversations, but I know from experience the process always makes the book better.

I've found that editors don't always have time to edit--or at least not as promptly as I'd like. Also when up against a deadline, I can't get the perspective I need to see what is working and what isn't.

Great post, Jessica. I think it's great to have an agent who's a partner on your work.

I've been blogging about the Austin SCBWI conference this week, and agents doing edits came up in a few presentations. Agent Nathan Bransford, for example, said that with the state of the publishing industry, houses aren't taking chances on books and authors the way they used to, and with fewer editors on the payroll, each doing more work, there's less time for editors to work on a book. So, publishers are looking for books that are pretty much shelf-ready. Because of this, it's important for agents to do whatever they can to help the author get that book as good as it can be before it goes out to an editor so the book can sell. Nathan also said that he doesn't impose his vision of what the book should be but helps bring out the writer's vision.

Editors and other agents at the conference echoed what Nathan said. One editor said that when they take on a book, they don't know how well a writer can revise. So, if it's a new author, they prefer to have a book really close to shelf ready in case the author isn't a good reviser and they have to print the book as is.

Ultimately, publishing is a business, and a bad book isn't going to make money, so there's no reason for an agent or editor to make suggestions that will hurt a book. They both want the book to succeed so they can make money.

Both agents and editors at the conference said the revision process is a back and forth and everyone is trying to make the best book possible. And, authors should trust their instincts. If they don't agree with a note given by an agent or editor, they should say so. Be professional, consider all the notes, take what works and revise, and explain why they don't agree with the notes they don't feel will work. Often better ways can be found through the back and forth, but ultimately -- and again, both the editors and agents said this -- it's the author's name on the book, so the author has the final say. The author doesn't have to agree, and doesn't have to make the change.

If an author makes changes the agent suggested, the author should agree with those changes.

This is why, as Nathan said, it's so important for a writer to have the RIGHT agent, not an agent. Because they have to trust each other and see eye to eye.

With all due respect to the agents and authors here, I have to disagree w/ the premise of agent rewrites.

I fully understand you are doing what you can to make the MS as strong as possible etc.

But I want to be rejected if you think my work can;t be sold as is (or with some minor tuning). Seven revisions is co-authoring a book. I have no idea how to be n agent. That's why I need you. If you could write a steady stream of marketable books, you;d be an author.

Editors are people handing you money (ok not by hand, but you get the idea!) so if they want a revision (and you agree with it) DO IT. IF an agent makes a suggestion and it makes sense to you - fine.

If an agent says rewrite this or I won;t send it out - you need a new agent because you are not on the same page (oooooh bad pun... bad bad bad)

Anyway, I hope none of this is taken as a flame, I have no reason to think ill of anyone who has posted here, and I hope none of this is taken personally.

I simply feel that as an author I am asking the agent to send my work out and negotiate deals on my behalf. I welcome feedback and advice, but I do not rewrite for anyone who is not paying for the work. Again, if my agent thinks it won't sell as is, he is free to reject it. I fully expect that he will. If not, I would ask that he try to sell it and leave the revision requests to the people who want to publish it.

I suggest anyone interested in the author/agent/publisher/revision merry-go-round read John Masters' Pilgrim Son. It's autobiographic, covering his decision to become a writer, thru his success. It sheds a lot of light on how it looks to the author and what the choices are.

This is a great post! And very true. So often you hear from authors that their agents don't listen, but the turn to that is agents know what they're doing. Very nice to know that you respect the clients enough to listen, hopefully you'll continue to have clients that return the favor.
This is true to other areas of life and business as well. No one wants someone around who doesn't respect you or others.
~K

Great post ad very appropriate since I'm shopping for an agent now! Thanks so much for sharing your insight.

I think what some inexperienced authors forget is that an author and a good agent are a team. A team is always stronger when it works together and each member recognizes that the other has something important to offer.

Think of it like a good marriage - united we stand, divided we fall. Compromise is the key in all things, because there is always room for improvement.

I know I need an agent who is experienced and knowledgeable in the field - one with contacts, experience in the trends, courage to take on a fresh voice and concept, one who can help me navigate contracts and direct me in making a wise decision.

It's why any writer who is serious about succeeding would want a good agent. I don't need someone who can just submit my work when I tell them - hell, I can do that on my own and get the rejection quite nicely as well.

A person with success is normally surrounded by smart people who helped them achieve that goal. I plan on getting a smart agent to help me become a successful writer. I don't think any writer worth their salt would deny having a ringer on your side always makes your team stronger.

Which is, of course, why I submitted my story to you ;-)

Tactfully, and respectfully stated. It really hit home for me when you said that your reputation is on the line as much as the authors. Most of us are just fumbling blindly in the dark, hoping that someone will hand us a flashlight so we can see the path we need to follow. I didn't realize that where we shine that light reflects upon its owner as well.

Thanks for the education.

I think this can be helped along enormously by the way the two parties communicate with one another.

Communicatios is often impaired by how one person dealt with the person who came immediately before.

Just because the last aspiring author an agent talked to was a lazy researcher, for example, it doesn't mean I am too.

And just because one agent ridiculed someone's last name, doesn't mean the next one will.

I think it's hard for people to let go and accept each individual at face value. But, if they can, I think it leads to more effective communication, which makes the respect obvious.

What's the use in talking to someone who obviously has no respect and, therefore, will not listen?

I can see how an agent with excellent communication skills would come in mightily handy.

I've never understood why anyone would hire someone presumably for their expertise and then not listen to them. Doesn't make a particle of sense. The author/agent team has to have mutual respect and a willingness to listen.

I'm only a month into my agent/author experience, but so far I have nothing but the greatest respect for my agent. I have no doubt she has my best interest at heart, so why wouldn't I listen to her suggestions and take her advice seriously? Some people are just know-it-alls and are hard to work with. As the saying goes, "it's their way or the highway."

You, Jessica, have always appeared to be a very understanding and compromising person. If an author is being exceedingly difficult, maybe they need to move on.

The bottom line is, if you - as an agent - are not on board 100+% w/a project, how are you going to sell it? As you said, your reputation depends on your pitching projects that you're totally excited about. What author would want anything less?

This is exactly why I think the publishing world will always need agents. Authors need someone, a publishing expert, to be honest with them about their work and career. (Totally not the point of your post, but it's what came to mind.)

This is such an important post. As an author, it's easy to get caught up in a project--face it, our minds our often bursting with ideas that, once implemented, don't always work as well on paper as they did in that stew we think of as our brains. I've proposed a few things where I'm sure my agent thought I was nuts, but I've learned to trust her instincts AND her experience.

That's what it all comes down to--trust. I write, but I have to trust my agent to be honest with me and to do her best job for me. It's not always easy--another thing that seems universal to writers is that we're all control freaks (I know that's why I love writing--the chance to think I'm in control of SOMETHING!) and turning control over to another person isn't easy, which takes me back to trust. I'll do my job and trust my agent to do hers. So far, it appears to be working.

I think C.J. summed it up nicely when she said: "I don't need someone who can just submit my work when I tell them - hell, I can do that on my own and get the rejection quite nicely as well."

We absolutely need agents to tell us the truth and to listen that truth :). How else are we going to be successful?

Another great post, Jessica.

I completely agree. Mutual respect is so important. Both the writer and the agent have skill sets that are extremely valuable and should be treated as such.

I also thought your point about how agents need to maintain their reputation was well-spoken. I actually hadn't thought of it that way, but seems obvious now. :)

I can tell you'd be a great agent to work with. Lots of open, honest communication. :)

You sort of said this, but it's worth reiterating.

We aren't just hiring an agent for expertise and knowledge, we're also hiring an agent's reputation!

So it should be a no-brainer to respect an agent's opinion on what she can and can't (or will and won't) sell.

If you want freedom to write something outside of your agent's comfort zone, then be prepared to either sell it yourself, or work with more than one agent. (And make sure your agent is comfortable with that too.)

I just want to say that I love your blog! It has helped me tremendously in my process current process of searching for a literary agent. When I needed information on query letters I went to your blog. When I needed information on a synopsis I returned to your blog. Thank you!

What you say is true, and can be said for any relationship in life. Communication and professionalism is very important. A lack of respect can cause a lot of problems in a personal or business relationship. I hope that once I am fortunate enough to obtain an agent that we have a good working relationship.

"I’ve spent years working with authors, publishers, other agents, and editors. I’ve spent years learning the ins and outs of this industry and making connections to keep on top of what’s happening, and certainly I hope that you have respect for that."

This more than anything, is what an agent brings to the table.

Do you find that the "lack of respect" you encounter is more from a first time author basis, or previously published authors? I know for me, if I were to land an agent for my novel, I'd take what they say VERY seriously. Last time I checked, they were the pro right?

I hire an agent for her skills and experience, to help guide my career down this dark path. If I don't listen and respect that person I am working against myself.

I am a proud person but I respect others because I in turn expect to be respected...

It blows me away that there are Authors out there who act this way. The relationship should work for all parties involved, if it doesn't why bother.

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That above comment is laced with offensive profanity!

I really like this post and I think you sum up a lot of the issues very well. (disclosure: I'm one of the originators of BWI.)

But I do take issue with: For the most part, blogging should be approached as a creative outlet, writing practice, or networking opportunity.

I don't think any of us have the right to say what blogging should or shouldn't be. It's evolving faster than we can define it! But I will say that the most successful blogs are about the author's passions, and if you are not truly passionate about your content (say, a free jar of applesauce?) you can't expect to really connect with your readers. Without readers those freebies will dry up soon enough. I have to believe it will all sort itself out to some degree.

Thanks Mom101. It was hard to get the complex points down to a sentence or two, and some of them suffered more than others.

My point is that bloggers aren't somehow "owed" for their time, and they wouldn't expect it in any other "hobby." I'm trying to convey that the approach, the intent in blogging (especially in books, which is My Community) can't be with the expectation or sense of entitlement to getting free stuff and making money. Opportunities often present themselves to bloggers who focus on their passion and prove themselves over the long run.

Thanks for coming by.

Well-said, Pam. I know that I purchase far more books in a year than I ever receive as review copies, but I should do a better job of indicating the origin of any books I review here (purchased, review copy, or library book). I happen to agree with the assertion that Mom101 took issue with - it's a cogent articulation of what most kidlit blogs ARE, therefore saying that's how they ought to be approached is a bit of a tautology (and yet worth repeating).

I'm shocked to learn, however, that I missed out on free book shelves. I could use some more bookcases. (I am kidding, really - not about needing them, but about wanting freebies.)

Pam, I'm with you 100%. I still do think longingly of not accepting review copies any more. But it's not because I don't think that it's ethical to accept them. It's just because I kind of feel like I already have a lifetime's worth of books piled up, and it would simplify my life to just review books later in the cycle, and request the ones that I want from the library. I can't quite do it, because I DO like getting new books earlier, and I do discover books that I would have missed otherwise. But some days...

Terry Doherty wrote a post recently that I liked, where she equated blogging with integrity with blogging with authenticity. I kind of like that as a personal litmus test. Am I authentically excited to write about this? Or am I doing it because someone else wants me to do it for some reason? The latter is a very slippery slope, and I'm working on concentrating on the former - only writing about things that I really care about.

Thanks for giving us all the opportunity to think about these issues. Can't wait to talk more about some of this at the conference.

I decided that for me, it was better to avoid the possibility of anyone feeling deceived or like I was less than forthcoming so I am now clearly stating where books come from. I've seen bloggers who don't like that practice, but I'd rather be upfront about it and annoy a few people than seem like I have something to hide.

I can't imagine a product review would ever feel like it was worth the time and effort (a jar of applesauce? too much work! Just buy it!) unless it was an ereader or something.

Sometimes I see a hot title another blogger gets and feel a stab of longing, but really I don't feel any jealousy over the good fortunes of other bloggers. But that's just me.

Thanks for this thoughtful post. One thought on paid blogging: I no longer take review copies, but I do get paid (some, not a lot) to blog on a children's publisher's website. I've struggled with this issue--can I really blog with integrity when I'm paid by a publisher?--and have not come to a solid conclusion, but take some consolation in the fact that my connection with the publisher is quite obvious, not hidden or disguised in any way. My editors have told me multiple times that I'm free to write about any books I choose, and I've done so, but have shied away from posting about at least one controversy centered on a book from that publisher. What I'd like to do, and meant to do originally, is keep up an independent book blog as well, but have found that I just don't have the time to keep it up.

Kelly,
For that one concept, my trigger event was ARC-gate, in which Justine got so many direct requests for Liar that she had to write a post saying that she didn't have any ARC's, and then people got snippy about that. I also have seen statements around like "I work hard on my posts, why shouldn't I get free stuff?" It's the idea that going into blogging somehow entitles one to freebies or payment - not something you'd see with any other hobbies. I could use better wording on that thought, for sure. Any suggestions?

(Oh, and I was a bit jealous of the bookshelves myself. It's natural to feel that way, and that's one of the things that can spur on the drive for more stuff. Like, well she got free stuff, where can I get something?)

Jen,
I don't take many review copies anymore. Like you, I don't think it's an ethical issue but it feels like more pressure than I need. Another down side to the free stuff is the obligation and extra time involved. That's been another issue for mommy bloggers some of whom get 70 pitches a day. It can really turn a blog into work - and not the fun kind of work either.

I like the idea of authenticity, and I'll head to Terry's post.

Amy,
Several kidlit/YA folks here have been listing the book source for years. I haven't done it, but it didn't bother me either. With the recent developments though, I think it's a good idea.

One of the great things about book blogging, is that generally when I see a good title my response is more excitement to put it on my TBR list than jealousy that someone got it first. The reviews are what makes us excited about a new title, and with blogs we can share that excitement with the reviewer. I couldn't say that about a jar of applesauce.

Anonymous,
I don't think anyone takes issue with folks who get paid to blog. Congratulations, in fact, because it's so rare. As you say, your relationship with the publisher is obvious and you can choose what books to review. If you were being pressured to write something good about a book you couldn't stand, that would be a problem. When I talk about not having an expectation for making money, it's less about the opportunities that may come along - like getting a paid position - and more about going into blogging with the idea of what can I get.

Mom101, I agree that there is such a diversity in blogging that it is hard to write absolutes. That said, I've seen something in some blogs/comments that I've seen in fandom when it comes to fanfiction and fanart: "I put a lot of work into this so I should get paid." There are a lot of instances were hard work doesn't mean getting paid, and people should know that going in. A person who wants their work to be something they can get paid for should really look into the various areas and fields and do their homework to see if that expectation is realistic.

I find the MomBlog information fascinating, and agree with MR that I see similar things happening in the bookblogosphere, with the exception that for the most part review copies arent' an issue because they are such a standard part of traditional book reviewing. That said, with people reading blogs and not knowing about the supply of review copies, I think transparency and disclosure is important.

Most book bloggers start because they love books and talking about books. Things start getting more gray as blogs go beyond what they started as, and suddenly, it's not a handful of friends you're talking with but a few thousand. Amy did an experiment with a book to see the impact of a blog on book purchases in a positive way; if the argument is book bloggers can have a positive influence, then the argument also exists that the opposite is true. Look at Liar and the posts that had begun about boycotting the bloomsbury edition. I have a hard time with arguments that on one hand say "I don't have to do x because I'm just talking about books I love" and at the same time hearing "but we influence people more than traditional media". I'm not saying blogs don't influence; it's that with that role, responsibility includes considering things like ethics, standards, etc.

I also believe that discussion of these things can be as important as any decision, and we have to remember the blogosphere is huge. as Pam points out, the kidlit world has the "do i disclose" discussion years ago; but we shouldn't say "we discussed this already" because the world is bigger than "we." Some people did, but not everyone, and discussion should not be shut down by saying "we did this already."

I've bookmarked this so I can come back later & either reply in more depth or write another post on the subject. Great post.

What annoyed me about the bookshelf thing (and I've never posted on this anywhere) is that your average person can not judge if a bookshelf is really well made. I mean you put books on it and say they fit, you shove it up against the wall and it looks right and....well, you're done. Until the thing collapses (in one month or a year or whenever) you don't know much. Now get a carpenter in the room and he will tell you a million things about how it is constructed, is it a particle board design or not, is it screwed together or does it use fasteners, what kind of finish does it have, etc. (This is stuff my husband is throwing at me from across the room.)

I don't know this stuff - I can't review furniture and from the post on the free bookshelves it doesn't look like she knew much specific either. That wasn't a review in my opinion - it was publicity, plain and simple.

As for me, well I created my blog purely for connecting with folks and having a more informal place to talk about all kinds of books rather than my column which is much more regimented. I've always fallen into a weird place on these arguments because of Bookslut and the review copies generated by my association with it. To me the internet is all about the connections I've gotten in the literary world - getting into Booklist, meeting and signing with my agent and being able to do amazing things for teens in need via Guys Lit wire. I get a paycheck elsewhere - the blog is all about a longterm place in the literary world.

