This week I was lucky enough to enter an "agent inbox" contest (I'm not sure if she calls it a contest, that's just my word) over at Mother. Write. (Repeat.) and so far, so good (I'm #24, btw). I've been told before that I should leave out the information about Lincoln's surgery off the query since it isn't important in the first half of the book, but I've left it in there so far - mostly for sentimental reasons since it's exactly that event that drove everything else in the book, but also because I don't want an agent to read my sweet romance book and suddenly think wth? sci-fi?? But um, yeah, in the comments poor Lincoln has had a sex change and is a probable CIA agent. Something's gotta' change...
And it also showed me (again) why I could never be an agent. I tried to read through all the queries, but it just didn't work for me. I tried, I really did. Now it's 8 hours later and I've done less than half of the 25. No fault to the writers AT ALL - they were all really good and I wish them the best of luck. It's me. I can't read more than one or two and then do something else. It's hard work, man! When I swore I would read 5 in a row without doing anything in between, I resembled this (and I only made it through 2):
How about you? Could you do it? Is your dream job being an agent (or intern) and reading queries over and over and over and...? And what's the ruling on contests? You guys participate? Why or why not?
Nathan Bransford had one of those type of things a while back. It really does help us get a picture of why there's a wait period or "no response means no."
ReplyDeleteI love reading queries, but yes, after awhile it can be cumbersome. At Entangled, the Managing Editor goes through bouts of "power slush pile" reading every two weeks and spends several hours on it. I guess everyone is different though.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be an agent! I love to read them, but I don't necessarily like commenting on them, so I'd be a good "no response means no" agent! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Erica, I don't think I could be an agent. i'd like WAY too many queries. I would want to publish them all.
ReplyDeleteYes, that would be tough. After a few, I'd think the queries would all run together in a muddy soup. Another good reason to make our queries clear, concise, hooky, and memorable!!
ReplyDeleteI think if I were an agent it would be part time and only by referral or through conferences. I remember Nathan's paragraph contest and there were thousands! But, if you are looking for the next big thing to sign, you might be a bit more motivated! :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean! My eyes start to cross after a while, but it is very instructive to see the range of submissions. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteoh, heck no. I could never be an agent. the whole idea of that many messages in my inbox gives me the itch... :D But GOOD LUCK with the contest! You know that's how I got my agent--MSFV. So I'm a believer~ :o) <3
ReplyDeleteTotally couldn't. It's why I don't often enter blogfests that have writing as the focus--I think AGENTS have to be able to totally skim--both queries and pages and books... and I can't. I'm a writer and every word matters. I read carefully and think about how this or that word affects the meaning. And so the VOLUME and agent has to get through and my reading style just don't go.
ReplyDeleteALSO--an agent has to be tuned in, fingers on the pulse of... sheesh... everything. They need to know who is doing what in publishing, writing, entertainment... and they have to maintain relationships with people who can help them in this or that... they have to SHMOOZ. I left advertising because of the need to schmooz. I made a vow to never kiss another butt unless he danced like I like first.
And agent has to be able to SELL. And I know a writer does too... but what the WRITER is selling is 'hey man, can you put a link on your blog?' or 'I'd love it if you'd read my book'. What an AGENT is selling is-Can you fork over thousands of dollars to put this book in print?
Nup. NOT my personality.
I don't envy them, I could never do their job. So many wonderful stories and so little time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one! And Michael, haha!
ReplyDeleteChristy - did I mess something up? Why is the font so tiny now??
erica
I'd rather be a writer than an agent. An agent's job is a difficult one. They have to sift through SO MANY submissions.
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