So, for those of you who might not know, I am currently querying literary agents for my first novel, Spark of Madness. It is about two siblings who risk their lives for their abused mother, and they start to question whether they’re willing to die for her.
I am opting to go the traditional publishing route because that is how I always envisioned my books—with real covers (maybe even hard covers!), and pages to turn and dogear, with margins to scribble in and passages to highlight. Even a title page that I would autograph if I ever have the privilege to be asked.
I know that self-publishing is the route many writers are taking in this electronic age, and perhaps one day I will be joining their ranks. However, I promised myself something first. I am going to try my hardest to find a literary agent who is thrilled to represent me and my books. Next I will contact small publishing houses that accept unsolicited queries. When I exhaust those routes, then I will move on to the self-publishing option.
To date, I have sent out 48 queries. Picky-Kate is trying very hard not to be picky in this quest. I have been sending them out to any literary agent that accepts commercial fiction.
There are quite a few, surprisingly, that don’t have websites. Furthermore, there are many that don’t accept e-queries and want a paper query snail-mailed to them.
For those agencies that don’t have websites, I admit I’m leery (okay, okay, picky). In this day and age if a company doesn’t have a website then I’m inclined to believe they’re either defunct or in the process of being defunct. I mean, hello, I have a website and I’m a nobody—well, not really. My dog can’t live without me. But I think you know what I mean. So, I haven’t bothered with those site-less agencies at all.
As far as the agencies who want queries mailed to them via the post office, I have to group them in a separate to-do list. It’s just easier to get the e-queries out of the way before I haul out the envelopes, stamps, paper, pen (for a real signature) and do a mass mailing. Here again, why not the most popular mode of communication, email?
Actually my husband might have the answer to this (a first for him, so listen up). He says he can’t stand reading lengthy material like chatty emails, newspaper articles, etc. on a computer screen. So, maybe there is a population of literary agents who would prefer to read queries while they’re tucked tight into bed, or sitting by a roaring fire with a glass of merlot by their elbow?
One aspect all the literary agencies have in common is that they ask for several weeks before responding, and if they aren’t interested at all they won’t respond at all. Silence should be response enough, I read on one such website.
There are a small number of agencies who have an automated system in place that will notify you that they received your query. This means nothing more than it’s landed in the IN box. Who trawls through the IN box, I can only imagine.
Some agencies said they won’t reply with an actual rejection, and they meant it. In the four months I’ve been doing this I haven’t heard BOO from about 35 literary agents. However, there are some who have bothered to reject me personally—although because they all have the same, generic ring to them I am inclined to believe Literary Agents, Incorporated has a universal form letter they send out to writers. Maybe they’re told to mix it up a little bit just to look like they’ve made an effort.
Here are a few examples of what I’ve received:
-Thanks for giving us the opportunity to review your work,
but it doesn’t seem right for our agency at this time.
-Sorry, this isn’t the right fit for our agency. Wishing you success.
-Thank you for considering me as a possible fit to represent your book. I have reviewed your query and, at this time, I do not believe that I am the right agent to represent your work. Please know that we are extremely selective, even with the materials we review. I do appreciate you thinking of us as an agency, however, and I encourage you to continue your search for an agent who is just the right fit for you. I wish you every success in your publishing endeavors. All my best,
-Thank you for your recent query regarding representation. Having considered this, we’ve concluded that *** is not going to be the right fit for your project but of course wish you all the best with it.
-Thank you for your query letter. We’ve had the chance to review it and, unfortunately, this project is not right for us. Best of success to you in all your literary endeavors.
-Thank you for your query. However, this project is not the right fit for us. Wishing you well.
-Not for me-thanks anyway.
-Thanks, but this is not for us.
-Dear Writer: Thank you for your inquiry. We are sorry that we cannot invite you to submit your work or offer to represent you. Moreover, we apologize that we cannot respond in a more personal manner. We wish you the best of luck elsewhere. Sincerely,
-Thanks for your interest in our agency. Unfortunately you’ve caught me at a time when the demands of my current clients leave me with very little time to devote to exploring new talent and unfortunately in this case I have to pass on the opportunity to pursue this. I’m being extremely, and likely unreasonably, picky so please seek many opinions since my decision may have little to do with the saleability of your work. Sincerely,
-This isn’t the right fit for us. Thanks though.
So, there you have it. A brief glimpse into my world of rejection. Yes, I have kept all of these in a little file (I plan to keep it little, mind you) titled REJECTIONS. I think about the legendary writers who received actual rejection letters in the mail and used them to paper walls. I will one day print all of my rejections in my first published novel.
If they’re the right fit, that is.
Limebird Writers 