MR, right on. Posts like this remind new book bloggers especially to take their cues from people other than publishers and publicists--not that I have anything against publishers and publicists, as Seinfeld would say.

Sometimes bloggers look to publishers or other companies, say manufacturers of bookshelves, to tell them what to do, but I think that is due to naivete and inexperience. So educating yourself is very important. That applies to "old" bloggers, too. It's a continuing process.

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Great Stuff... Thanx for Sharing.....

Thank you. For this post and for all you do, thank you.

Trust the gut! Hope your Fourth is a fun and relaxing one.

That was a very encouraging article. Thanks!

Thanks--but don't you mean FLAIR?

Or the next great British novel?

Thank you!
And yes, or the next great British novel

Booker prize here I come, lol.

Thanks, a motivational shot in the arm always helps.

Have a great holiday!

It's always good to hear encouraging words amid all the life lessons we learn on these blogs. Thanks!


Novice Writer Anonymous

Great timing. My brain was just getting bogged down with all the rules and restrictions until I could barely get a sentence out.
Thanks!

Jessica, This is one of my favorite posts you've written. Sometimes I think we writers are nothing more than a bundle of nerves with heads; that's how nervous we become trying to figure out what's right and wrong in the querying/submission process.

Like Charlie Parker the great American sax player once said, "You've got to learn your instrument. Then, practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on stage, forget all that stuff and just wail!"

Here's to writers trusting their instincts and letting their talents wail!

Thanks for an amazing quote DebraLSchubert. Watch yourself--you just might end up on my blog.

Jessica, thanks for a great post. Sometimes I feel like an ass for thinking that I might get published one day. As you pointed out the book biz is subjective, tough, and clogged up with so much talent.

But I can work hard, and keep reading, and as I do--well, I start to have those moments that Stephen King talked about in On Writing, when I read a book and think, "I can do better than that!"

Great post. If there is one thing I've learned from my role as a student of publishing, it's that most questions are answerable with common sense.rt

No truer words were even spoken, Jessica. Example--all the years I wasted (well, not really, as I did improve my skills) writing what I "thought" editors wanted. When I finally wrote what I wanted, my career took off. Trusting in yourself isn't always easy, but it's the one place where you generally won't go wrong.

So often we forget!

Successful art is both business and personal and if we don't stay true to ourselves, we'll quickly be nothing but business and ultimately unsuccessful.

Thank you for these encouraging words today!

Thank you. Now have a great holiday.

Wonderful post. I love your 'cut to the core' approach on things. It's insightful and compassionate. I saw your Title, and immediately started to relax.

I also really appreciate the comments. Aimmee, I couldn't agree more!

On the other hand, Jessica, I hope you're right. Sometimes, I think someone should follow me around and shout "NO!!" just before I do anything.

Suppose I could follow myself around shouting 'no.' But that might seem alittle odd....

I ended up breaking up with my cowriter because he would not trust himself. He absolutely refused to believe that the industry was subjective and became convinced if he could find the elusive right steps, the book would sell.

We had a book project done and were just starting to submit it to agents. Of course, we got rejections. He started sniffing around, looking for reasons. He became convinced that something must be wrong with the book (we're talking barely hitting single digit rejections, with one full request) and that the first chapter needed to be rewritten. Couldn't explain what needed to be rewritten or why.

Then he started sniffing around published authors. Some it was workshops he attended, and their advice became "We must do this"--even if it was wrong for the book or for either of our writing styles.

The worst was a published YA author who actually read the book. The book was set during a war and many of the characters were soldiers in combat. The YA writer reacted badly to it because she was vehemently anti-gun. Because of her reaction, my cowriter concluded that agents must be rejecting the book because we had guns in it! He started talking about removing the guns from the story--nevermind that it wouldn't make sense or be credible.

I tried to tell him that just because she was published didn't mean she knew what was right for our book. But he got so locked into "This author said" and "That author said" that he not only pushed me out of the book, he pushed himself out of the book.

You are so right. I had so many different people critique my work that if I had made all of the suggested changes my book would have been a totally different beast. Instead, I decided to listen to all the critiques with a grain of salt. What really worked was reading my material over and over until I got it right, and trusting myself. Now the entire ms is under submission with an agent, this is a first for me. This process has been one hurdle at a time and with each hurdle the book improves.

Learning to trust yourself isn't easy, as I've come to realize.

I have several critique partners, and when I get something back from them, they often give contradictory advice. One of them says to cut all the "bad" language and to tone down the hot scenes. Another says to cut the magical aspects because those aren't needed. Another, who I'm seriously listening to, says there's too much snark.

The problem is, they all have a point, and I'm sure others will agree with them. But do I really want to write something with no heat, no magic, and only words my grandmother would use? Well, no -- because that's not what I like to read.

It's hard to ignore advice when you know it may alienate some readers -- maybe even some friends. But if instinct means telling the story you want to tell, I guess part of that is developing an awareness of the difference between a critique partner's personal taste and their own instincts for problems in my writing. And then figuring out how to distinguish between the two.

TreeThyme, I know exactly what you mean. I've gotten completely opposite advice in critique groups. Cut that, don't cut that. Too much of this, not enough of this.

When that happens, it's tough! I guess you have to sit with it, and go with your gut. Sometimes, it's obvious, but sometimes.....maybe the skill to trust yourself and your voice is something that grows with experience.

Jessica,
One of your agency's authors, Jo Dereske, put me on to your blog a couple months ago and I've enjoyed reading your posts ever since. Thank you. Today's post helped confirm what I've long believed, but I appreciate the reminder.

If you ever decide to represent YA, I'm sure many of us would flood your inbox. Maybe that's a good reason not to...hmm.

I would never join a critique group. The last thing I want is other writers suggesting how I should construct or change my work. I am not interested in supportive criticism. I believe that when work is changed, based on the opinions of others, the writer no longer owns the work. It has become compromised.

I do not write to please publishers. That seems so fake. What's the point? I write what I want to please myself. My audience finds my work. And when they do... they find ME.

Marjorie -- though I tend to shy from critique groups, too (for different reasons), I think they can quite useful w/o compromising your work -- they might point out plot loopholes, character inconsistencies, etc. that have nothing to do w/ your tone/voice, etc... and, after everything's all said and done, you don't have to listen to them.

Bane:
I tend to like to keep my work private until it is posted. I feel to even hear other people's opinions compromises the work. I do not like to empower other writers who (in groups) are readers. Sometimes these other writers have obtuse agendas when they critique a work. I feel that after a work is published, readers can form opinions. And I certainly would never write to please publishers.

In terms of how groups can be useful regarding character and plot... I think it is better to have one person who can function as a "sounding board" as opposed to strangers in a group. If a sounding board is desired.

Writers in critique groups sometimes give conflicting opinions and I really feel all it does is confuse and compromise the integrity of the project. It is invasive and meaningless to me.

Can you picture JD Salinger in a critique group? Or Woody Allen? They are confident in themselves... and so am I.

I'm confident, but I know my writing has been greatly improved by my critique partners. I don't always choose to take their advice, but they sometimes see things from a different perspective. If it makes my story stronger, I'll take their advice. That is not to say I always follow every suggestion, but, from my standpoint, the input is helpful.

New reader here. I've been catching up on all your old posts and just wanted to say how much I appreciate you taking time out of your day to share valuable advice with us.

Happy 4th!

Marjorie - I totally hear what you're saying in terms of confidence. I will say that in some ways, trusting yourself is exactly where it's at when it comes to writing.

On the other hand, I adore my critique group. The thing about writing is it's communication. I miss things. Stuff that I think is crystal clear...well, isn't. It's good to get feedback on that. And then, if you trust yourself enough, you can take in what's helpful, and ignore what isn't.

Wow, thanks for the encouraging blog. It's extremely needed when waiting on pins and needles for query responses from agents.

It gives me hope in my anxious little world of waiting.

I am curious as to why a literary agent would post a blog with run-on sentences. Is this a deliberate stylistic choice or do the rules of grammar not apply to blogs? I am not being snarky. I am actually curious.

Thanks, Jan

Long time lurker, first time commenter - I just wanted to say that I love reading your blog! If I ever get published (if I ever finish a novel), it will be because of the wonderful advice that I've read in blogs like yours.

So, thanks :)

At the end of the day, I'm glad you're ok. Learning is good! As is this blog :)

This blog and your informative posts are terrific, Jessica. It's hard to wrap my mind around the reason some authors go beyond being the squeaky wheel and become the fingernails-on-chalkboard, rude personas.

I'm continually impressed at your professionalism and look forward to your blog posts each day.

And I'll share a funny moment here--you were even gracious and professional when someone carrying big clunky luggage accidentally thumped it into you while checking into the Marriott in RWA San Fran last year. *guilty luggage gal* I almost introduced myself but figured a, "Hi, I just attacked you with my luggage" wouldn't be the best intro. Still, you were gracious and professional. No luggage wars broke out :)

Keep up the great work :)

Elaine

Great blog! Keep it up, J! Everything is subjective. And finding the right agent has to do with timing, luck and a fantastic story. The odds of us writers finding that magic combo is tough, we need to put on our big girl panties and write the next story. Who knows what will happen then.
:-)
Also, the weather might be messing with you if you've seen a lot of gloom and rain. I know it irritates me. Plus Mercury is in retrograde . . . again, and it puts everyone on edge. Summer and sunshine will be here soon enough, along with half-day Fridays.

Keep up the blogging. It's a source of great information.

Negative people exist to challenge the eternally optimistic. Without the negative people, Utopia would exist, and what fun would that be? The Optimists of the world would be bored and suddenly realize that the glass is not half full, but half empty. The Negative Nellies keep us (the Positive People) in check!

S

Jessica, Like all of us, you're allowed your moods. I only post on my blog a few times a week, so they are generally cheery posts. If I did it on a daily basis like you do, people might not find me quite so charming. (Ha!) Thanks for letting your personality shine through, and for teaching us much along the way. Your professionalism and love of all things publishing is an ongoing inspiration. Namaste.

Huh. Maybe it's because I've been reading your blog for a long time, but I didn't think you were all that surly.
I did get the feeling Agentfail brought out some uncomfortable stuff.
Frankly, I wrote it off as a sign of the times. The economy is scary. People are more desperate, more stressed. "The Contract" has more riding on it and is less secure.
This blog is one of the best sources of business info on the blogosphere.
I guess I just like it when you're surly. LOL.

No need to apologize. You're human. You are allowed to express emotions and opinions. I don't think you've posted anything unprofessional on this blog. Subjective, thought provoking...Sure. But we need that.

If we become too sensitive to allow an honest discourse, then the dialogue loses its value.

Well, I think your recent posts have been challenging and educational. I've learned and been encouraged a lot. If you didn't put much heart into your posts, they would be boring.

If you were surly, it must've gone right past me. Of course, if you were always hearts and fluffy bunnies, I'd wonder if you were a pod-person. Thank goodness you aren't. Yours is the first blog I read every morning, and for the past few years, it's been a pleasure. Keep up the good work, Jessica. And thank you.

You are a source of great information and your blog is valuable to those of us that read it with the hopes of some day being pub'd. We all get into a dark place (personally I've been in a bad mood and I can see it coming out in my posts and comments as well as emails to friends and family) and it seems like no one sees where we are coming from. All your points have been good.

I'm just keep trying to accept that people will not always agree with me (losers!) and if I keep responding to those that want an argument or to stir the pot, I'm just feeding them what they want (attention). So my only advice is don't let people get to you so much that it effects your whole outlook or ruins your day/week/month. Because lord knows they won't contribute to your blood pressure medication when the time comes...hehehe.

Oh and we all appreciate snarky (and some of us actually like snarky). Keep on keeping on.

Oh and the fact that you dedicated an entire post to this screams how professional and level-headed you really are. No one should think you're perfect and when you admit it openly it gives people a new found respect.

This is all something everyone wants to see in their agent.

You've missed one off...honest Jessica. That's the reason I read your blog. We can all moan about how hard it is to get published, recession time or not.

And like others have mentioned, I never noticed when you were surly.

I've been following for a while now and am glad to have found your blog.

Mel

Jessica,
If people get nasty with you, I think you have every right to give it right back. You are in the business of selling books. You've been around the block a million times and know what will sell and what won't. From that standpoint, I don't think you need to say 'sorry' about anything.

I think the biggest problem with writers is that they can't separate themselves from their work. If you decline to represent someone's project, all you're saying is that you don't believe you can sell the book. That's it! It's not a rejection of the person. Although feedback is nice, it's not your job or your obligation to provide it.

As long as things are kept on a professional level, I really don't see where people should get all bent out of shape.

The truth is that there are only so many publishing slots, if you will, out there. How many thousands of manuscripts are there for each one of those slots?

The fact that you take the time to write this blog indicates that you do care. I think you, Nathan and a few others go way above the call of duty. I really appreciate it.

I've been reading this blog for..has it been years now? And never felt you were surly. I think you've stayed very professional at all times.
I don't know what some people expect from agents. All these agents, on their blogs or other places on the net, are amazing pools of knowledge for which we should all be grateful.

Hahaha...surly? I thought you've been incredibly nice actually! You are probably the only (if not one of the only) agent who has taken the time to continue to explain Agentfail and the problems that it brought to light in a calm, understanding voice to us newbie writers.
So thank you. It’s seriously appreciated.

You do a great service to the industry Jessica. This stuff needs to be discussed. Too long has this industry been so hush-hush and secretive. Authors need to know the real facts of what goes on. Let's take off the rose-colored glasses and SEE what really goes on in the industry and what authors need to do to get published and stay published.

Don't forget, Jessica--Agentfail wasn't supposed to be directed at you...you just provided the sounding board. I think an exchange of ideas is healthy, and writers were able to get a lot of pent-up frustration out in the open. Thanks for the great blog!

Jessica,
First, I am thrilled and proud to have my work represented by Bookends (shout out to Ferocious K here).

Putting Agentfail out there was a brave move; it's one thing to deal with criticism, but to invite it in such a public way is quite another, and I admire you for that.

Few of us would be willing to open ourselves up to that kind of criticism. (Teacherfail? No thanks. Or how about Mommyfail? Now there's a thought.)

Most of us just do our best every day, and we like to think people appreciate it. Sometimes they don't.

You're doing right by your writers. You're doing right my the many who turn to this blog for information and advice.

For what it's worth.

snarky Jessica, surly Jessica, business Jessica, LOL after readin' a little Bella Andre... is there a naked Jessica? Please!

Haste yee back ;-)

It so easy to spot an angry mob, what with all the screaming and burning torches. It's easy to think it's the whole village because the the mob is all you see. But tucked away quitely in their homes are the majority of villagers, keeping their nose to the grindstone, not wishing harm on anyone.

I think the angry mob has had the stage long enough. It's time to move on. I love your blog and pass by everyday to learn a little. Keep them coming.

Jessica,

It's impossible to write a daily blog without your personality emerging, and that's a good thing. Spending your days doing something you love will engender joy, frustration, humor, and insight. When you mix the daily blog with something you enjoy, the result is that the rest of us get to see a real person struggling with these emotions.

What does any writer want from an agent? A real person who loves her job and who will ride that roller coaster of emotions with us. If you weren't surly at times, it would mean you didn't care. Add in the honesty, the urge to educate, the eagerness to learn from your own blog, and the humility to admit that publicly, and it leaves me with the impression that all your clients are lucky people indeed.

Keep up the good work and fight the good fight.

After I sent my post, I had an epiphany... YEP, a CALENDER for 2010, featuring the Playboy/girls of bloggin' Literary Agents. Tasteful, but provocative poses... (and not just the young ones of y'all)!

All proceeds going to a charity of your choice. I'd buy a dozen.

Okay, I'll stop epiphanizing now.

Haste yee back ;-)

LOL...reading your post and all the comments, I realize I am SUCH a Pollyanna...for one thing, I just don't read the negative stuff, and while I've read all your posts, I didn't pick up surly at all.

Guess I'll go back to playing ostrich and stick my head back in the sand, but all news that informs us more about the industry we choose to participate in is good news, as far as I'm concerned. It's part of the package that makes writing and the publishing industry so utterly fascinating.

Yet another lurker here (I’d suggest we form a Lurkers Anonymous group but we’d probably all hang around not saying anything). It’s amazing how differently people interpret the same words.

I am one of those writers for whom you are concerned. I sent my first real batch of queries on queryfail day, and followed the discussions through all the vitriol and finger-pointing. The more I read blogs like yours, the more my knowledge of publishing evolved. When I started, I immediately formed opinions about agents in general and some agents in particular, but I continued to read industry posts to educate myself. The more I read, the more I learned. Agentfail was a key component in that education. So was Nathan Bransford’s Agent for a Day (I zoned out in the first query. The first one. And that’s not even the hard part of the job).

