Written by Jennifer Chen Tran
Much like the world of dating, there are things that you can do to make yourself more attractive to another single person. If you wouldn’t act a certain way on a date or after a date, it follows that you probably shouldn’t act that way with a literary agent. As agents, we’ve seen it all: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here are some tips to put you in good stead with a literary agent.
Do Your Research. Unlike blind dates, knowing more about a literary agent before you query them is a good thing. There really is no excuse not to do your research first. All reputable agents have their bios, wishlists, and submission guidelines on the internet and/or in a literary agent directory. Just don’t add me as a friend on Facebook please, unless we’ve met in person.
Query Agents Only in Areas They Represent. I can’t emphasize this enough. Literary agents receive so many submissions that those that don’t fall into the categories or genres they represent almost always get an automatic reject. Why? We don’t have the time or resources to comb through every query letter, let alone those that aren’t in areas we represent. So do yourself a favor and query agents only in the categories or genres they represent. If an agent doesn’t represent romance, don’t send it to him or her!
Follow-Up, but Nicely. It’s OK to follow-up, usually via e-mail. It shows initiative. However, what you don’t want to do is be the person who calls the agent to ask if they received your manuscript, if she’s read it yet, what she thinks, what she’s eating for lunch, etc. Our first priority is to our current clients, not prospective clients. When our day is interrupted by an unsolicited phone call, it’s annoying, at best. Same thing with dating: do you want to constantly call the other person until they respond or maybe text or e-mail them to gauge their interest first? It’s called flirting, not stalking!
Study Our Lists, Our Clients, Our Deals, Our Agency. It’s always impressive to me when I receive a query that shows the writer is familiar with my clients and their books. Flattery won’t get you everywhere but it might push you closer to the top of the query list. When you demonstrate a feel for an agent and their respective agency, you come across as prepared, diligent, and professional— all qualities that literary agents look for.
Know Your Audience. Who are the main audiences for your book? Get to know them. Start an Author Page on Goodreads. Keep up with your comments on a blog, if you have one. Be part of the literary community through social media engagement via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Technology is your friend, use it. If you are a non-fiction writer, knowing, understanding, and connecting with your various audiences is critical for crafting a solid non-fiction proposal. For fiction writers, connecting with your reader-fans is part of being a good literary citizen.
Even if you are still perfecting your Work in Progress with your writers’ group or beta readers, branch out and be creative, ask yourself who else would be interested in your book and how to reach them. Writing can be isolating so it’s important to engage with a larger creative community. When a writer queries me and tells me that they’ve attended residences, conferences, and are in a writers’ group it shows a level of engagement that is necessary to achieve success in this field.
Be Open to Feedback. Sometimes agents will really like a MS but think it needs more work. We might request what’s called a “revise and resubmit.” This isn’t so much dangling a carrot as giving the writer a second chance to wow us. If we are taking the time to give you feedback, please take it seriously. And unless you are one of those rare birds winning every literary prize under the sun, it’s not attractive to tell an agent that dreaded phrase: “I’m not revising anything.”
We see the relationship as a long-term professional commitment and we want to work with clients who understand the give-and-take behind the writing relationship. That doesn’t mean you should agree with everything the agent says but take heed and think about an agent’s feedback—we read a lot, sell books for a living, and know what works and what doesn’t.
Meet Me in Person (at a Conference, Workshop, etc.). Meeting someone in person, putting a name to a face, is so much more memorable and powerful than seeing a name in my query inbox. I’ve had authors who have previously queried me reach out to me at a conference or workshop to gently remind me, “hey, I queried you about x, y, z, remember me?” Yes, it does help personalize things. Even if it doesn’t end up in an offer of representation, know that you made a positive impression on an agent that may reap dividends, whether in the form of introduction to another colleague or publishing professional. So don’t be shy, if you are attending a conference and see us, say “hi!”
Maintain a Sense of Humor. Books can and have saved lives but whether or not you are accepted by one particular dream agent doesn’t spell disaster or the end of your career as a writer. Book publishing, at its best, is creative, fun, team-oriented, and an upward spiral of personal and professional growth. Don’t get angry or sad, get even, by making your work so irresistible that you will receive multiple offers of representation (it happens, I promise!). Like in love, all it takes is one.
I hope those tips were helpful and encouraging. The path to publication may be a long and arduous one but remember to have some fun, get excited, and always be professional and courteous. You are on your way!
Jennifer Chen Tran is an Associate Agent at Fuse Literary acquiring both fiction (general, literary/upmarket, and genre) and non-fiction. Prior to joining Fuse Literary, Jennifer was principal and owner of Penumbra Literary LLC. Jennifer believes in building fulfilling and life-long writing careers and is honored to work with her client-writers.
Don’t miss connecting with Fuse Literary agent Laurie McLean at our upcoming event: Meet WNBA Experts: Roundtable Luncheon, January 24, 2016! Sign up online and reserve your place at the table!
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