Mixed Messages in Publishing

It isn't surprising that with just about everyone weighing in, contradictory information exists about every aspect of publishing. So, aspiring authors learn early on that it's crucial to verify the reliability of our sources. Often, we rely heavily on the steady stream of information coming straight from the proverbial horse, that is from agents and editors sharing tidbits on Twitter or details in blog posts.

Of course, even those reliable sources don't always agree, and some make general assertions which aren't in fact true. For example, there's the very popular claim endlessly repeated by agents and by writers helpfully passing on their wisdom that "no" agent wants attachments included in an unsolicited query. Well, yes, in fact some do.

Still, in cases such as how to query, it's fairly easy to do your due diligence, since we know that many individuals have their own preferences, and this information is almost always readily available. The real problem happens when people contradict themselves, and in looking further, it seems that this is in fact the case for the industry as a whole. Traditional publishing, despite its many rules, actually bolsters and embraces rule breakers. [Tweet this.]

Best Bad Query Contest

So you may have noticed, I skipped my customary Monday post yesterday.  That's because, just for fun, I've decided to participate in Sharon Bayliss' "Bad Query" Contest! To be clear, the idea is to write a horrible query, not to share a real query that didn't work out. Participants will be posting their bad queries on their blogs, and voting for the "Best" Bad Query will take place on Sharon Bayliss' site.

Check out my entry below, then hop on over to others' posts, and remember to vote!

Please remember, this is intended to be bad. Please do not write your queries like this!

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Dear Agent:

Have you been slogging through the slush in hopes of finding the next international bestseller? Well look no further! I guarantee you, agent, that in my fiction novel, you will see a future of skyrocketing sales and awards rivaling today's big names and sure to shoot your career to the next level. One of your current clients, who has asked to remain anonymous for now, agrees that you MUST read this book!

So what do you say, agent? Are you ready to leap into the future of publishing with this one-of-a-kind manuscript? I urge you not to miss out on the chance of a lifetime! But I do not fear, for I know YOU are the unique agent SMART enough not to pass up this golden opportunity.

You may be waiting for some more details before signing on, and I trust you, agent, so I will share some pieces of this absolutely unique work with you.

Told in seven perspectives, this revolutionary manuscript details the challenges and triumphs of vampires, werewolves, and angels, all battling each other in Los Angeles. (This story would also make a great movie!) With star-crossed lovers, brutal battles, and so much more, this fiction novel is one any audience will love! Though I have no formal background in writing, this manuscript has been expertly written and needs no modification before publication — it’s ready for the world NOW.

Worry not, I do also have several self-published books, just waiting to be discovered by the masses. And I feel in my heart (and those who have read it agree!) that this manuscript will propel all of my works to the top of every bestseller list, worldwide. So don’t miss out!

I know by now you are ready and excited as I am to negotiate your fee and sign a contract, after which I will gladly send you my 164,000-word manuscript.

Looking forward to your forthcoming call,

The Most Awesome Author You'll Ever Know

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Querying Far & Wide

Advice for aspiring authors online abounds, and we soak it up.  Some advice is so pervasive that we don't question it — after all, so many industry professionals agree as do the stories of other writers' successes, so who are we, as new writers, to think otherwise? But you know what, I disagree with one of the fundamental tips for traditional publishing success. 

I read quite recently in an interview with an agent I'm considering querying her opinion that considering small presses is perfectly valid — if you've already queried and been rejected by about 400 agents. This idea that we as writers should query any and every agent who represents our genre is quite common, but frankly, absurd. It places us in the position of begging for acknowledgement, as though we need the stamp of approval from absolutely anyone with the title "agent" before we can be taken seriously, which devalues our work, our talents, and our voice in this process. 

Query Shark

I've been busy.  So busy that lately I've been horribly remiss in updating my blog or socializing on those networks we all love (or hate, depending on our mood).  Just when I began slowly resurfacing, I came across Query Shark, a blog on which an agent comments on submitted queries [submitted to the blog, not to her as an agent].  

I have now fallen into the trap of reading all of the posted queries, starting with the oldest.  While with research, it is fairly easy to avoid some of the most common pitfalls appearing in what I've read so far, it is invaluable to see inline reactions to a selection of queries spanning many genres and styles.  Between this discovery and continually revising my submission for Pitch Madness, it's likely I will not truly resurface for at least a few more days.  But Query Shark should certainly give you plenty to read!