You are performing exactly the service you set out to provide.

I’ve never thought about your mental state (sorry if I should have), and took from your writing that you are savvy, adaptable and committed (if only you took my genre!). All the empathizers are clearly very nice people, but I can’t help but think they may be missing the point of some of your posts, which aren’t really about you (no offense intended, empathizers. As I said, you’re all very kind).

Personally, I skipped Agent Fail. I don't know why so many blogging agents were talking about it. Let me know when Agent Success comes on. That might be more interesting.

You never struck me as being cranky -- honest and forthright, but not cranky!

Another lurker here.

I just wanted to say that one of the principles I held close to my heart while teaching high school was that the vocal, rowdy students were never the majority. But, man can those two clowns make enough noise to fill a classroom! The students who were happy with the class weren't standing on chairs and yelling at me that they loved what I did. They had their heads down busily doing classwork and writing lab reports.

You strike me as someone who, like me, has developed a pretty thick skin. But still, I thought I'd lift my head up from writing and revising and stand on my chair to shout that your blog has been a fabulous resource for me on my agent hunt and a great window into the publishing world in general.

Thanks for being willing to put yourself out there, knowing there's a lot of snapping turtles in this ocean.

Jessica, I read this blog every day and I haven't noticed anything amiss in your posts. I love the advice you give and the way you give it -- if your delivery has changed because of agent fail, I hadn't noticed.

Keep up the good luck!

Hi, Jessica,

I've been lurking for a while and only recently started posting.

It shocks me that people can say that agents want writers to fail. There are so many agents taking time out of their busy schedules to write informative blogs on how to submit queries and the publishing industry as a whole. Back in the old days, boys and girls, you had the Writer's Market and conventions.

Jessica, I have not seen a bad attitude on your part in any of your posts, and I've browsed through quite a few of your past posts.

My first novel wasn't rejected because of bad agents or bad editors, my first novel had structural problems inherent to a new writer. I understand that now, and I’m so glad that novel was rejected. Instead of wasting my time pointing my finger at the failings of agents and editors, I took classes and worked on learning the craft of writing so that I could eliminate my own failings as a writer.

I’ve read in your posts how you sometimes take the time to comment on a manuscript in your rejection letter to the author. That tells me you care about the writers and their stories. If they are so dense as to reject good advice, then they fail themselves.

Thank you for taking the time that you do to make it easier for all of us.

i haven't noticed any attitude, but maybe that's just me.

I'm always stunned that there is a new post everyday. Most "industry" bloggers only post a few times a week.

I hope I'm not a commentor that is negative. I've had some bad experiences in publishing, so I think I may rant a bit without realizing it sometimes. I'll have to change that.

I love this blog, though.

Jessica,

Unlike a lot of the other bloggers, I have noticed both your's and Nathan's blog have an underlying current of sadness, disappointment, and frankly a little bitterness. Perhaps you feel like David fighting Goliath, but you're not. Truly you have the upper hand, and thousands of supporters. The loud mouthes have no one to back them up, and no other way of changing things. The majority of the time when we agree we tend to keep quiet, it's when we disagree we make noise. Just remember for every hundred people who are upset over something, there are thousands that are content and remain silent. There is not a single occupation in this world that can make everyone happy 100% of the time, and no matter where you are at you will hear criticism. The internet just makes it easier for you to recieve complaints. Be glad they aren't walking into your office.

Thank-you for blogging, keep your chin up.

And please remember not to link all anons together. I think small complaints sound angrier coming from anons; probably because our brains tend to link them with another anon who was over the top angry.

I think why the negative always bugs us is that we always want to defend out position or point and prove that the negative isn't true, that it is in fact human nature. As a teacher, I know I was taught to look more at the negative then the positive to improve yourself and your methods...so perhaps it's the teacher in you. ;)

I'm a lurker and don't post comments often to blogs, but I enjoy reading yours daily, moods or not. Should I ever finish my novel, I will be one of the smart queriers thanks to advice from people like you, Nathan, Janet. So keep up the good work and don't let the people with too much free time and not enough to complain about, get you down.

Thanks for the efforts you've made to create a safe place to talk about the author/agent relationship.

I haven't noticed any real change of tone in this weblog. Obviously, you're addressing the current situations between writers and agents, which have been less than stellar in some cases. Never the less, I wish to remind you that you are doing the writer a great service by maintaining and contributing to this weblog and by allowing participation.

Thank you.

Ahhh, so blogging has changed you and your policies. I like that. Now, I want to know, has it changed 'us?'

Jessica,

I usually lurk around your blog, but let me tell you, if this is 'surly' then when you're happy kittens and unicorns must fall from the sky. You're one of the most even tempered, patient folks on the web!

Twice now in posts I've left a comment about my concerns with my agent. Once during agentfail, as a matter of fact.

I wasn't one of the general masses complaining about rejection times or anything else. I had genuine concerns. You gave me genuine, concerned responses, both times. It has given me the courage to move forward from my agent, feeling confident I'm doing so for the right reasons.

I've always found your blog interesting, forthright and educational. You provide serious writers with a fantastic resource.

There will always be the negative folk out there, the unprofessional writers with bitterness riding their shoulder. That is, well, the way it is.

Best wishes for you and yours.

Surly? You? Sure, you seemed a little frustrated at times, but nowhere near surly.

In fact, I think you handle criticism admirably. You keep your cool through heated discussions. You remain helpful and informative. That's why I always check in although I'm 'between queries' at the moment.

I come down on the side with the folks that don't see the surly in you. It sort of frightens me. If you're surly, I'd hate to think what I am.

Unlike these other posts, I've noticed J does seem rather depressed of late...aren't we all, due to the doom and gloom in publishing? But maybe some anons take out their frustration at OTHER agents on you since you're an easy target...

Maybe you should take a break from the blogging routine, perhaps use guest bloggers more often? We all need to take a breather now and then...Keep up the good work!

So why do agents even bother with these novices and ignore the mss. they requested? That's what assistants are for! Why do agents continue to let requested mss. pile up, knowing they're circulating with other competitors? I still don't get it...

I think there are many out there who can relate to your feelings on this issue and have sighed that same exact sigh. So many professions have to deal with similar issues.

I was a classroom teacher for ten years. You think writers are bad when their baby (manuscript) gets feedback? I could fill your comment section with stories of parents' reactions to feedback for their real babies!

Suffice it to say, there were several times I wish I could have declined to represent their little cherubs and been done with it! ;)

Vent away! We all deserve some venting time now and then. And if that doesn't do it, take chocolate in liberal doses!

I am sorry the author you dealt with was inconsiderate and so unwilling to work with you. I have noticed a disconnect between the way some writers perceive quires and agents perceive the same. Many agents appear to see the query as their window into the book as well as a taste of the author’s voice. Many writers appear to see the query as apart from the book; it’s the flaming hoop they have to leap through before their writing can speak for itself.

When I read agent blogs, I find many have an overemphasis on the query letter. It’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing the query as the writer’s GRE when presented with an agent’s twelve pages of query minutia.

The writer you dealt with might be of that mindset. If their query was good enough for a number of other agents (though it’s possible the writer made those agents up), he or she may find it hard to understand why it wasn’t good enough for you.

Re: the various comments to this blog posting,

I think a number of you are being too harsh. Yes, the writer made a mistake. This does not make them a ‘noob’ or a bad person. It means they made a mistake.

Who of us hasn't misread another online?, or had a bad day?, or managed to aggravate another?

I have to admit that I hate stories like this. The snippiness and the attitude make agents that much less likely to respond the next time. And there are a lot of writers who would love to know that their query isn't working for whatever reason.

*headdesk*

Sorry you had to deal with that.

Hi Jessica,

I'm a children's author who's been writing for over a decade, and I have to concur with you that if a writer at the earliest stages cannot take a bit of (constructive) criticism, he or she will not have what it takes to stay the course of a writing career. This business is not for the faint-hearted.

I really enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing! I hope other authors you hear from are kinder to you.

All the best,

Deborah Hodge
www.deborahhodge.com

Honestly, what is wrong with people? Do they act this unprofessionally in all aspects of their lives, or just in regard to their novels? AN AGENT asked a writer to SEND MORE, PLEASE. How could that possibly be a bad thing?

Maria said "I imagine that author will get educated soon enough with that attitude." Personally, I think that someone with an attitude like that may be impervious to education.

Wow. I would love it if you asked me for a blurb!

Hi, I'm a newbie to queries.
How do you define a blurb?
Like a quick synopsis?
I read so many different opinions on what makes a good query that my head spins.

There are a lot of us out here including yours truly who are professional, serious writers with careers in mind and would not, in the business communication of a query, respond in that manner.

We understand what it takes to build a business relationship, and we look forward to it. You do yourself a service with this blog by telling us this story. Those of us out here who know how to play the game will delight in querying you.

AMEN! I teach journalism, so I critique (and am critiqued, as I write press releases and other things on a regular basis) students a lot. I mean...I'm just trying to help! And I know those who critique me are just assisting my writing as well.

I'm confused too, what's a blurb?

I find it amazing that any writer would turn down a request for anything from an agent such as yourself. (Bookends has a very good rep.) Isn't that like cutting off your nose to spite your face?
Who knows where we'll be a few months/years from now? That person may still be searching and then wish they sent that blurb.
So, do you keep a black list a annoying people? I think if I were an agent I'd be tempted to do so.
Vent on...we're learning. And please know there are writers out there who think any comments from an agent are like words from God.

Wait, you asked for more information about hte book and they said that left a bad taste in their mouth about working with you?

Yes, I want my agents to sell my books with as LITTLE info as possible about what it is they are selling. That's the ONLY way to do business. Heaven forfend they get that kind of dangerous information in their deadly little hands.

lapetus and anonymous, a blurb is a short description of the work -- maybe a few sentences or a paragraph. think of the descriptions you see on the back cover of a published book. That sort of thing.

Sounds like this writer is an idiot. Plain and simple. Nuff said.

Well, please don't let the bad banana in the bunch ruin it for the rest of us! I so appreciate your blog and advice, and think its great you take the time to send feedback to writers. Keep doing what you're doing!

You have my sympathy. I know that there are days when your honest attempts to help and encourage are percieved as slaps in the face. Unfortunately, I don't know how to prevent that. I doubt anyone does.

However, you are only responsible for the effort, not the outcome. If there is one person out there who will take your suggestions as an insult, I assure you that there is at least one who will take them as a welcomed second chance. You saw something sufficiently promising that you were moved to request more information. You overlooked a shortcoming in a query and gave the author a chance to remedy that shortcoming. I don't imagine that happens very often, and I like to think that most prospective authors are smart enough to recognize that.

Some of us love the critique, comments and advice. At the Pikes Peak Writers Conference my first page was read out loud and an author, agent, and publisher all agreed it was too descriptive. My first page (and the rest of the book) is now 50 times better because I made amazing improvements thanks to those 3 honest professionals. I am forever grateful because of it. So please don't stop because of the panty-bunched folks.

Wow. People complain when they get no response, complain when they get a form response AND complain when they get comments??? I don't understand.

Don't let it get to you. It's a GOOD deed to give comments.

I just got home from work to find a rejection in my inbox. I would have been falling all over myself to provide whatever you asked for to get you to take a longer look. Can I have his blurb-space?

Wow...

That's unbelievable. Especially for others, like me, who WANT to receive any help by way of constructive criticism from potential agents.

I'd be THRILLED to receive a rejection letter, or any form of communication from a potential agent, if it had any advice on what to do to make it better.

This writer should have taken the negative and made it positive. Even if it didn't turn out for the writer THAT time, it would have left it on a positive note and who knows what next time would have brought?

(*Hell has frozen over because this publishing cynic is consoling an agent.*)

It's not you- rather it's the relationship of the author to the work. You ever seen those overprotective parents who utter the following:

"You see Taylor over there, why yes he's doing very well at his trilingual immersion program. Where he's really taking a liking to is Mandarin!" (*God love those chettos commercials...*)

See what I mean? Authors LOVE their work. We're all evil narcissists, blah blah blah.

(Insert random banter about the nature of intellectual inquire and its relationship to snobbery.)

My personal story- it took over a year to paint, edit and illustrate a story that barrels down to three pages of script.(Spread out into a 15 page book.) I'm defensive about my work just like anyone. Pitch letters are not my strong suit. ( I didn't major in marketing.*)

So what you're asking is for better descriptions, which from a practical standpoint is reasonable. Authors do need to describe their work.
However, a small one page example would do wonders for your stress level. (*In my opinion.*) That way the author can't say, "well gee you didn't look at my work!" AND you're not reduced to guessing as to what the hell the book is about. It's what they call in the marketing world: "Win-Win." Why one page, because the average reader might glance at one page in the bookstore and THAT's inevitably where your client is either going to sink or swim.

-C

Color me confused. What is a blurb?

my first editor told me we authors are in love with our own words. That first round of edits, I'll admit I cried. Then I pulled up my big girl panties and deal with it. I am not my work, but I think many authors can forget that--usually it's the newer authors. Now, I look forward to professional feedback. It helps me grow as an author.

Jessica,
I'm with one of the Anonymi, I'll send you anything you want. Spouse too! I can't believe this person's attitude. Though I've made your reject list, it was a pleasant experience with a positive word that still sets me atwitter! I'm sure most of us would love as much feedback, including constructive criticism, as possible but of course it's not possible. You're probably lucky to have "missed out" on this writer if that's his/her attitude. Thanks for a great blog site.

I lot of people I know think is "blurb" is that single-sentence line of praise you see on the front cover or inside flap of a book, that was written by someone well-known other than the author.

If the writer you were interacting with was thinking the same way, this person might have gone into a panic, thinking it an impossible request. How to get a famous person to read their book and send you a sentence of praise right away?

I'm not saying this did happen, just that it's one possible way of interpreting this exchange.

Some people are happy and some people just want to be angry - nothing you can do about it. But, I love reading your advice, it's like a free class I can take on-line, late at night in my pj's. Now, all I need is a big bowl of popcorn.

Unless I'm mistaken, in this context a blurb in the query letter is like what's on the back of a paperback describing the story without too much detail. It's the "hook" in the query letter that interests the agent and "reels them in" so they want to see more.

Ay! Vanity thy name is "humans."

Whenever I come across stories like this I think of a verbal exchange from Seinfeld:

ELAINE: I will never understand people.
JERRY: [Totally understated tone of voice] They're the worst.

I agree with Anon 11:56 -- perphaps the writer thought you were asking her to send quotes from other authors.

No one uses the word blurb -- was her novel not explained in the query?

Hey - I just had a hunk of one of my lawsuits dismissed today. The judge dismissed it for all the wrong reasons. I am now back at square one.

Do I write a snarky note to the judge telling him just 'doesn't get it and my husband thought my pleadings were just wonderful.' Ummm, not if I ever want to set foot in the courthouse again.

No, I have to accept the fact that my written documents were not compelling enough to tell the judge the whole story and encourage him to rule my way.

The ultimate rejection of a partial manuscript (think of it as narrative non-fiction).

I have to write a better lawsuit and file it again . . .

Verify word: 'laylers' [bizarrely appropriate for how I see this morning cuz this lawyer just wants to lay down and sulk]

Whenever possible I like to blame my dog. Ate the guidelines, dirty pawed it, or was just so darn cute I got side-tracked. There's no penalty for paying attention, and quite a few when we don‘t. Seems rather odd we don't do it better. I wonder how much adrenalin is expelled seconds before the click of the send button that should be re-routed into purposeful review, instead of dawdling in that fantasy, “I’m finally ready.”

I've always found it interesting that people get mad at agents. I really, really want an agent. I've come close, but not quite close enough. But I'd much rather work with an agent than try and do it myself. I love to write, and although I think that I probably could--eventually--figure out all the contracts and stuff with an editor, why would I want to do that? It sounds so boring. I'd much rather be able to write and have someone else do all that yucky stuff I don't want to deal with.
I want someone there to help me, someone I can easily ask questions. Someone who can worry about the mounds of money I'll obviously be making (that's said with some hopeful sarcasm) and everything else I don't want to worry about so I can focus on my writing.

I've never been bothered by the guidelines. In fact, they're nice because by following them, it's one less decision I have to make, one less thing to worry about.

playingwithchildren.blogspot.com

Have faith. There are those of us that ARE respecting guidelines. I've been editing my book from over 145k words down to 114k (still cutting). And its because I DO respect the advice of agents and try to educate myself on what the publishing companies are looking for. Some of us aren't making excuses. We promise!

I'm really surprised so many people get guidelines mixed up. IT's so easy to access the correct info online..

It's an interesting phenomenon. I don't know if it's an art thing or it's just common all over. If you want to go to law school, you have certain things you have to do and certain approaches you have to make. Same with med school, dental school or any school. If you're applying for a job, you have to fill out the company's application the way they want to, show up for the job interview at the appropriate time and place and dress appropriately and fill out more paperwork, take a physical, sometimes a drug test, blah, blah, blah.

