Blogger: Rachel Kent
We received a package recently filled with goodies for one of the agents at the agency. This gift was from a writer who emailed a query for a project and mailed the box to go along with the theme of her proposal.
The package cost $25 to mail, and the items inside cost at least that much. But that writer’s query isn’t receiving any special treatment.
While it’s nice to receive a gift, a package like this creates awkwardness. If the agent decides that the project isn’t right for her representation, the hopeful author has spent all that money and time sending something nice for no result. Agents do read query letters carefully, and we determine if the project is a good fit based on what we are personally looking for, what we believe we can place with a publisher, and the quality of the writing. Sending a gift won’t change whether your book is the right fit. The writing and the idea need to stand on their own.
Spending $50 per agent submission is a waste of an author’s resources when submission guidelines are spelled out on the agency websites and do not include a fee of any kind. This type of gift hints that the writer doesn’t understand how submissions work. (P.S. Any agent who requests an upfront payment or gift is most likely a fraud. We are paid by commission on the sale of a book.)
The writer most likely wanted to draw attention to her project, which her package did. But it didn’t highlight it in the way she had envisioned. We simply made sure we had the query.
My suggestion to all of you who are querying agents is to work hard putting together the best query letter and proposal that you can. The query and proposal present your book to us, and that is what we are interested in. The writing and story need to be as strong as possible so they can capture our attention better than any gift could.
What are some effective ways to show an agent that you and your project are something special?
If you have an agent, what do you think was the strongest tool in acquiring one? Did you get an agent through a query letter or because of a conference appointment?
That does sound a bit awkward…especially if there was no chocolate. 😉
*Keeping in touch (*read* NOT emailing every day/week) to update an agent is one thing my mentor told be would be effective. Just a sentence or two with any new happenings, contest wins or things of that sort. Shows that you are not idle in your down time.
*Don’t have an agent yet, but conferences are valuable for a personal connection, in my opinion.
Oh, darn, Rachel. Back to Plan B, I guess.
* My thought is that consistency in social media presentation is pretty important – for example, someone whose main social media presence is blogging should post on a regular basis and consistently respond to reader comments in a timely and thoughtful manner.
* To me, this would show that the nascent author is ready to do the legwork to connect with readers and build a loyal and engaged following.
* But, Rachel, I am speaking as an amateur. This is how I think I would view it from behind the agent’s desk…I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think one should be yourself, love your work, keep working hard, and pray. I love Sarah’s reminder of conferences … getting to meet and know each other, making it personal. And special. I can’t believe how my life has changed from the first day I found the B&S blog and commented. I need to send gifts–not bribes–gifts. I’ve grown to love you all so much. Your daily wisdom is priceless. I appreciate you all so much.
I suspect, Shelli, that the love is mutual, and that the ray of precious sunshine you bring to this community every day is treasured by the Books and Such staff as much as it is by the rest of us.
Aww, Andrew. Thank you.
If that writer does the same thing to every agent she tries it would probably be less expensive for her or him to self publish.
Research is the key, not gimmicky packaging. I have found the most success by heavily researching the agent or publisher that I am interested in. I always make sure that I am querying to someone that would be interested in my particular project. Then I let the quality of my writing speak for itself. For example: currently, I am submitting to agents who accept Christian fiction because that is where my manuscript will be most likely accepted. – Thanks for sharing these blogs!!!