I’m raising my hand with no shame (okay, I'm hiding behind this skeleton) to say I am one of those writers who hate queries. However, let me explain further what I dislike:
• we writers write the manuscript
• we writers write the cover letter
• we writers write the query letter
• we writers write the synopsis
• we writers fork out the $$$ to send our stuff in a SASE to the agent/publisher
• we writers are the ones who get a response such as “If you don’t hear from us within an x amount of time assume your manuscript is not right for us.”
Is there something wrong with this picture? I call it disrespect for the writer’s time because, after-all, we don’t do nothing, right? I know I’ll get stoned for this post but need to rant and rave.
This post has nothing to do with bashing an agent or an editor. I do know the time invested in reading the good stuff mingled with the crap out there. But does this justify not sending in a form rejection letter? How does the writer know their manuscript arrived?
Guess what I’m getting at is now with the almighty internet and convenience of emails, what if agents and editors placed all of the rejection emails in one lump database and did a mass bcc to every unlucky writer about to get the disappointment of their life. Which brings me to another question: These writers deserve the disappointment or are publishers extremely careful to choose writers with a big platform and a so-so manuscript over the great writers with a wee platform. I know, I know, I’m full of questions today. Woke up in a cloudy mood and now springing my questions to y’all and get you cloudy and riled up. GRIN.
So, what’s your biggest beef with agents and publishers? Hate queries as much as I do or have you figured out a master plan to churn them out like the chicken who laid golden eggs?
By the way, Mr. Agent and Mr. Publisher, I do know how to write a query before you leave a comment and say something like, "The writers that fear queries are the writers who don't know how to write." We writers fear them because we know our careers depend on them. Believe it or not some of us can write up a storm of electrifying storylines to root any tornado in its place. Then there are those who have a hard time to summarize a 100,000 word count tale. As the devil's advocate, however, there are those who don't deserve the time of day because their query clearly marks them as a 'newbie' writer. Now, have I totally confused you as to whose side I'm on? hehehehe
6 comments:
Everyone who writes and queried has grumbled along these lines, Lea. Even those published grumbled over the need to submit proposals to their editors.
I know writing queries can be difficult. We have a product we want someone to look at and buy. Getting that query just write to accomplish that is hard and frustrating.
The first time I had to write a 25 word tag line, I about croaked. How the hell do I reduce 90k into a 25 word attention getting tag? Trust me, it took me a week. We won't even talk about synopsi (excuse me while I go get the benedryl, hives you know).
You do have a point though. I may hate form rejections, but at least I know my material got there and and at least past the intial readers.
Yes, I think publishers and agents are very careful in their choices today. I can't say as I blame them, given the economic times.
Have a great holiday, Lea!
I agree! The courtesy of a reply would be nice. Yes, the biggest complaint is poorly written or fromatted query letters, but at least respond to those who actually created a proper one.
And yes, editors will pick an average book by an author with a platform or stardom or whatever over one with a great book and no big credentials.
I don't have a beef with agents or the publishing industry. Paying huge advances for the memoirs of Paris Hilton's dog irks me, but let's face it, if people didn't eat up everything celebrity the advances wouldn't be there.
I don't like writing query letters, but I don't hate them. The same goes for the synopsis.
I don't even mind form rejections.
As long as an agent says no response in xx days means we aren't interested, I don't really even care about that. The reason is I have listened to agents who did so not only for the time factor, but because they got tired of getting flamed after politely rejecting a writer.
So, some morons ruined the soup for everyone else. Just give me the rules and I will gladly abide by them.
Julie, you are 100% right about the 'moron' bit. The same applies for eager authors self-publishing without making sure to thoroughly edit their manuscripts. Then some wonder why bookstores don't want to shelf other writers.
As for the flaming - not professional. I don't mind rejections because I know and understand not every manuscript can or will be accepted. However, I do expect an acknowledgment or email of receipt of my manuscript so I know it's in their possession so I don't assume it's been rejected after the x amount of time they state.
I do fork out money to send my SASE, at least give me the courtesy of a 'Got it' via email.
I say chuck the phacockta queries. Let the publishers and agents get back to actually reading what was written. It should be a short excerpt from your book. From my inexperienced opinion, and I have a lot of those, reading something from your book would be better than writing a query that has been pumped up beyond the book's potential,or underwritten for the greatness of the actual work.
Queries are for quickness,but I think a reading from some of your book, along with a blurb, would be more informative to a publisher. It would be less stressful for a writer, and the publisher would actually see what they are getting, rather than a pile of hooey about what they might get!
I have to agree with you, Susan. A synopsis so the agent understands the book's characters and plot along with the first three chapters may be a better way to go.
There are writers out there who quiver at the thought of writing a query, which doesn't compare with the quality manuscript they have ready to submit.
A query helps an agent to determine if the genre or storyline fits their present needs.
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