By and large, publishing is asking you to act professional, follow somewhat broad guidelines, and generally speaking gives you a fair amount of leeway in how you approach them, in order to take a look at your work.

Yet for some reason--possibly ignorance, possibly arrogance and quite possibly both (hell of a combination)--an awful lot of people think they're exceptions and can do what they want and agents and the publishing industry will just say, "Oh never mind, we recognize how brilliant you are, come on in."

Oh Jennica or Jessifer.(oops, couldn't help myself)
Jessica, this seems to be the ongoing thread of that cirlce of "publishing these days." So many people think they have that next great novel and are too lazy or too ignorant to do the research and understand the industry, let alone the submission guidelines.
I have two mss ready for the query jump, but I would never send them to you or any other agent that represents your genre. The mss are memior and YA fantasy. (I read your blog every day because you teach about the process and the industry.)
If somone created the next greatest kids board game she wouldn't shop it around a clothing manufacturer or a sporting goods company.
It's pretty simple to find, read and follow submission guidelines, but only if the writer is serious.
I couldn't do your job--I'd trash everyone of those @%$&!'n lazy, ungrateful, childish and misdirected submissions in a hearbeat.

Jessica,

I stumbled across your blog several months ago, and I'm glad I did. I've never posted, being content to read your articles and reinvigorate my dream of publishing my novel.

To be honest, after reading years of horror stories about the publishing process, I had nearly resigned myself to editing and formatting my novel myself and giving it away for free. Why endure the pain and suffering of the publishing process if all I really want is an audience?

Your blog has helped changed my mind. I appreciate the last few articles in particular - not only because they offer "valuable tips," but because you come across as human, sincere, and even fallible. It's tremendously comforting to find someone like you on the other side of this game.

I can't wait to query you some day. You're the only agent on my "list," and I'm comfortable with that. It may or may not be a fit, but at least I already know I'll rest easy waiting to find out.

--Kevin L. McDonald

What if do you follow all the guidelines but the agent ignores your ms? I got a same-day request for a partial, spent a week writing a synopsis and preparing the partial for snail-mail, including published works,
then the agent sat on the ms. for months? Then when I try to nudge, it immediately gets rejected (without any explanation, of course). So what's up w/ that?

I have fulls out w/ various agents who passed their promised deadlines but I'm afraid to nudge for fear of rejection. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't...

Hey Jessica,

Speaking of things you hate....

Writers are encouraged to query in (small) bunches. Writers are asked to send requested pages in a timely fashion while the agent is still interested. Writers are told never to send full manuscripts to more than one person at a time.

My question has always been, how does the writer respond to an agent asking for the full manuscript when another agent already has it in hand?

"I'll get that to you as soon as Janet Reid rejects it" seems to lack a certain something.

Stephen

I actually like the guidelines. It's much easier for me to query someone when I know exactly what they want than if I have to guess. I would never have thought to blame the query guidelines for myself getting rejected. Although it is nice to hear that you don't automatically ignore queries for what are clearly mistakes, because sometimes they happen, especially when technology has its little glitches. Sometimes, I think, people start to feel frustrated by their rejections, and just need something/someone to blame.

Anon 9:42:

I disagree with the "damned if you, damned if you don't" theory. I think that's something authors put on themselves because rather then think the work was what got the rejection letter it's easier to think it's because you checked in. Frequently when authors check in it just so happens that I had just read the material. I hate to say how much the timing just happens that way. It was not rejected because you nudged. The letter probably just hadn't been written yet. You're getting full requests which is fabulous. The next step is representation. You just need to keep plugging along.

Karen Amanda Hooper:
Thanks for the kind words. I do know that most of you listen and listen well. I see it in my inbox daily. The query letters keep getting better which shows that many of you are paying attention.

Stephen Rogers:
Writers are encouraged to do a lot of things, none of these are rules. The reason for small batches is not to satisfy agents, but for you to see if you need to rework the query before going a second round. That's actually for your benefit. I think sending it out in a timely manner only makes sense. You should never query until everything is ready. Certainly you shouldn't need to write the chapters or synopsis after you get a request. Those should be done. As for encouraging never to send fulls out to more then one agent at a time who said that? It certainly wasn't me. Most agents encourage multiple submissions so that's a "rule" I've never heard of. In fact, if you read through old posts you'll see exactly how I feel about exclusives and I know there are a lot of agents out there who agree with me wholeheartedly.

--jhf

I'm an aspiring author and you are only too well aware of the accompanying frustrations, but I really appreciate your sharing the other side. It makes it easier for me to take a deep breath and get over myself : ) Thank you!

Great post. I get tired of hearing people complain that everything is stacked against them, the rules are too hard or idiotic, that the submission policies aren't logical. If you want to succeed in this industry, you have to follow the same "rules" (used loosely) as everyone else.

Jessica,

Thanks for answering my question about full manuscripts.

I still feel uneasy about sending out more than one full at a time, but that's my problem. :)

Stephen

Has the AAR ever approached agents with the notion of standardizing the query process, at least on the email end of things? I know agents vary to some degree on what they want on initial queries, but the beauty of emails is that you can ignore what you don't want to read. I know a fair number of agents are not in AAR but even many who aren't still claim to adhere to their rules. Anyway, I have no clue if the AAR is anythinng more than an association to standardize rules of practice or if they have more involvement with agents, and not that writers need an excuse to be lazy, but it would be kind of cool if writers could go to the AAR site and see, "ah so this is what AAR agents expect to see."

Regardless of that ease, it really doesn't take much, other than a bit of time, to figure out what agents want or expect regarding submissions. And if you can legitimately not find any info on an agent, one can certainly just email them and ask. I did this with an agent the other day because I could literally find no useful information about her. She emailed me back with a little bit of general information, and now I don't feel like I'm querying her blind.

Writers need to understand (most do I think) that agents want to believe that you are interested in their represention for legitimate reasons, even if they are minor. Blindly throwing out queries into Agentland makes it look like you don't give a shit about who represents you, and given the nature of the partnership and what it entails, that's an attitude that no agent wants to see.

I know the excitement of finally finishing an ms, and wanting to get it out there into agents hands, but finishing is only the first step in a long, long process. So, celebrate, take a deep breath, and do the work for the next step, which obviously, is more than just clicking the 'send' button.

{"As for encouraging never to send fulls out to more then one agent at a time who said that? It certainly wasn't me. Most agents encourage multiple submissions so that's a "rule"}

Thanks for clearing this up, Jessica. The original comment scared the begebbers out of me. I feared I'd shot myself in the foot by having two fulls under consideration, yet I could find nothing in my notes to verify his statement. I'm breathing easier now. Thanks again.



Confucius says, "He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good."

I really enjoyed this post. You know, it really annoys me that authors complain about getting form rejections when they have sent out a
"form" query. That makes no sense. I think selecting an agent and really taking care to write your query for that agent is important and imperative.

Thank you for some great information!

Great post.
Wow, I could never imagine doing a mass query.

Because isn't an author supposed to spend some time researching the agent? You know, to check out their blogs and their style of writing/communication to see if it's a fit??

Hmmm, but maybe I'm on glue or something.

Thanks for the post.

Agents are the first hurdle. If you can't clear the first hurdle, you're all, "That hurdle is too high!" Regardless of whether hurdles two through ten are just as high, and just as impossible for your legs to leap over.

There's a reason that hurdle is at the height it's at. If you can't get over it, you'll never make it through the rest of the race.

Delurking for a minute...

A lot of what I've seen lately leads me to believe most of those who compalin about the way publishing works are folks that haven't done their homework. They haven't done the research on proper submissions. And they haven't perfected their craft yet, either.

My first submission years ago was perfect I thought but I had no clue and the rejection was the right response. Did it hurt? You bet but it made me look at the piece and see it as others did.

I'm a member of several writing groups and see a lot of novice writers with the "my writing is great - I'm just misunderstood and agents hate me" attitude. Yet when you look at their writing, it needs serious work craftwise. Of course, they don't see things that way. And they don't like it when you point it out either.

So, they complain. They complain about agents taking too long to reject them, not taking long enough to reject them, they complain about agents blogging and twittering instead of reading slush and how it's so unfair.

Writing something publishable is hard work. Getting an agent is hard work. That's just the way it is. Complaining doesn't do any good.

Do the homework involved and the doors will open.

*steps off soapbox*

Mysteries in the Making

*bangs head on desk* Darn typos!

I've had to jump through plenty of hoops for other jobs. A Certified Professional Nanny earns top dollar for a darn good reason!

What I gleaned from that experience is that 'jumping through hoops' is one more way to prove you're willing to do all the hard work and follow the rules, thus reassuring those concerned you're capable and can be relied upon.

I only ask that agent and editors keep their guidelines clear and up-to-date.

You know, considering the fast and easy availability of various agents' submission guidelines; the voluminous amounts of advice on how to write a stand-out query; and including the harder to find but very helpful tips for writing a good synopsis...as far as I'm concerned, the query/submission process has always been the EASY part.

It's not rocket surgery!

The reason so many aspiring authors neglect professional guidelines, I think, is because there's still a rose-colored mythos of writing as a pure "art" - if you're unacquainted with how the publishing industry works, maybe it's harder to accept the fact it IS an industry and there ARE rules to follow.

I guess you could call it artistic hubris (my book is the next American novel! What do you mean, word count?), but I think it's more about first-time submitters not realizing that things like word count, genre, proper address really do make a difference.

I'm not a writer myself, but a fanatic reader. A while ago I started looking for book review sites, ended up on the agent blog circuit somehow, and realized just how many aspiring authors I'm glad DIDN'T get the go-ahead.

I know this sounds harsh, but really, when you look at sites like QueryShark it makes you realize just how many people think they're ready to be published authors when in reality, they're light years off. The least you can do, if you truly are a good writer, is to do a quick bit of research on what is expected.

If you can't or won't because of hubris or sheer ignorance - that tells me you're not very smart, or have severely overestimated the quality of your own work. So I have less confidence that I'd want to actually read your book down the line.

I have great respect for those who have the discipline to create a book out of nothing. But even if you have done this, AND are extremely gifted, that is no guarantee this one particular work you've queried is going to be attractive to me as a reader.

I trust the double gatekeeping agents and editors do for me: when I go into a bookshop, their filtering makes sure EVERY single book I see around me has something good going for it. I trust agents' judgment as a reader. Why shouldn't you, as an author?

Conversely I really hate to think amazing books are getting passed by because of a crappy query letters, so if you're sitting on that kind of golden egg, shape up! Better queries!

Regarding word count: I am sure this has been asked before, but are you looking for the standard word count (where you could up the words on the page and do the math) or the word count generated by Microsoft Word? Sometimes those numbers can be different, and I'm not sure which to use.

Thanks, Jessica for the vote of confidence! I'm Anon 9:42 and my 3 mss. have been out from 6 weeks to 5 months. I did nudge at the 3-month and 4-month mark but nothing final, just "I'll get to it soon..."

Isn't it true that agents who are excited about your work respond sooner, not later? If there's a problem, I wish they'd tell me so I can fix it. The waiting is nerve-wracking! What's a writer to do without being a pest?

I'm dating myself, but wayyyy back in college, I had to take an Intro to Computers class. The professor was very specific-80% of your grade was based on following her directions. We were psyched. An easy A.

True story, she still teaches at UNH actually--most of the class failed. Her directions were always basic. "I want 1 in margins, two lines after the date, etc." But for some reason, even by the end of the semester, people still didn't follow them. They'd get their assignments back and complain about their grades. They weren't being given a fair shake, blah blah. It wasn't their fault. blah blah.

Finally, the last day of class someone asked WHY??? And she said it was the biggest, hardest and most important lesson every student needed to learn in order to be successful--how to follow directions. She also said it never ceased to amaze her how few could or how well those that did fared later in life...

I've never, ever forgotten her, or to remember to use the right font. Eek.

Jessica:
"I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, getting published and staying published is hard enough without making it harder on yourself."

The key words for me was "staying published". I understand that there is typically a three book leeway given by a publisher; that if by your third book you haven't hit certain expectations (books sold) that you can pretty much figure your publishing career is kaput or at least mortally wounded. Am I right?

Jessica,

My first name is Jessica as well, so Jennifer is a pet peeve of mine too.

I spent months researching the query process, visiting agent sites, and preparing my strategy for publishing my book.

There are lot's of resources to narrow down to the right group of agents, the right formatting of queries, and all sorts of advice from agents and editors on publishing etiquette.

I've found agents have been a godsend in working towards my goal of getting published. And because of the advice, I have started getting requests for partials on my manuscript.

Thank you all for the time you take to put the word out to us hopefuls!

This is an interesting post. The most fascinating thing I read was that agents have different guidelines (published on their site) if they request more work. I've noticed submission guidelines for queries, but never for after the initial query. I'd always assumed the agent would just tell you specifically what s/he wanted if they requested more.

Jessica - thanks for the post.

I'm amazed at the back and forth discourse lately between agents and writers. Did it all start with #queryfail day? Was that the catalyst for the myriad of blogs from both agents and writers venting their frustrations? Has the proverbial worm turned? : )

Personally, I follow the guidelines set forth and hope for the best. I study the writing blogs and aim to perfect my query letter into a shining beacon of brilliance that will have agents knocking down my door. Lastly, I continue to write. It's what I do.

As for why I don't have an agent yet? I just haven't found the right one. He/She is out there somewhere. One day (soon, I hope), he/she will be stunned (in a good way, I might add) by my query letter and offer immediate representation. Hey, a guy can dream, can't he??

I'm curious, though...

Having recently participated in Nathan's "Agent for a Day" by reading and commenting on 50 queries, I actually found it much easier to navigate through the pile by eliminating the ones where the querier truly had no clue.

You know someone wanting to submit a 120,000 word YA novel or or a query that told about the author but not the book's plot.

In a way it made me wonder why agents complain about a person NOT following directions. Doesn't that just make moving through the query in-box that much easier?

(of course, people NOT sending queries would be better, but still...)

Anon 3:43

Maybe agents don't skim through the queries, trying to spot the gems. FYI, I heard somewhere that Twilight was originally 150,000 words and the finished product is around 120,000 words. You would have skipped right past it.

(By the way, I skimmed right past a bunch of the queries on Agent for a Day, too... glad I'm not an agent.)

:)

I'm a Jennifer and Jessica is a pet peeve of mine as well. :)

Why does that bother us so?

Anonymous said:
**The key words for me was "staying published". I understand that there is typically a three book leeway given by a publisher; that if by your third book you haven't hit certain expectations (books sold) that you can pretty much figure your publishing career is kaput or at least mortally wounded. Am I right?**

That's not necessarily so. An old acquaintance, Alis A. Rasmussen said that Bantam dropped her after sales of her 4 novels fell below 500 a month. ( Or maybe it was 5000--I forget). The novels were a science fiction series. She re-invented herself, and as Kate Elliott she's had 14 fantasy novels published by DAW. (15 if you count her collaboration with Melanie Rawn and Jennifer Roberson.) So hope is there.

One thing we learned from #queryfail is that there are FAR TOO MANY agents who are just deleting a query unread due to little things (wrong name, misspelled name, 'Dear Sir') at the top of the query and I think that is where all the hate from #agentfail came from -- from agents who weren't even bothering to read the submitted query letter.

If my query letter doesn't grab your attention, that is my fault. If you delete my query letter unread because it said 'Dear Sir/Madam' (which is a professional business letter style greeting) then there is a real problem here and it isn't the author who has the problem.

“Why am I not grabbing an agent’s attention?” should probably be your first questionOf course, when one gets generic rejection responses, it's hard to answer that question. You can ask other authors, both agented and not, and they can give you ideas...but ultimately, only the agent knows for sure.

Just the nature of the business, I suppose...

You're assuming all agents have clear and concise guidelines.

Also if an agent happens to dislike a particular genre they ought to state that.

Ex: "I absolutely do not accept fantasy." (I noticed Bookends stated that.*)

If that's not in the mix, then blowing up at someone who saw the word 'fiction' and figured a 'magical realism' story might just be lost.

It's also kind of funny that agents don't like form letters. ;) Is that not a bit of irony? It's nothing personal it's just people are busy and they'd rather move on with their day, both agent and writer. People have lives and can't always respond personally, though if work is submitted it should at least be considered.

I agree that writers should familiarize themselves with guidelines, but those ought to be crystal clear. Otherwise people get confused, not because they're being stupid or vindictive.

Just a thought...

Absolutely, without a question, it's an excuse. I would not want literary agent standards to be any other way so that when I finally catch a break I will have something to be uniquely proud of.

I hate to even wade into this murk, and I'm probably going to regret doing it, but:

"Dear Sir/Madam" is only appropriate in the world of business when you do not know the name of the person to whom you are writing, as in the case of a letter to a customer service department. When you query an agent, you should always know his or her name, and the name should be properly spelled. To address an agent as "Dear Sir/Madam" shows a lack of research, and implies laziness.

