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Rated: 13+ · Message Forum · Writing.Com · #100931
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Oct 17, 2017 at 9:02am
#3139418
Re: Re: Querying Agents
by KenF
Start building your Author Platform now. An agent is going to look at you as much as they are going to look at your MS.

Agents get 30,000 MS's a month. They choose 3. Next to your MS will be another that is just as good. If the difference between the two is one guy is a hermit who snail mailed it in, and the other has 5K followers on Twitter, guess who gets accepted?

Twitter is where you learn who agents are. Many are active there and post articles. Laura Bradford for instance posts articles (and has a blog) that gives advice/what not to do when sending query letters.

That brings Author Platform back into the picture, by being "a writer" and participating in discussions, commenting, you can effectively become somewhat known before you ever pitch your work.

Another important tip, as Zen says, follow their directions. It is a test. A writer who cannot follow directions is going to be a PITA. That's why they reject people just for not doing it like they asked. Remember that 30K queries. They have to trim that somehow.

A place to meet Agents are conferences for agents. Many of those are designed to intro writers to agents. But there's a protocol. If it's a multi-day event. On Friday, you just meet agents. Ask about THEIR work. Do not mention you own unless they ask. Don't gush when they ask what you write. They want to know genre, not a plot synopsis. Saturday is when they'll accept pitches. Which now you know which agents like what genres and such so target them. By making a good impression Friday, they'll be more inclined to like you Saturday during the pitch.

As an example, Jim Butcher sent his MS to an agent and was rejected. Then he went to a conference and ended up talking to the agent (like a normal person) and got invited to dinner. The agent then offered him a deal. He asked her why, and the answer was "Because I know you now."
MESSAGE THREAD
Querying Agents · 10-16-17 11:59pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Querying Agents · 10-17-17 7:14am
by Zen
*Star* Re: Re: Querying Agents · 10-17-17 9:02am
by KenF
Re: Re: Re: Querying Agents · 10-17-17 11:25pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Querying Agents · 10-17-17 11:28pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Querying Agents · 10-18-17 8:42am
by KenF
Re: Re: Re: Re: Querying Agents · 11-24-17 9:49am
by NYPen
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Querying Agents · 11-24-17 3:16pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Querying Agents · 11-24-17 3:21pm
by NYPen

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