Writing

mainer

(12,312 posts)

19. Agents DO read queries.

Sat Jul 14, 2012, 07:48 PM

Jul 2012

"The ordinary reader and agents aren't going to systematically search the currents in this ocean to discover the good stuff anytime soon. Lots of wasted talent and opportunity rare though it may be."

Trust me, agents are looking for clients and they do read queries. The problem is, most query letters suck.

Most editors and agents can tell, within a paragraph, whether a writer has "it." I've read enough horrible manuscripts to be able to recognize, within a very short time, whether someone really has the chops to write a decent manuscript.

As for writing books to make instant money, the best way is simply to write a good book. That's it.

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So I wrote the manuscript, the query and the synopsis. [View all] Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 OP

Marketing: Self published and Pubishing Houses PATRICK Jul 2012 #1

Thanks. One way or another, my manuscript will be published Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #2

I disagree. For a first novel, legacy publishing makes you stand out. mainer Jul 2012 #3

I am going to make the attempt to get the agent. Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #4

A few no-nos on queries mainer Jul 2012 #5

That's spot on. Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #6

About queries: focus on the main character and his/her primary crisis mainer Jul 2012 #7

Hopefully I have accomplished that. Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #8

Multiply published (legacy publisher) in fiction. mainer Jul 2012 #9

Congratulations on your success! Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #10

If you have any specific questions, post them. mainer Jul 2012 #11

Well, the question that I hesitated asking because I thought it was rude... Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #12

"Legacy publishing" is a new-ish term, to distinguish it from self-publishing mainer Jul 2012 #13

Thank you so much mainer! Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #14

It has been my experience that there is a very good reason SheilaT Jul 2012 #15

Which is why readers will eventually move back to traditionally published books. mainer Jul 2012 #16

Yep. SheilaT Jul 2012 #17

Yes PATRICK Jul 2012 #18

Agents DO read queries. mainer Jul 2012 #19

I was in a writing workshop about two decades ago, and a SheilaT Jul 2012 #20

In answer to your question about proposals... sybylla Jul 2012 #21

Thanks sybylla: Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #22

If you are planning to send this to an agent, I wouldn't send a first draft. pnwmom Aug 2012 #23

I've been writing manuscripts for so long that I edit as I go along. Baitball Blogger Aug 2012 #24

Fiction Proposal Electrominuette Aug 2012 #25