There are professional courtesies in writing and publishing that differ from the business world in general, not least because the relationship between agent and author has a strong personal component. If you as an author are not aware of the differences, then I am sorry to say that the problem is indeed your own.

Sorry if I happened to query you. I'm sure it was a screw up with genres. I think I saw the word, 'spiritual, new age, etc' and figured the work was a similar genre.

What happens when a book happens to fall into two different categories, one which the agency accepts, one which the agency doesn't?

Anyhow. It won't happen again, if I did submit, which I don't even remember so it's possible I didn't. :)

CNU:

No apologies necessary. If a book does fall in two genres try the agent (I've posted on this before). The worst thing that happens is a rejection.

I have yet to get to the point that I'm ready to query an agent. But to me, if one can't do so much as read simple guide lines and follow them, then perhaps they need to venture off into another field.

Love the straight out suggestions. Thanks

Hi,

I found excellent site to complain about wide variety of topics. You might want to consider these great complaint letter samples as a guide

Regards

Well this doesn't really surprise me. It sounds like most jobs really, there's always a standard of professionalism that must be adhered to. In these economic times it seems almost a miracle if you can sell a book, or keep a publisher. Being a level headed business person should be a standard we all live by, though it's good to be reminded of it every once in a while.

Thanks for this excellent reminder, and not just as it relates to the publishing industry. Ones attitude plays an important role in our every moment, whether dealing with other people or just with yourself and your approach to that chain of moments we call life.

I'm always wondering about these out-of-control authors. Agent blogs talk about them as if they run rampant, but I've been in the biz for five years and have yet to meet a single one.

Most authors I know are respectful, professional and extremely deferential to editors and agents.

Ah, respect, it's a beautiful thing.

Nice post. Yes, I agree. In my freelance writing business it's 100% true and I live by it and it works.

I had a multi-book contract with a publisher and got booted about halfway through. There were undoubtedly a number of reasons for it--sluggish sales being the primary one, I suspect. I don't think I was a pain in the ass at all and I know I turned in clean copy, but nonetheless, I was probably too public about my problems with the publisher.

Last night I got a two-book contract offer from a publisher. I may very well have issues with them, but lesson learned, on the surface, everything is rosy. Nothing negative's going public.

Very good point, Jessica. Thank you.

Ah, I have to agree! Professionalism is everything! Even in everyday matters, it can help draw people to you instead of away from you.

You touched on it, but didn't emphasize this point: the same may goes for agents who are pains in the butt and whose authors are equal in all respects to authors whose agents are a pleasure to work with. All things being equal, a publisher may very well tilt to the agent they like. It's a tag-team situation, don't you think?

I couldn't agree with you more. Attitude IS everything - in every walk of life.

Anyone in business should be professional. Publisher's, agents, and authors are similiar to movie stars, their agent, and film directors, at some point the star may end up being more famous than the director, and will not necessarily need them anymore to stay in busines. In the beginning, it's not so. It's something for the agents and publishers need to remember also.

Good blog, this is something I try to get through to my children. It's not just doing the job; it's how you do the job. Attitude does matter and willingness to compromise, which I think is hard for some writers, is essential. Thanks for the reminder.

Congratulations on the contract, Mark! That's really great.

A professional attitude can go a long way in creating a decent working relationship. You often don't know your editor or agent on a personal level, communication can be handled by email and phone, you don't even have to meet. You probably only see your lawyer once every few years, accountant maybe once a year, your dentist twice, your doctor for a yearly physical, etc. But you give them respect. When they say something you are unsure of and you have questions you frame them nicely. You don't send an email saying WTF?

This industry is quite small and with blogs and websites and chat rooms, word gets around quickly and everyone wants to put in their two cents worth. Your words can be roasted and toasted and served up to you for tomorrow's breakfast.

What I dislike is the kissing up in public and the bad mouthing in private. AND that can happen from both sides. I know words get back and can be worse than the initial comments made because everything is so public and "instant" in our world today, and always, always, the initial comment is embellished.

My mother says, "If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all." That to me is a bit passive, so I choose to respect the other persons time, space, energy, input, and I trust that they are doing the job the way we discussed. If it proves otherwise, then the gloves come on, but they're silk gloves.

I'm not surprised, but in fact rather relieved. Professionalism DOES matter, even though some people seem to think that it doesn't. Even on frustrating days (and I get MANY of them here at work, as I'm sure every person has also experienced) I have to still show a good attitude.

Someone had touched on it in an earlier comment, but is it based solely on the author or the author and agent?

Sounds like common sense to me, but it's funny how some folks forget courtesy when there's a bit of success on the table. Never forget where you came from, never forget those who helped you get there and never take anyone (or the job they do) for granted.

Painlessly painful. LOL, I like that.

I agree with Anon 8:28 -- I honestly don't see authors going out of their way to be difficult.

The interesting thing I've found it that no one ever tells the author how the business works. They have no guidelines. They don't realize lots of authors don't like their covers or don't get a choice about their covers because no one, not the agent or the editor, ever bothers to TELL THEM.

Then they complain about a cover or a font used or a title change or etc... etc... and are labeled "difficult" when in reality, no one has prepared them for the fact that this is how publishing works sometimes.

For instance: When I got my (one) book published, my then agent said the editor would send me a note with some "minor changes."

When I got the Editorial Letter, I was stunned that it was 6 pages, single spaced: I had to add a character, change a subplot, change the ending, etc...

Writers for the most part aren't difficult, they are bewildered. BIG difference.

Trust me, I can tell the difference between a bewildered author and one who is difficult. When an author calls an editor and uses the F-word repeatedly, tracks down the editor's home phone number to call in the middle of the night, or yells instead of discusses civilly the author is being difficult. When the author is upset because of misinformation or feels the need to discuss professionally why the cover is wrong, or she doesn't agree with the edits she is smart and professional. Heck, an author who asks for a change in editor isn't necessarily even being difficult.

As for the question about agents and professionalism. I think attitude matters on all sides. If you get to choose between two agents or two editors and one has a better attitude you're going to choose that one. I also know that editors will be more reluctant to work with certain agents, contracts can be slower to agents who are a pain, etc. Will an author lose out because of an agent when it comes down to choosing between two? I haven't seen or heard it happen first hand, but that doesn't mean it hasn't.


--jhf

I am so glad to hear that. I have been really worried about asking for changes, and about asking questions that seem to bring up a lot of controversy on your blog.

The fact that you brought up the agent pain, brings up yesterdays blog for me. The guy who had several offers and seemed to really want to give you a shot, I'm just curious, to him you may have been the better agent, because you are easier to work with-don't you think you should have let him choose whether or not you were his agent instead of bowing out?

Signed,
Just curious and sad that things seem to be so far out of an authors control.

Great points! I just hope this isn't yet another warning to writers to "put up and shut up"...while it's perfectly acceptable for an editor or agent to behave badly since they tend to hold the cards.

Worse, we may never know how our agents or editors act when we're so far out of the picture--esp since we're often the last to know anything about changes, etc.
I'm sure unhappy writers would have a better attitude if we were kept informed and in the loop at all times. Thanks for the interesting post!

What, you mean I don't get an automatic pass to be a diva? Sheesh, what's the point in writing then?

Great reminder to be on your best behaviour at all times. I was shocked when I got my first 'grown-up job' because I knew that I'd beaten out a guy with a Masters and several years experience.

They downgraded the position to entry-level and hired me because the other guy was a jerk in the interview.

I've tried to teach my kids that you should respect yourself and respect others. Those two things will carry you thru life.
I think it would carry lots of people through the publishing industry.
cmr

Oh and my quote in my year book is apt.
"Don't step on anyone on the way up, they are the ones to catch you on the way down."

I'm usually very nice to anyone responsibe for sending cash my way.

I would love it if an editor even knew my name.

I'm so glad I'm nice. At least, I think I am...

Professionalism makes sense in all aspects of life, not just in the publishing world. Your chances for success are greater when you apply the golden rule.

cowabunga

I don't get ulcers, I give them. If you've got a problem with that you can put it where the sun don't shine!

A lesson in life, not just publishing! If you don't like something, send your kids in until they give in...MH

Thanks for the advice in this post. I have found writer's conferences very helpful, precisely because I can learn about the publishing industry before I wade into it...and make a serious blunder.

Here's another thought: a lot of people are now posting their frustrations on Facebook and Twitter. That stuff can follow you. If you wouldn't say it in public, don't say it on the 'net.

I've never had an agent give me the time of day, so I can't complain about the "job" they've done - lol. I can empathize with your rant, though. Actually I DID have one agent tell me he wanted to represent my last book, Owen Fiddler, but he moved with all the speed of a glacier on valium - three months of asking him when he was going to send me his contract for me to look over with no action and I figured this guy is out to brunch.

It's like any other career, this recent deluge of less than pro agents you've had won't be around long. The cream rises and the curds sink.

My first agent got me a contract at Warner Bros., then quit the biz. My second agent died. I'm scared to even TRY and get another... :-)

Excellent post. Linked.

Some authors think an agent will perform miracles for them so they'll take the first one they can get.

It's better not to have an agent than to have a bad one.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

I used to be both incredibly jealous and befuddled during some writer's groups when writers that I considered less than stellar announced that they "had an agent". How could that be, when the work they were reading was, well, not good?

Over the years, I've learned that there are a lot of agents who are willing to take on a client and then do nothing to help them. I've also learned that there are good agents with clients who are good writers and they still can't get the work sold. Most of all, I've learned that saying "I've got an agent" is a pretty benign sentence, and still doesn't sell books.

Great post, Karen. I've always asked agents to keep me informed about who they are sending my work to, but I would have not thought to ask if they followed submission guidelines. It's easy to assume agents know what they're doing, but I will ask more questions in the future . . . if I go that route again.
Lj
http://ljraves.blogspot.com

Karen I never even thought this would be something I'd have to consider. I thought once I found that illusive agent -- I'd have no more worries. Guess one can never really let go of the reins.
Thanks for the insight.
Billie

I think honesty is always the best way to handle these sorts of situation (speaking from someone who has found themselves in similar situations with employers through serious illness). I guess we would all like to imagine that our agents/editors/employers (etc) are going to be accepting and understanding of such circumstance, but the unfortunate truth is they're sometimes not. I found this out the hard way, yet it hasn't stopped me from continuing to be up-front about my issues. How people respond is their perogative. My policy is to be turthful and hope for the best. Ok, it hasn't worked out in my favour a number of times, but to me the important thing was that I handled it as true to myself as possible.
And just as I feel it's important to be open, many people will feel it's their business and have every right not to let anyone know. Its not black and white, and there will always be many other contributing factors to consider.

Even for those writers who don't have that close of a relationship with an agent and aren't sure how open to be, or who might just want to keep their personal lives private, perhaps saying "I'm going through a temporary personal situation right now, and I need to ask for a deadline extension of XX" might be sufficient to get through the crisis time. It might even help to build that agent/author relationship once you're past the crisis and know that the agent went to bat for you during a rough patch. Obviously, if it turns into a non-temporary situation that affects your ability to write, you'll have to disclose that (or be sure to have the executor of your will notify your agent).

By the way, make sure your will includes things like copyrights, unpublished manuscripts, royalties, etc.

Just out of curiosity, what would you do if something you said in one of those confidential discussions were to find its way into a public one? (I dn't know anyone who's done this, honest; it was a hypothetical discussion some friends of mine and I got into a while back.) If you made an offhand comment to a client, trying to make them feel better about something, and suddenly they were telling people about it ("My agent said so-and-so is an amateur", for example, or "my agent said the people on that website are idiots.") What would your response be? Would you want someone to tell you about that comment?

That's a really good question. And Jessica, I think you gave a really good response. You don't have to be best friends with your agent, but they are your advocate. Keeping them at least on the lip of the loop could only be a good thing.

What Jess said. My rule of thumb is (or tries to be :) decency and common sense.

Some people try to keep secrets like this in the belief -- it's a bet, really -- that "If I don't tell my agent/editor/[etc.], then they'll never hear it from anyone else so all will be just fine." Very dumb assumption!

I have mixed emotions about this.

On one hand, I'm positive agents have problems of their own and don't want to listen to someone else's. On the other hand they need to be aware of things that might affect me professionally.

Personally, I would hope I have a close enough relationship with my agent they would rejoice at good news and be understanding about the bad.

I tend to take the, "buck up and get it done," approach, but there are times crap just happens.

As harsh as it sounds, I understand agents and editors are business people. They might be sympathetic to your circumstances, but the bottom line is what they have to focus on. It's up to me to live up to my end of the deal as much as possible regardless of what's going on.

I have to agree with you on this Jessica. Keep the lines of communication open with the agents and editors. Timelines can be adjusted for future projects. I have heard time and time again from editors that adjusting timelines is an easy thing (as long as the book isn't already in production) and they just want to know in advance if you aren't going to make a deadline. They always have projects that might be able to slip into that slot until your manuscript is ready.
I know that when I have writers that are working through issues, I will always slow down the rate of submissions and writing projects until I hear they are ready to go again. When I get that quick note that says things are better, then as a writer-agent team, we are back to full steam.

Scott

Great post. The publishing world isn't as big as we think it is. Everyone has their web of connections. I think honesty is always the best policy.

Also, the author trying to overcome whatever his/her difficulties are, needs to concentrate on health and not add the additional stress of a looming deadline. Health first, writing second. He/she might even find once the pressure to perform is relieved it will be a joy to get back to work, and can even be therapeutic.
Great to know that there are agents out there who will get your back.

One thing a writer needs to take into consideration is how personal issues will actually affect their writing. Sometimes the things you think will get in the way won't, and life in general will. I managed to complete three novels and three novellas in a year that included the deaths of two family members, the births of two grandchildren, my husband's retirement, a move to a new home and almost getting myself killed by a falling tree. This past year, without a single crisis, I've needed extensions on two projects, which my editor graciously allowed. My feelings are that we should always be honest with our agents as far as the life issues we're dealing with, but if an extension is necessary, at least have a realistic idea of when the work can be completed, and do your best to stick with it.

Honesty works!! Last summer I went through a serious life and death crisis with a family member and spent every day, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, at the hospital as power of attorney. I contacted my editors first thing, and all were wonderful and supportive and truly concerned. Somehow I even managed to meet my deadlines (thanks to lap tops). So tell your agents or editors when something devastating happens...this is a difficult, competitive business, but it's not heartless.

Very good post. I think we always worry we'll be brushed aside if we rock the boat. (Even if its not our fault.)

Jessica? What about age? How old is your oldest client?
Does age matter?

My mother is dying right now, and I haven't been able to write a blessed word.

I am published, but I am currently in the process of writing a new series and changing editors, so I don't have a deadline or an editor to "report" to right now; but, if I did, I'd tell my agent and get her advice for sure.

BTW, I am in final revisions on my next novel and close to finishing it. I told my agent I hadn't been able to write and why. She wrote me beautiful encouraging words, and she told me to take my time. She would be there when I was ready. Needless to say, I have the greatest agent on the planet! :)

It's SO important to hook up with an agent who connects best with you and your work, and not to rush into that relationship just to get an agent.

BTW, this was a great post. Thanks!

Thanks for this post. I'd already become convinced of the need for an agent; this erased any doubt.

The 'advocate' role, or even someone who just knows how to deal with contingencies, would be worth its weight in gold!

It's always good to be reminded of the basics from someone knows what they're talking about. Thanks.
Lj

ya' shoulda asked Tim if you could print his letter.
Norm

I completely agree! One page, clean, no errors, intro paragraph that tells me genre and word count, story paragraph or two, and a few marketing ideas, and a bio paragraph. Love it!

Skip the drama and wheedling-type opening "You probably won't like my novel, but I have to ask anyway." I am not going to do a "mercy-read" and I know it sounds snotty, but I don't really care if your friends loved it.

Also, if you try to PEEK my interest, you're dead!

Reading queries (until you find a great one) is pure overhead...you learn to be brutal.

I would be interested in seeing an example of what you consider the perfect query letter. Keeping them to one page is an art form...

http://www.echelonpress.com/query-sample.pdf

I can't load it to here, but you should be able to view this in Adobe.

This is Tim's query to me.

Well put, and concise. Just like a good query should be! {-:>

How much bio do you really want? Must a writer drone on if the idea and samples are great? I've read queries with far too much emphasis on the author's laurels, at least (yawn) I thought so. But, maybe you want that.

FYI. Don't miss the green reads twittering!

Dani
http://blogbooktours.blogspot.com

Get the basics in, make it interesting and an example of your writing ability, keep it simple. When I teach a workshop on the query letter, I tell them: Look, Hook, Book, Cook (in one page). Look -- mention if you have a connection with the agent/editor. Hook -- something interesting to keep them reading. Book -- a bit about your book (mini synopsis). Cook -- your credentials for writing this book.