Finding the Gatekeepers of the Walled City of Publishing

Unfortunately, one of the authors with whom I was scheduled to exchange posts for the Blogger Book Fair had to drop out at the last minute. Rather than deprive all of you of the post I wrote for her site (and we all know it'd be an unacceptable loss) I am publishing it here. I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments!

Agent Adventure

Finding the Gatekeepers of the Walled City of Publishing

Having chosen the traditional route, a writer begins a quest not unlike that of medieval heroes. We’ve packed our bags with the necessary supplies (our finished manuscript, a polished query letter, determination, and as a bonus—internet access) and now set out to make it past the gatekeepers (aka agents). At least one must be convinced of our worth before we are allowed to enter the walled city of publishing and fight for a place in its perpetual tournament. First, of course, we have to seek out the gatekeeper most likely to appreciate our potential.

One Down

It's official.  Early this morning, I received my very first form rejection letter.

Many writers consider this to be a badge of honor – an inevitable milestone on this path we chose.  Me? Honestly, I spent a few hours upset.  This had been an agent with whom I believed I would genuinely want to work.  She, or an intern, rejected my query in less than 24 hours. On the plus side, that is a wonderfully fast turnaround time.  On the other side, I spent some time reviewing the submission guidelines and such, making sure I hadn't received the form rejection simply because I had somehow done something wrong.  Perhaps sending a query later in the evening brought it to the top of her inbox in the morning.

A few hours (away from the computer) later, the Twitterverse offered me a productive distraction: #MSWL, which decodes into "Manuscript Wish List."  Basically, editors and agents from all over were posting throughout the day what exactly they would like to see right now.  I found a few agents whose wish lists, I believe, include stories like mine.  Moving past my first rejection, I submitted 5 more queries. 

In a sense, every published author has a "magic number" – the query or pitch that turned into an offer of representation or a sale.  For many, that number is at least in the double-digits.  For some – in the triples.  I'd like to believe that each rejection – silent, form, or otherwise – is ticking down until my magic number.  

Here's hoping that magic is real.

Quick Note on Queries

So, I (clearly) have no idea what the fate of my query letter is at the moment, however, I have come across an interesting site I find worth sharing: SlushiePile Hell.  

This page displays quotations from query letters sent to (and perhaps from other communication with) an agent, along with that agent's response.  Let me just say, if those snippets are demonstrative of the vast majority of query letters, then I have significantly more confidence in the future of my query.  Plus, the comments are rather entertaining, so there you go.

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As an aside, I am quite excited to have received an honorable mention for my Flash! Friday post and encourage you to check out all the other stories!

Idealistic Practicality

Despite my title woes, the day is soon approaching when I will bite the bullet and submit my first round of queries for my manuscript. As I have mentioned before, I plan to include Avon Romance in my first round of submissions, for a few reasons. 

Avon is a quality publisher and has published books by one of my favorite authors in my genre, so while I acknowledge the fact that I am most likely to be rejected by them, I am also choosing to submit to them first because I would love to be published specifically by them. Rather than submitting to smaller publishers "to get the rejections out of the way," I am choosing to bet on the quality of my work and submit first to my ideal publisher.

Besides having confidence in my work, the reason for this is primarily practical: if I were to submit to other publishers first and hold off on submitting to Avon, and then by some quirk of fate one of those publishers were to agree to publish my work, I could not reasonably ask said publisher to wait months while I submit to Avon in case they, too, would be interested. I also wouldn't feel comfortable accepting a publishing contract elsewhere without knowing whether Avon would have been interested. So, Avon will be in the first round of publishing houses I will be querying. 

Query Letter Quest

Once upon a time. . .

Virtually no resources existed for aspiring writers to research agents or publishers and find their contact information, not mention submission guidelines.  Guides were published and sold, but by the time they were bought, many were out of date. The aspiring writer who had slaved for months (or years) over their work had to rely largely on luck to search out a way even to make it into the currently dreaded slush pile. 

Nowadays, for those with an internet connection, the opposite is true.  Not only do agents and publishing houses have websites, Facebook pages, twitter accounts, and blogs, but many are also listed on sites such as AgentQuery, which is quite aptly named, as the first step in reaching out to agents or publishing houses is what is called a "query letter".