As aspiring "unknown" authors, who's going to promote you if you can't and don't do it yourself? Sheesh, I wouldn't blog, web, twitter, ping, all that networking stuff til I'm blue in the face if I weren't in the business of getting my name and products out there and stirring up business. I suppose some people blog just to spout off opinions. I do that as well, but if a blog offers value and information to the reader, I don't see the harm in letting satisfied readers that you have written books on related subjects they might very well find value it.

I'm never offended or irritated by authors who send me notices about their book (unless they go overboard). But it's good to be reminded that it's also important to follow those links, look at their site, and comment if I can. I have been trying to do more of that. But every time I take on a new avenue of networking, another avenue gets ignored. Never enough time ...
Lj
http://ljraves.blogspot.com

I think that in this new Information Age, people are used to getting information (including music, videos, and the written word) for free. And once you've gotten something for free, you get a little resentful at the thought of having to pay for it. It's important to remind people that artists have to eat too, and that without art the world would be a very sad place indeed. Gentle, respectful, and entertaining self-promotion can serve as one of those reminders.

http://emmalarkins.blogspot.com/

I don't mind commenters who leave their URL or authors who email me about their books. I've found some great books that way. It takes a lot of time to visit blogs and leave comments. I appreciate every person who visits my blog and plenty of times I go to someone's blog and read a comment from someone I would like to follow up on, but can't find them.
http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com

I'm never offended when someone leaves their link(s) on comments - I love to find new authors and see what they're writing/thinking/etc. It's all about doing it respectfully, me thinks!

The key, of course, is to always leave a little more good stuff than you get. It's not really blatant self-promotion then. It's blatant sharing. Right? The right kind of BS. ;)

Another good post, Karen... Who obviously gives way more than she gets as a way of living.

Dani
http://blogbooktours.blogspot.com

I believe you are right on target with your comments. I think it's very important that authors, writers, and publishers network more together. Then we all benefit.Thanks for interacting on my book marketing lens. And kindly consider having other authors submit free samples of their work at http://www.bookglutton.com/. Mine is called Positive Life Change Samples. Sincerely, Gary Eby, author and therapist.

I subscribed to your blog, but your feedburner still says zero. And this was an interesting post. Do you think I cross the line and get too personal?

http://ljraves.blogspot.com

Blogs started out as personal journals, and still can be, but the business world (startig with newspapers) soon jumped on the bandwagon and discovered blogs were great communication and marketing tools. Now the trend is to get a multi-page blog for your virtual presence and skip a website entirely. The tool is definitely evolving, and so is it's original purpose. All the more reason to think seriously about the practice. More about the whys and wheres later in the week at http://blogbooktours.blogspot.com

Another good post, Karen!

I wonder if we suffer from blog overload = ) I have enjoyed your posts every day - you have so much to say and say it so well.
Cricket/Billie
http://cricketshearth.blogspot.com
http://printedwords.blogspot.com

LOVED this post. The comment about 'those kinds of cramps' made me laugh out loud (then I had to read it to my boyfriend).

I think there is definitely a line between interesting personal info that readers will find interesting and entertaining about authors and the darker side of TMI (too much info). I'm becoming more aware of that line now that I have an author blog...although I might have mentioned cramps a while back...

Good post. I'm right now trying to get a solid idea, a central concept, a BRAND, if you will, for my blog. It has been evolving as my career been, and your thoughts and ideas were helpful in sorting out the why and what of a blog's purpose should be.

Marvin D Wilson
Blogs at: http://inspiritandtruths.blogspot.com/
Eye Twitter 2 - http://twitter.com/Paize_Fiddler

Good post. And it's good that you're thinking about who you add to your blog roll.

One of the Twitter tips that I wrote for an article on my website included being aware of what you tweet, especially if you have a "Follow Me on Twitter" widget on your website or blog. If you have a professional blog, then you don't want crazy, personal, tweets showing up on that professional blog!

Karen's word is good and she has good taste - hey look who she picked for blog author of the day. haaa! (And thanks!)

Let me try this again! I find it difficult to write posts that are professional AND interesting to the reader. Any suggestions?

http://www.cynthiasattic.blogspot.com
http://www.woofersclub.blogspot.com

I find that hard to believe. The key, I think, is to pick your topic and then put your personality spin on it. Even when I write a post that is controversial or heavy, my sense of humor tends to leak in.

Don't be afraid to let your voice and individual style shine in your Blogs, that is the part that entertains. When you have a good topic and you entertain, that is what makes you interesting.

And I know you, Mary Cunningham, you are a VERY interesting person!

LJ, your posts are a great blend! They are entertaining, they are interesting, and you pick good topics. That is important!

I think one of the mistakes Bloggers make is to try and Blog about things they know nothing about. This just makes them come across as dorky.

Blogging is like talking. Yon't want to get up in front of a group of people and talk about Rocket Science if you know nothing about it. Same thing with Blogging. Don't edge your way out onto a really thin limb that is hanging over an alligator pit.

You don't seem to be hanging from any limbs! LOL

I'm off to join another group at Blog Book Tours.
No wonder I can't get through all my e-mail!
Morgan Mandek

I have to confess, I did this. After I signed with my agent I notified all agents who had my materials except those I'd just queried within the last few days (it was just a query, after all).

Unfortunately, I forgot that one of those was a query + 1st three.

So when I got the request for the full a couple of months later...I felt AWFUL. Just awful. I'd wasted this lovely lady's time, I'd made myself look bad, all because I'd simply written her on my list as "query" without noting it was a query plus materials.

I replied with much apology, but she never responded. I still feel bad about it, and swear if I ever meet her I'll buy her a drink or something to make up for it.

I guess it would be different with nonfiction, or if you'd requested the materials. But please, give her a tiny break. Oversights like the one I made are awful and there's really no excuse for them (and you have every right to be upset, I don't mean at all to imply you don't), but maybe she feels as bad as I did. I literally felt sick. I still do, in fact.

Perhaps a way to avoid an author's "unprofessionalism" agents could notify authors when their works are under consideration.

It would be completely unprofessional for all of us to "assume" our works are under consideration every time we submit something to agents. Afterall, reading blogs proves that this just isn't the case.

We authors realize that agents are buried under piles of queries, partials, proposals and manuscripts. And we also realize that there's a HUGE time lag between when we send stuff out and when we get a response (no thanks, nice, but not what I'm looking for, etc.).

If agents all banded together and agreed to a standard "let's notify authors when we are considering their work," they wouldn't waste their time.

It would also give the author a chance to then say, "hey, I've already signed, am under considerations elsewhere" or even "I'll hold off other agents until I hear back from you."

Communication is a two way street. And with more and more being done electronically, how difficult would it be to send a quick email to an author?

To be sure, you have a right to be upset, but there's a lot of this type of frustration on the writer's end too.

You kill yourself to complete and send requested revisions to a potential agent and she NEVER responds.

You think your book is on submissions only to find that it has been sitting on your agent's desk for two months while she "decides" where to send it next.

Recently, I waited 11 MONTHS while an editor read a ms, then took it to acquistions, and THEN, after she got back from taking a vacation and going to two writer's conferences finally decided she didn't want it after all. By then I was glad she passed, what a nightmare it would have been to work with her.

Same with your potential client -- she may just have simply overlooked contacting you, on the other hand, if that's her way of working you wouldn't have been happy with her anyway.

I recently heard an agent speak at a con, and heard a similar story. Unfortunately, this has become the norm more than the exception. Writers feel so put upon by the wait, that they lose patience with the process. They don't realize that the numbers of submissions has greatly increased due to the fact that EVERYONE thinks they can write a book. The channels are clogged by these submissions, which must be looked at.
And since electronic submissions have been accepted by some agents, it's really gotten out of hand. When writers had to prepare a paper submission and take it to the post office, and pay for it, they were a bit more circumspect in how many they threw out there. Not so with electronics. They blast every agent on every list, including all agents in one agency.
After I heard this, I actually felt sorry for agents trying to plow through the piles of work that never should have been sent in the first place.

I can't blame you at all for being upset about that, Jessica. Even on a query, if you send out a number of letters and end up receiving an offer, it only takes a few stamps or emails to notify the other agents that you have accepted someone else's offer. It's only a form letter and, after all, wouldn't it nice to finally send a form letter TO an agent, rather than just recieving them? :)

Shaun

I have to confess I had never really thought about this situation. I had queried several agent at the beginning of June. I had a requested full from one right away, and within a week an offer of representaion. I did tell the lovely agent had queried several others at the same time, and the very next day got a request for a partial from my dream agent. I emailed this agent and explained I had an offer that I was considering and she kindly asked for the full, and asked for a time frame to work with so that I could make my decision. It was all very professional and in the end I signed with the second offer. The first agent while dissapointed, understood and things were left very friendly....the door is left open so to speak.
As for the other agents I queried....two were R's and the others I haven't heard a word. Should I consider sending them a note? NO....If and when I hear from them, I'll be more than happy to let them know I've already signed....early bird gets the worm so to speak!

I've already commented, but I do have to agree with Anon 8:48.

As a writer you have zero way of knowing if your work is being considered at all, unless soemone tells you.

I've had editors say my ms was still "under consideration," meaning they just hadn't gotten around to reading it yet. If the ms was something you took to an agency meeting, perhaps a heads up for the author would be the way to go in the future. After all, if he's/she's pestering you for an update on a ms that may not have even been plucked up from a mail pile yet, that's considered unprofessional, too.

It sounds as though the author would have been better served (and avoided being the topic of your blog entry) by just keeping her mouth shut about signing with another agent. You'd never have known. Why not simply appreciate her honesty and view it as a reminder to always maintain contact with those authors whose work your reviewing?

I'm with Anon 8:48 and 8:51. The lack of response from agents regarding queries makes you assume after a certain point (two months?) that they are not interested.

I queried Bookends twice for two separate projects last year, the second of which ultimately did find representation. Jacky took five months to reply and the second time you took four. I did not receive an offer on the first and the second came after your rejection, so I'm not guilty of not notifying you. But honestly, if at three months I did have an offer, it wouldn't even occur to me to contact agents who had received my query three months ago.

Multiply your frustration fifty-fold and you'll begin to understand the frustration on the author's side. And it's even worse in this situation. You have a wonderful blog. You're obviously smart and connected and altogether a great agent. People WANT you. So you get bombarded and behind and we get frustrated at the slow response. Perhaps you should consider more help with queries. Sorry to be blunt but I admire you very much.

I do understand all the variables but please, at the very least if you're remotely interested, let us know! My agent, by the way, at a well respected NY firm, responded to my query in less than a week and to my full within three weeks. He recognized interest and acted on that interest quickly.

Since I'm one of those mannerly types, I understand your being upset. Of course, your readers' comments spotlight how powerless writers usually feel in the agent-acquisition process. Still, I can't help but feel that if one wants to be a pro writer then one should learn what that means (some people don't have a clue) and always follow through.

Unfortunately, this is the golden age of rudeness, so, in the end, I cannot say I'm truly surprised.

I'm kind of stuck on the 'be considerate when I'm reading your stuff' question.

Let's say you sign with an agent. The agent read your stuff lightning fast to sign you. You go with this agent...

And then your stuff sits for 4 months. Your agent still hasn't read it. At what point should a new author get frustrated?

Not to shanghai the topic, but it's frustrating when there's so much stuff about querying and not a lot for 'after the relationship is established'.

Help? What does one do in this situation? The agent in question has been promising to read 'this week' and has been for months now with no results.

My sympathies to you and everyone else that has had this happen to you, Jessica. Breakdowns in communication, common courtesy and respect are always difficult to deal with - regardless of which side of the table you are sitting on.

I'm a firm believer in karma though:)

This is why I don't simultaneous query/propose. I know it increases my chances and so on, but I want to make sure I'm on top of what's going on.
I'm not organized like some. I know an author who has all her queries, requests and rejections on a spreadsheet. I'm just not that good.
So, I send one query at a time. Of course, I don't have an agent yet sooooo...LOL.

Hmm. Unless I'm really reading this notification idea thing wrong, I guess I'm the odd one out. To have an agent send notification of the status of your submission seems like a real waste of the agent's time. Sure it, takes what, 10secs to send an email to let the author know...it can also take 10secs for an agent to look a query and know if it's right for her or not.

If you submit something...it's kind of an automatic your under submission sort of thing. I mean, the reason you submitted WAS to be under consideration. The majority of the agents I've researched have a wait time listed. Some are 2 weeks, 2 months, some 6 months. It depends on how busy they are. And they also say, if you haven't heard from us under this time, please follow-up so the mishap can be straightened out.

Don't assume I've never had agents drop out on me and never respond back. I have. Even with revisions requested. It sucks. It does. What happened to Jessica sucks. What happened to December/Stacia sucks as that sounds like a slip of the mind, and goodness knows, we've all that happened. It reall is a crappy place for everyone. All we can do is learn from another's mistake so not to repeat. I believe that was kind of the point of this post. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I agree with Anon 9:57. I'd love to see more about the author/agent relationship after signing.

If I didn't read your blog and already know you're hard-working, responsible, and well-mannered, I would probably say, "So what? Aspiring authors are treated like that all the time."

I'm going to post this one anon for obvious reasons, but I do have a question that I'd love an agent's opinion on:

I sent out a number of queries to agents that requested sample chapters and synopsis or multiple pages with the query, so obviously this takes more of their time than a one page query letter. I received a request for a full and the agent wanted an exclusive, which I of course granted.

Now, I've heard writers say they'll never grant exclusives and that they'd even lie and say the ms was under consideration elsewhere when it wasn't... I'm not a good liar and I don't particularly want to be.

I did grant the exclusive but I let the agent know I'd queried elsewhere with sample chapters... so far none of the other agents have gotten back to me either way, but I'm nervous about what to do if they do request more material.

What's the best way to handle that without burning bridges?

(on the whole agents should let you know it's under consideration - I think that's a bit excessive. When I send a query, it's a sales pitch on myself. If someone sent me a sales pitch and got irritated if I didn't contact them to let them know I was thinking about it, I'd be more than annoyed... I do think agents should at least respond to queries. It's one of those things that will make me cross them off the 'to query' list, if they never respond.)

I also would send a short email letting agents who haven't yet responded to my queries know the status if I sign with someone. I think it's only polite, and it never costs you anything to be polite...

Sigh, I'm still waiting for Bookends to respond to my query which I sent over 8 weeks ago.

At this point I doubt I will get a response but I did get many requests from other agents so I'm not as distressed as I could be.

So, it's not just Agents Frustrations, it's us unknown, barely looked upon, unpublished writers frustrations also.

To have someone continuing to research and work on your submission when you've accepted representation elsewhere is rude. A total waste of time. But, maybe the person just forgot? It could happen.

I keep a record of where my writing goes, (editor submissions, contests, agencies) the date, to whom, expected time of results. But I'm exeedingly slow with putting my work out there, I usually do one at a time. I'm more of a people person and want to know everything I can about a person/company before I do business that could affect me for years to come.

If you have a partial submission in with an agent, and another one (completely different manuscript)in a contest, then you place in the contest and are asked by the agent judging the contest to submit your work, should you give the first agent a heads up? Or only if it is the same manuscript going to both agencies?

Anon 12:37. There's a good chance your query never made it at all. it happens. more often than you think because of SPAM filters. From BookEnds submissions page:

BookEnds agents do reply to all submissions and queries, including e-queries, and hopes to do so in a timely manner. Our response times are traditionally 10 to 12 weeks on requested partials or fulls, 2 to 4 weeks on e-mail queries. If you haven't heard from us after that time has passed, please feel free to drop us an e-mail with the following information: which agent the submission was sent to, the date it was sent, the title, and the author name.

Don't mean to sound harsh, but read the guidelines and save yourself some frustration. My query to BookEnds plopped in the SPAM folder. Another requested submission to a different agency fell into the SPAM folder. It happens.

I've been waiting for two months to hear back from five different agents. :-) It's frustrating, but not as much as what you must have felt.
Sorry about it. She could've been unprofessional or you may have just slipped through her cracks.
But sorry again!
HOpe you find a bestseller to make up for it!

Keri,

I did read the guidelines and was very aware of that possibility. That's why I followed up with them. Just in case my query was SPAMMED.

Sometimes no matter what you do, you fall through the cracks. It just happens that way.

I've seen some arguments here in favor of this: what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

I disagree. Just because other agents have ignored me (or my query fell through the cracks - whatever), does not mean I should be as rude as them and not let them know once I've been offered representation.

Sure, the person in Jessica's example may have forgotten to notify other agents. I can see how, once you receive the offer, you might be so excited that you forget almost everything else. But that doesn't mean anyone should advocate intentionally being rude. I hope I never have to deal wtih any of you who do.

Shaun

Waaaaa waaaaa waaaaaaa.

Why should the writers take time to inform agents of developments when it is normal for agents not to even respond? An agent is basically a parasite off other people's work. It is your job to crawl through unsolicited slush and come up with enough sustenance to make a living--all while representing current clients that actually do make money. This is your job,. The "my job sucks thing" is super-old. Get another one if you don't like it and let someone with someone enthusiasm represent my work.

In fact, "stop blogging and get back to work" is what you'd hear if it were my company. Your preaching to the same old wannabe witers' blog contingent is not garnering new clients.

Shaun 1:40 -- I don't think anyone is advocating being rude -- far from it. When in the process of querying or even after you have an agent, and you're waiting around for editor responses, the ball is entirely in the agent/editor's court.

There are so many people who simply do not respond to queries at all, or do so, literally, five months after the fact, that after a while you figure no response simply means no. I betcha five bucks the person who signed with the other agent simply didn't realize BookEnds was even considering her ms at all.

If agents/editors DON'T shoot you an email and tell you what's going on, you don't know. We're not mind readers.

This is a facinating discussion, BTW. I hope BookEnds doesn't feel bashed by the comments, but writers deal with such frustrations on a daily basis.

And Anon 2:35, if you don't like the blog why do you come here? That says more about you than it does about a post you disagree with. I'm not a wannabe writer, I'm published and agented.

I've had agents who never respond even after they request a partial.

I don't think it's reasonable for agents to expect status updates from people who are not clients. It's the writers' work, and waht they do with it is entirely up to them.

Also, a lot of writers probably assume that they would only be bothering agents with any contact, since "if you hear nothing that menas no" is the de facto standard. So....why doesn't it work both ways? If you hear nothing from me as a writer....it means no.

Anonymous 2:35

Agents are parasites? One wonders about your publishing credentials. Please crawl back under your rock.

Anonymous 2:35 has a point to this extent: it does seem to be the norm for agents not to respond. A lot of agent websites even specifically say not to follow up on submissions by phone or email.

I'm sorry, Jessica. As much as I respect you and enjoy reading your posts, this is a situation created by the very manner you and other agents do business. If you want it to be different, then something has to change.

"In the end I decided to pass, but sent the author some of my detailed thoughts on why I was passing. I also offered to take a look again or at other work. The response . . . she had already signed with another agent and was "sorry she didn’t tell me.

Aaaaah! This lack of professionalism kills me every single time. Are you kidding me?!"

Now wait a minute here...So while this writer is sitting around waiting for you to get back to her with a no (comments or not, it's still a rejection), she was supposed to be updating you with the status of other agents? That sure is better for you, but not for the writer.

First of all, just because you're "offered a deal" doesn't mean that it's iron-clad yet. Offers can be retracted before they're signed. So it doesn't make sense from the writer's position to inform anyone that youre unavailable until you have not just been offered the deal, but sisgned the deal. You may even want to wait a couple months after that just in case you don't get dropped for contractually valid reasons, or the agency that signed you goes out of business or something. You just never know. So why cut off other avenues of representation ever? You write on until the book is published. There is no need to inform anyone of anything except those you are directly doing business with.

In fact, for tis writer he actions worked out beautifully, because not only did she get signed by an agent, but she got professional feedback froma different agent who was too slow, or did not otherwise realize the market value potential of the work, that she can now discuss with her agent. So no, this writer is not unprofessional, she's demonstrating business savvy in a competitive sphere. It's you and your words against the world. Those who are not with you are to be cast away swiftly, like a non-edible fish back into the stream for someone else to waste their time with.

Thank you so much for giving us wannabe authors a chance to consider your frustrations. I apologize for not sending a more personal response and truly wish I was able to give each post I read more feedback.

As I’m sure you know beating one's head against the wall is a difficult business and because of my already busy schedule I need to be very particular about what blogs I read. Ultimately, I just didn’t feel strongly enough about your post to be even minimally sympathetic at this time.

I wish you the best of luck and the greatest success.

LOL anon 4:21 that is too funny.

I basically agree with the anon 4:10. In this case, with Bookends on the fence about the project, letting them know the project was also being courted by other agencies would only increase the likelihood of a "no" from Bookends. So I agree it's in the writer's interest to say nothing re: status with other agencies.

In general it seems like the non-fiction writers are more business savvy like the one write aabout in this post, while the novelists suck up more to the agents, probably because their odds of publication are significantly longer.

I enjoy the blog, but that doesn't mean that I always agree with what the agents here say, or the way they do things.

I agree with Anon 2:40.

We writers are not psychic. Once my pitch is out there with agents the ball is in their court and I have no idea at all what's going on with it--until you tell me.

So I agree with the idea of letting an author know if his or her work is up for serious consideration--as in you're really close. Do it asap for god's sakes, don't wait. What's wrong with that? Why complain about something that agents are known for doing to writers all the time? We writers are tired. We're tired of researching agents, sending out our queries, responding to requests for partials and fulls and then never ever hearing anything again.

Even after status querying on requested fulls, I've heard zero back. In fact, I have five fulls out now, one that's been out with an agent since February of this year. Should I assume something? What should it be? A yes? A no? A maybe someday?

So this author whom you'd spent so much time thinking about, I'm sure, probably thought Bookends was a no because so many agents now say that if you do not hear from us, it's a no.

That said, I'm sorry about your frustration. I do think she should have let you know, but I have a feeling she thought you wouldn't care. So agents, please know that we really, really do need to hear from you or we'll just go "out with someone else." :) And we don't mean to be rude, we're just anxious to get on with our careers.

I was trying to sit back quietly, but finally had to respond.

This was a vent which I clearly admitted in the post. I feel that by sharing advice, pieces of information, and even frustrations I'm giving you a peek into my world. This was not meant in any way to show you that my day is harder then yours. On the contrary, it was to show you that this business can drag you down on all sides, that while you're frustrated with agents who don't respond, who don't get your work, or who just seem like jerks, I see the same from authors.

The truth though, from my end, is that most authors are wonderful and I like my job, I don't think I've ever said I didn't, but even when working the best job in the world there are things that aren't always great.

I hope that you (december/stacia) aren't beating yourself up. Mistakes happen, things are missed and I imagine the agent you apologized too understands that. You did the right thing and handled it well so feel free to stop worrying about it.

I also apologize on behalf of publishing for those of you who left constructive feedback and gripes. I understand your frustrations and am glad you feel that this is a forum where you can share them. I think the hard thing is that any time an agent requests anything from an author we assume it's under consideration and many times we discuss projects with colleagues. It's part of the business.

As for those who felt the need to "go off" on me. If you'd like me to stop blogging or feel that I'm no longer useful say the word and if there's a consensus I'll stop (no need to tell me to stay, I'm not going anywhere) or maybe you should just stop reading my "useless" blog. This blog is not a waste of precious work time, although it is time consuming, it is a marketing strategy for our business as well as a way for us to do community service to the writing community. My hope is that in the future fewer miscommunications between authors and agents happen because I have helped explain the business.

And lastly, I want to make clear for those of you who might be new to the blog that in some ways this "vent' connects to my regular preaching to authors to make sure all your options are open before accepting an offer of representation. I don't expect to be coddled by authors and I don't think I've ever asked for that, but when you have an offer it's in your own best interest to use it to either make sure that you are finding the best agent for you or make connections/network with other agents. You just never know.

Keep the comments coming I love hearing what you have to say, when it's smart and constructive.

--jessica
I

It's all about respect. The business is cutthroat enough that people on both sides feel they have to forsake courtesy in order to look out for themselves.

If I had my own lit agency (and I never will, but if I did), I would have a policy of responding to each and every query, partial, or full submission, even if only a full. That way the wrtiers always know where they stand. If you're worried about a response inviting "blowback" from rejected writers who see a personalized reject as an opportunity to start a dialog, then use a non-reply e-mail address for the rejects.

But I agree that any business that operates by not responding at all to its potential clients is shortchanging themselves. It's an inefficient model.

For example, to me, no response does not mean no. Only no means no. So my policy, when faced with no response, is to re-query (some months later) until I get an actual response one way or the other. I know I'm not the only writer that does this. But for the agency it means that they're volume of queries is artifically increased due to their lack of response policy.

NO NO NO don't even think about quitting this blog. You're a much needed voice of sanity in this crazy business.

Sorry that should have read (lasat post) "...even if only a form [reject]..." not even if only a full.

Question for you serious writers here and agents:

Just over 7 weeks ago a bigtime NY agent requested the first 3 chapters of my thriller novel. I sent them the same day, but as of now, have not heard a peep from him.

Would it be a bad move to reply to the (almost 2-month old) e-mail he sent me requesting the partial, and inquire about the status?

I'm not clear if this was an initial query, or requested materials.

When I signed with my agent, I knew that I needed to contact other agents who had partials or fulls. It didn't occur to me to contact agents with queries. (I'm defining "query" as any initial, unsolicited material, even if it includes several chapters, as some agents prefer.) I'd had it drummed into me to not "bother" agents with whom there is no relationship.

Later, my agent suggested that I should let the queried agents know as well, so I tried. I don't know if my messages got through or not. One of those agents did request a partial a week later, so she at least missed my message. (This doesn't surprise me. When my message came, my query was probably still in the slush pile. Finding it to associate it with my message wouldn't be a priority for the intern fielding the message.)

I really think the accusation of "unprofessional" is over the top.

I'm a lurker who has never commented, but I read your blog a couple of times a week. I was upset by some of the comments posted, which were just plain nasty.

When I signed with an agent, I sent a quick email to the other agents who had requested the proposal. That is basic professional behavior. It's always better to take the high road--no matter how bitter you feel about the whole process.

You want to be as polite as possible without jeopardizing your chances.

Anon waiting 7 weeks--I don't think 7 weeks is that long. Maybe wait 3 months before status inquiry. You guys agree?

No, please Jessica, don't let a few disgruntled readers stop you from sharing yourself (good and bad) with us. Your honesty and willingness to share is deeply appreciated. Your blog is the ONLY one I visit daily and I find myself frequently revisiting past entries.

You have a right to vent (sure, it can be argued the others have a right to reply), but bottom line is, I suspect there are far many of us polite people who feel that do unto others is a decent way to behave. There are just some things you shouldn't apologize for and being upset about not being told the writer took other representation is one of them.

And I love anon 4:53's response to agents who don't respond to queries. Haven't tried that yet. :D

Jessica

I posted the Anon 8:48 post this morning. I checked the blog when I got home this evening and was pleasantly surprised to find all these comments.

Pleasantly surprised that they were included and not deleted by the blog owner.

You vented and it appears writers vented. And that's healthy.

Can we all change the world?

I doubt it.

Can we all change how agents and writers, and the "process," works?

I'm not sure.

But it's openness like this, that you have demonstrated, that takes a step in that direction.

Many kudos to you.

Anon 5:10,

A lot of agents need more time to get back to you on partials or fulls than on the original request, especially a very busy agent. I wouldn't send a follow up after 7 weeks. Someone else said three months and that does sound fair and I don't think anyone's going to get annoyed by a polite status check email after three months.

You might want to check the boards on the agent, too. If you google him or her with 'query response' or some variable, you'll find boards like absolute write where authors are discussing their experiences with particular agents... which can sometimes help gage.

Merry,

Thank you for your advice. I think I will wait for 3 months before following up. I do read that agency's blog, but they are not a heavy interactive blogger like Bookends, they have a blog, but only do a new post every couple weeks or so.

I now make it a habit to check my spam box after I found an agent's response to a query in there.

I hope your case is merely something that fell through the cracks. In the excitement of getting a yes this author might have just forgotten (or not kept track of her submissions period).

Since we're voicing frustrations, I'd like to send out a growl at the 8 agents who never even bothered to respond my queries (and in a case or two my query plus sample pages), which I find terribly unprofessional.

And also to the agents who have had my requested 50 page samples since February.

It's your exact situation I'm trying to avoid by not sending my query out again, least one of the 4 partial/full subs I have out earn me representation. I don't want to have to send out mass withdrawal letters so I try to limit the number of requests out at a time. but in the mean time I have no clue at all if my work is even under serious consideration, or if it's in a pile that hasn't been touched yet.

Thank you, by the way, Bookends ladies, for not doing that.

"I realize I’m behind on proposals, but I’m not that behind. So I had a nonfiction proposal that was a few weeks old. I liked the idea a lot, but was unsure whether or not it was the right direction to go in, so I brought the proposal up in our weekly meeting to discuss it with others here. We discussed the proposal as it was and everyone had varying opinions. I really liked it though."

"It would be completely unprofessional for all of us to "assume" our works are under consideration every time we submit something to agents. Afterall, reading blogs proves that this just isn't the case."

Lucky you, I'm in a thoroughly pissy mood so let's play.

She said she had a proposal. That means more than an e-query. It means it's being considered.

At the point an agent offers representation, here is what I would do. Now, I haven't read the rest of the posts so I have no idea if someone has said don't ever do this. This is just what me and my common sense/common courtesy would do. Contact the agents who have material. Being a professional writer, or at least playing one on tv, I have a complete list of everything that has been submitted to everyone. I go down that list, which doesn't take that long since I'm not submitting to fifty agents at once. Then I send a polite reminder of who I am and a copy of my query letter and tell them an agent has offered representation. I would like to know if they have any interest as (give the true reason why I thought they would be a good fit for my book) and thought they should be aware of the situation.

If they have no interest, they can return the materials, take it off the shelf and shred it, delete it from their files, whatever. If they are interested, I would like to hear from them so I can make an informed decision.

Have the common courtesy to respect the time and efforts of industry professionals.

Just because you think this is your opportunity to get back at all the agents who didn't pounce on your golden goose, rise above the brief "take that you ignorant knaves," and thank them for considering you.

All right, I'm going to go drink some cocoa with marshmallows now. I'll be back to normal, delicate me in the morning.

Jessica,

I just wanted to let you know you are in the short go, when I get ready to start submitting. Yes, I can feel the elation from here. I'm sure you're exciting.

One of the reasons you did make the cut, is your very helpful, professional and personal blog. (Even more excited aren't you? You should be. When you sell my humorous, romantic, mystery, thriller, epic fantasy fictional novel, you will be the envy of agenthood and it will be due in part to your excellent blog.)

Let me direct your attention to the snipers. Oh, yeah, they're in anonflage, you can't see them. While I can see valid reasons for posting anon, doing so just so you can get some cheap shots off isn't one of them. Since they want to be invisible, I suggest we let them be.

Your blog is one of the dwindling number I allow myself to browse. I do so because of the pertinent, informative posts.

I thank you for taking the time to do this.

Ignore the peanut gallery.

Pot to kettle. Unless you reply to everything you pass on with a personal rejection this whole post is a crock. To do anything but that shows a lack of professionalism defined by this entry.

Pot to kettle. Unless you reply to everything you pass on with a personal rejection this whole post is a crock. To do anything but that shows a lack of professionalism defined by this entry.

Personal rejection? All the author had to do was send a brief note, didn't even have to be personal, saying the work is off the market.

With the ease of submitting to agents these days, I can understand why they are flooded with hundreds of queries a week. I don't particularly like it, but when some say they don't respond to queries they aren't interested in, I understand.

You seem to be missing the point. A proposal was on the table. How difficult would it be for the author to send a one sentence form email saying the work was gone? Especially considering it probably wasn't on the table with hundreds of agents like the queries are from authors.

I don't care if the rejection is personal or not. I just want SOME response. Form rejects are fine, with non-replyable addresses. Just as long as I know it was received and considered.

First, I want to say to people who take this -- well -- just wrong, in my opinion: Jessica warned us it was venting. We all vent about work. No matter if we have the best job in the world, there is always SOMETHING that sucks about it every now and again if not repeatedly. She's allowed to vent, just like us. so chill people. :-D

Now, Jule Weathers, hah! I love you! I came to read Jessica's blog for two reasons tonight. 1). to catch up with her insight and advice and 2). to distract myself from horrible thoughts about my 3 yr old daughters visit to the hospital tomorrow. And you, my dear, have topped my cake with sprinkles. I can now safely say I can go to bed with a smile on my face. Thank you!

And I completely agree, while I've never thought of it before, about sending a quick note (Hello, e-mailing shouldn't take that long for us writers who type all day) if an agent has offered representation.

It's almost like when you interview for a job and you send the interviewer a Thank You card for their time. Have you been offered a job? No. (And I have to wonder if people even do this anymore in this "World of Rude" we live in today). But it's common courtesy and professionalism, and heck....seriously writer's, if you've been offered rep. and could have a chance at having another if not more agents try to offer you rep as well because they found out someone else is interested . . . I mean . . . to me that sounds like an ideal situation to be put in.

So, after reading this blog (thanks to you Jess!) I will now have a mental reminder to e-mail those agents in which I submitted, similar to Julie's advice. I like it very much and it doesn't waste any of my time. In fact, it may or may not improve my future as a writer. Woopie to that!

>>Only no means no. So my policy, when faced with no response, is to re-query

Me too :) Anything other than a "no" is a maybe.

Jessica, I started four or five different comments last night when I saw how the comments were going here but ultimately didn't leave them.

But I really feel the need to apologize on behalf of my fellow writers. Their response to you has been shockingly rude. You blog here every day, giving advice and opinions and tips, and as thanks they call you names and imply you're unprofessional and a terrible person because agents--who aren't even you--aren't falling all over themselves to keep them appraised of every second of their days.

(And before you all start in on me, I have an agent already, and no, it isn't any of the BookEnds ladies.)

You know what, unagented gripers? GET OVER IT. This is the way the business works. Play along or get out. But I'm sick and tired of you turning every comment thread into a whine all about yourselves and your sad, sad situation. It would be great to be able to dicuss something other than responses to queries, just once or twice. I don't think that's too much to ask for, is it? To let the rest of us have a turn? To allow blogging agents to focus on things aside from queries?


I'm sure you do think it's too much, as you don't even seem to want agents to be able to focus on their clients instead of reading queries. Perhaps you'll see this situation different when I explain that the time Jessica spent on that proposal was time when she could have been reading your query? Does that make a difference for you? Now that we've made it all about you again?

This post could have sparked a very interesting discussion. Instead it turned into yet another round of "Listen to the writers whine and yell and complain that the world doesn't revolve around them and the industry doesn't work exactly the way they want it to."

I'm sorry, but I'm just sick of hearing it.

While there have been a few rude responses, I do think there has been good discussion. Several people have disagreed politely.

Looks like Jessica hit on a raw nerve with this one.

The best advice I could give an unpublished writer looking for representation is to not short-change yourself. I get the whole frustration with the system thing, but why are you hurting yourself over it? If you have submitted your manuscript - either a partial or a full - to several agents and you receive an offer, you should use that to your advantage to get the best representation possible. Contact the other agents, let them know about the offer and ask if they are interested in your work. Who knows? You might get multiple offers of representation.

Faye

For the poster who was considering a follow-up after 7 weeks, have you checked their website for guidelines? I recently a request for partial from an agent who stated that it would likely be 2 months before I received a response.

On a query (a long while back), I gave a gentle reminder e-mail ("Just checking back to make sure my query made it to you") after 2 months of no response and found out they'd never received the submission. They ended up asking for a partial another 2 months later.

On the original post, I've never had this happen with a novel...but for two short stories I've submitted places.

On the first, an outlet spelled out the fact that they didn't respond to submissions unless they were interested, and that responses would come in 60 days. So, after 60 days, I figured they weren't interested and submitted it elsewhere (where it was accepted). Not even a week later, I received a response from the first outlet, accepting the work (bummed me out, because they paid more than the second. :-P ).

In the second case, the outlet used a web-based submission form, where you could remove a submission from consideration (which I did), and then received a note asking where it had gone, since they wanted to accept it. I had no indication that it was even under consideration at the time, or else I wouldn't have pulled it.

So, don't know if that helps...but this was just a venting post. Feel free to vent anytime.

:-)

"I don't care if the rejection is personal or not. I just want SOME response. Form rejects are fine, with non-replyable addresses. Just as long as I know it was received and considered."

Then make sure you don't query agencies who specifically say they don't respond if they aren't interested. Even then you are going to be disappointed because sometimes crap just happens.

I firmly believe the agent who is meant for my work is out there and so should you. If one doesn't respond it's a nudge to keep looking.

If a person lets the query process eat them this badly, the entire writing and publishing process is going to drive them insane.

Anon 4:49 AM

There really is nothing worse than your holier-than-thou attitude. I'm happy you have an agent and overjoyed it's not one of the Bookends agents so it won't appear your out here solely to stick up for them. Most of the griping wasn't in the least bit vitriolic but your attitude is sure coming off that way.

I am sure you've heard plenty of times about how the opposite is true as well. Everyone can be an unprofessional mug.

When I was accepted by my agent, I only let the ones who were "considering" me as a client know that she wanted me to sign a contract. I gave clear advance notice. And because these other agencies were dragging me along with vague promises, but no hard contracts, I took the bird in the hand. But I don't believe I owed the people whom I had simply qeried any advance notice. So I guess I'm not sure what the difference between a query and a proposal is--I do F, not NF. I am sorry you lost meeting time due to this shlump, though.

I'm published and agented. When I began my agent search, I already had a number of books out with major publishers, and I found that the degree of professionalism and courtesy from agents varied widely. I queried six agents, all very well regarded and specific to my field.

Agent #1: he never bothered to respond-- ever.

Agent #2: this agent required that submitting authors send copies of all published works with the intital query. So I was out $60 in book and mailing costs right off the bat. She never bothered to respond, either.

Agent #3: she didn't respond, but her colleague heard of this through his client (also my friend)and I understand he was upset at the agent's lack of professionalism. There was some behind-the-scenes discussion, but I never heard directly from the oroginal agent I queried.

Agent #4: responded quickly, initiated a dialogue, then inexplicably was silent for over a month after asking me to describe my unpublished work so she could decide what she wanted to see. A follow-up email elicited more silence. A third, in which I told her that two other agents were seriously interested, and I'd still love to hear from her, finally got a response: she requested that numerous manuscripts be emailed at once, and sent me her rejection virtually instantly.

Agents #5 and #6 were both highly professional and handled the query process beautifully. They responded in a timely manner to the original query, initiated dialogue about further work, requested what they were interested in, let me know they'd received it, and gave me their rough timetable for reading it. Both actually emailed me when they were in the middle of reading my work, just to let me know they were doing so, and how much they liked it. Both arranged calls, both told me they were thinking of offering representation but needed a little more time to give my work due consideration, plus present it at an agency meeting. Both ended up offering representation and it was a tough choice, because both agents were stellar.

The way the different agents handled the query process gave me some very good information about how they'd likely conduct themselves if I were their client. Agents #5 and #6 responded in a timely manner, were honest, and let me know at every stage what was going on in the process. I never had to sit around wondering.

Did I inform agents #1 and #2 when I was offered representation, and signed with my choice? Frankly, it never even occurred to me.

I will say this: there are more comments on this thread than the blog usually gets. Controversy sells!

"In fact, "stop blogging and get back to work" is what you'd hear if it were my company. Your preaching to the same old wannabe witers' blog contingent is not garnering new clients." Anon 2:35

Umm, Anon 2:35? Jessica's 'preaching' actually made me blow off every other agent I had in mind and query her instead. So, it's quite possible her blog garnered her a brand new, sparkly client.

Jessica, I know you said we don't need to tell you to stay, so I won't, but, I will say 'Thanks'. Your blog is a fantastic marketing tool, and without it, I would be far less confident of my querying/pitching skills. Thank you.

Marissa Agar

Janet Reid's link isn't working for some reason. Very interesting post/links!

Jessica, I feel your pain. I've been the scheduler for a music organization for years that offers six concerts a year by local professionals as a way to raise scholarship money for aspiring musicians. There are often minor concerns among the fifteen musicians in the organization, usually about the piano, but for the most part the musicians are lovely to deal with.

Then there's the diva, a soprano, a glorious soprano actually, who's a nightmare to deal with. After I schedule her, she'll call my answering machine twice a week, issuing her breathless demands until the machine cuts her off. This can go on for a full year. (Our organization was actually banned from one venue because of her behavior.

And now I've had enough. Before I even started scheduling for next season, she called my machine (thank you God for caller ID)to demand a specific date and venue. "I'd better not do this and I'd better do that."

And that's when I said, life is too short. I called a lovely, sweet pianist, whose program will not be as good as Ms. Diva's, and scheduled her for the month the diva had requested.

I'm guessing the same could happen to a writer who just proved too much for an editor: Is their book so fabulous the editor is actually willing to risk an ulcer, lose sleep? As the old saying goes, you attract more bees with honey than with vinegar.

There's always one. And there's the rub, hmm?

A rash of self-help books came out in the 1980-90s whose titles referred to dealing with difficult people, working with dinosaurs, etc. As with a lot of self-help books, I found the experience of reading them, well, exciting and inspiring. Couldn't wait to put them to use.

Trouble was, I'd managed to surround myself either with people who WEREN'T difficult to deal with, or WERE, but I'd been working with them for so long that we'd already developed a sort of dance to enable us to get through the day.

By the time the next diva/ass/idiot showed up, I was completely unprepared. In the heat of the moment, the best to hope for is not to fight ass-hattery with ass-hattery and wind up on somebody else's list of difficult people.

I so admire Miss Manners. :)

Here's Janet Reid's post, Kim.

I admire Moonrat's patience. I had a prospective student call me with that exact same attitude. It was a little mind-boggling that he'd call me if he was going to be so insulting. Like I'd accept his child if he clearly had no respect for me.

thanks for your take, Jessica.

I had a client tell me recently that if she ever starts acting like a Diva she expects me to tell her and straighten her out. Really?

This question means one of two things. It could be the author warning you that she's a total diva, and if you expect anything else you're fooling yourself. Or, more likely, it could be the author feeling out of her element in the publishing world and not knowing the etiquette boundaries in all the different steps through sale and publication. She's placing her complete trust in you to help guide her and help her learn along the way. And this seems reasonable to me.

At my job where we have prestigious researches and physicians as clients, we have a communication standard up front as part of our standard operating company policy.

When someone throws a hissy fit (and I totally understand that when you've spent all day doing brain surgery and then need to jump through hoops to get a pen to conduct your life saving cancer research that a hissy fit may feel warranted) we can politely sympathize with what they're going through but point to the communication standards.

Or would that just make things worse for you?

I'm sure there are many women capable of bad behavior like that (but I think they're more prone to do it on the sly--the email to your boss)but I KNEW this was a man before I even read the story. This is NOT a generalization but there is some behavior that is very gender biased.

I agree with pjd's comment. Most likely, said author IS feeling out of her element and isn't quite sure what's proper agent/client etiquette at this point.

It's wonderful, yet scary at the same time, when you've finally snagged that elusive agent after years of trying. Like Jessica said, there is a certain amount of camaraderie there, but there's also a boundary set by professionalism, and it's hard to know when you're crossing that.

I recently specified to my agent that I really didn't want a clincher cover for my first book--didn't say it in a snotty way, just wanted to let her know my preferences for this particular book--but later I talked to one of my published buddies about it.

After finding out how little say my agent or I will have in that particular aspect of my book, I emailed my agent back and apologized, promising to be happy with whatever the publishers give me (I jumped the gun anyway--we haven't even started sending the MS off yet. Chock it up to nervous anticipation... :-)).

I DON'T think most of us want to be divas. And we don't want our agents to think we're being one.

So ... is it okay to tell your agent things like personal preferences/aspirations for your work--so long as you word it respectfully? Or does that automatically make you seem like a diva?

I think the big fear for me comes with the understanding that everything is so public these days. You never know who is listening and taking note, the recent political gaffs for instance.

I'd be afraid that I'd say something that could be taken out of context, repeated, I'd be discussed over lunch and my reputation ruined. So I'd probably be worse than this guy because I'd sit frozen like a big slab of ice, too scared to make a mistake. Ha ha. Those who know me know that is impossible.

Still one of my ex-husbands had the code word "penguins". Whenever I chatted too much he became quite creative in working the word into the conversation. It was our code for, "Do not go there. Shut up now. And I mean now."

So with agent/editor, client lunches perhaps the agent could use a similar code word to guide the nervous Nellie newbie author.

PJD, to continue that discussion: I tend towards too nice, sometimes, so I have to push myself to speak up more.

The cues Jessica listed would be totally obvious to me, LOL, but I could see myself saying something like that: I want to feel the confidence to be proactive author and know someone will stop me if I ever come close to being an annoyance.

Sometimes it feels there's an attitude "out there" that authors should just sit and nod and smile and say: Thank you. I'm so grateful. There's a happy medium between being a smiling, nodding bobblehead and being a Diva, and we authors are pretty clueless about publishing "politics."

But people skills are people skills, and this story kinda makes me feel relief to know I could never be like that!

I've concluded Morons like the one in Moonrat's post are missing the sensitivity chip.

Jessica, I agree you are not responsible for a client's behavior. In any sort of relationship, we can only control our own response to others. The problem with the Chipless folks is they don't abide by common courtesies like the rest of us. In fact, I'm doing final edits on a MS with a chipless villain. :-) Chipless people make interesting Antagonists, but they make miserable business partners.

I can empathize with agents and editors who deal with these difficult people. I've had to have *discussions* with suppliers I hire who sometimes step over the line. In a few instances, I have severed relationships with suppliers because working with them is conflicted and unproductive. When it comes to a choice between my job and their job, it's no contest. In a business world where we're all wearing multiple hats, we can't afford to waste time on people who don't *get it*

Jessica, I have to agree with pjd's second assessment of your client's comment.

Or it could be your client saw a friend become Mr. Hyde when his writing career took off and is afraid she'll fall into the same pit.

Either way, your client is saying two things here: Subtlety may not work with her, and she trusts you enough to kick her in the shin when she needs it.

But if you're really worried that your client wants you to be her mommy, then talk to her about it. Be straight with her about what she can and, more importantly, cannot expect from you as an agent.

Now, if your client is a total age-ist, sexist bigot like Moonrat's writer, well then, it may be time to pull the trigger. :-D

While social skills are learned rather than inherited, they are still skills. Some folks are better at them than others.

There will always be the clueless folks who are a chore to work with. As Jes said, you can never go wrong with Miss Manners. If you're worried about becoming a Diva, or if you have to work with one, grab an etiquette guide and stick to it.

I have never seen a better -and more fun- way of getting people up to speed on people skills and communication skills than the Dale Carnegie class.
Seriously.
It should be a must for all people who have to speak, or deal with other people, or represent other people.
If only we could require it for diplomats too.

I feel so embarassed for that author. I'd like to think that it would never happen to me, and I think I would expect my boyfried or best friend to tell me I'm making an asshat of myself before expecting that from my agent.

Granted, proverbial slaps in the face are sometimes necessary for everyone. The intelligent and feeling will be humbled; the rest insulted and furious.

Kinda like dealing with a hormonal teenager home 5 hours past cerfew and stoned out of his or her gourd.

This is a difficult situation for me.

I agree with PJD and it's entirely possible the author was trying to say, "I don't want to be like that."

Frankly, it's something I might say, not because I'm afraid I will turn into a diva, but because I'm afraid I might inadvertently do something to appear that way. In other words, if I am sticking my foot in my mouth, feel free to kick me in the shin. I respond quickly to inflicted pain.

A few years ago, my oldest son nearly died in a bull riding accident. Very nearly. I didn't think I would get him to the hospital in time. Not long after his recovery I won a trip to the CMA awards and took him with me. I figured he needed something special. One morning one of the organizers asked if she could borrow Brandon for a bit. They had all fallen in love with their little cowboy and I just assumed they wanted him to help them with something. He came back an hour later and said she had taken him to a private room where Shania Twain was waiting for her limo. She sat there and shot the bull with him like they were old friends. Neither Brandon nor I are much for stargazing, but I will always be eternally grateful to her for taking time out of her schedule to make a little Texas cowboy feel special.

Hopefully, I will always remember this lesson and make others feel important.

Life is too short to put up with people who make you miserable. I have no idea why any agent or editor would even be remotely inclined to do so.

Honestly, I really hope I don't need to have many meetings with people. I hate having to try and find translators for country bumpkin.

I hear you on all counts. When I edit, it's amazing the personalities that come out of the woodwork. Sometimes I wonder if those type of people would be as bold if we didn't have email. Thanks for the link to Moonrat, although it was painful to read.

Julie, I'm so happy your son is okay from that accident. And Shania Twain sounds like a real sweetheart to do that.

I cringed when I first read Moonrat's blog because it just felt like one of those bizarre moments that only happen in a book.

Managing careers can sometimes feel like herding cats, or at least like Benjy Stone who had to keep an eye on Alan Swann in My Favorite Year (see, I spelled it American! I can adjust!).

Having access to a great editor and her boss isn't win-win if you treat the editor like a second class citizen. In this case, the author lost access to the boss.

"Julie, I'm so happy your son is okay from that accident. And Shania Twain sounds like a real sweetheart to do that."

Thank you. It's one of those things that turn a mother's hair gray, but it all worked out. Thankfully, no one got in my way on that wild drive to town.

I really do figure if someone of her stature can be so kind and generous, it's a good reminder for me to pay it back.

Thankfully, Precise Edit has had good, professional relationships with all of our clients. I believe it has a lot to do with the fact that our authors are willing to admit what they can and can't do. Ultimately, that's why they hire us. We are not just in the business of helping people create a great read, we sometimes have to lend our experience in marketing and publishing, as well. A good client is willing to take risks, conduct themselves professionally, and put good advice to use.