I love that these agents are not condescending. So many agencies online pack their instructions with patronising notes, or clutter their discussions online about how dilettantish everyone queries them. Does not inspire me to trust them with my life's work.
Writing has been my passion since I was in high school. I have been writing professionally since 2015. I have found the videos to be very informative and helpful.
First time I’ve come across you guys but loving the content. Thank you and I look forward to your future posts as well as sifting through the older ones :) Kia
That was my question I posed a couple of months ago. Thanks for clearing it up, or rather, reassuring me that my query efforts are not in vain, vs. the face-to-face pitch. I don't go to conferences for many reasons, so I hope the next book I query to you this coming summer will result in you requesting more chapters. :)
Great talk! Question: I queried about 18 months ago and was rejected. I have spent the last eighteen months COMPLETELY re-writing the story. May I re-submit? Or, is it one and done?
I queried another agent on your team recently. I'm doing it all from my phone because, blindness, it's easier for me to see the screen. The query manager platform is a bit of a challenge, and I always have to fix the sample pages because it gets rid of all the paragraph divisions for some weird reason. I hope this won't be a turn off. Wish me luck, 'cause I'm gonna need it.
Oh, by the way, don't worry: I take this song as the absolute opposite of a good query example! In fact I find it kind of interesting that this perfect example of the wrong way to query was written so long ago, in the "over-the-transom" days!
Thank you both, that was very helpful: especially your advice to also pitch directly to quality publishers that don't require agent's. I did exactly that, and luckily I got signed by the first publisher I queried to....... currently my debut book is in the production line. It's a none fiction book. What are dos and don'ts that an author can do in the meantime, while waiting, in order to maintain momentum, as well as create a buzz for an upcoming book?😊
I’m a Christian self help author. I have two books finished. Part 1 identify yourself- leads to in debt part 2 pealing back the layers of personal issues. Who should I send my synopsis to?
Y'all should do a pitch request on SavvyAuthors.com one time. It's easy for agents and writers to communicate and you don't have to be on there all the time. It's a three day event. I got an agent request from there.
Do you automatically turn away from a pitch when it's an Indie author? I have two books of a trilogy published and I couldn't be more disheartened with this business. Those of us who can write a book, but have no skills on social media - or the computer for that fact - find themselves in an empty, dark room. My brain shuts down trying to absorb everything needed to query an agent. It's so overwhelming!
We have a couple of authors who originally self-pubbed and are now represented and/or getting traditionally published! One thing Jessica has said about social media is that fiction authors don't really need a social media platform, as long as they have a website that agents can look at when they're interested, so that they know you're real.
An agent (not from your agency) asked me for a partial and I sent it right away. I was so excited! Then...nothing. I nudged and still nothing. I guess it's good for me to know now rather than later. Sigh...back to the query submittals.
Could querying (plus simply sending sample pages of your work) strictly by E-mail be especially helpful if, say, you DON'T live in any major outlets like New York, Boston, L.A., etc.,? In addition, are there other equally convenient and effective tools (especially if you're not into Twitter or query-events like you said) along with E-mail you could use as well that will do the job correctly? Would you please let me know?
A modern question: Would it be worth mentioning to an agent that your short stories and other relevant content frequently goes viral on social media? I know this isn't quite the same as having a large and constant platform, but some of us have a small group of engaged followers that circulate our work much better than people who've acquired large follower counts but only get a few likes/shares.
I don't have a website because currently, I am unpublished. Would it be better to get one even if I have no books to promote or sell? And what should I include in my website? I noticed on query forms, the agents always ask about websites. I intend to have one, but thought I would need to be promoting a book first. Any info would be really appreciated. Thanks.
Hey so I sent James a query yesterday evening. Bookends was one of the first agencies I wished to query with, because I’m a fan of your RU-vid channel. Anyway though my manuscript has been edited a couple of times I noticed there were a few minor errors in the first 5 page excerpt I sent in. I’ve since corrected the mistakes and though menial I’m now nervous. Can I resend those few pages or is it too late??
From my experience, the best way to get a literary agent is be a famous author....like, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, or George R.R. Martin, famous. Not jaded, just being realistic. Agents receive hundreds of unsolicited queries from unpublished authors every day. So, chances are, your work did not get an honest read. They glanced at your submission, made a knee jerk decision and moved on to the next query in the slush pile. It is the nature of the business. You just have to keep trying. Research, query, research, query. Wash, rinse, repeat. It is the only way.
We've signed nearly 100 new clients in 2019. None famous writers of the Stephen King, JK Rowling ilk. Most found through us spending time reading our queries and submissions. We'll have to respectfully disagree with this statement. Thanks for watching the videos!
@@BookEndsLiterary I appreciate your response, and I am certain your words are true. However, for every unknown author you signed, I am certain you passed over hundreds. This is not a condemnation, it is just a reality of the business, you can't accept them all. My point was simply, as an unknown author, realize you will most likely send out many queries, and receive many rejection letters, before you receive a 'yes' from an agent, or a publisher. I am agreeing with you, queries are the best way, I am just pointing out it will take more than one. Dedication and perseverance are the unknown author's best allies in achieving success.
@@BarkingCur true. I am sending direct to publishers. If i have success, I might get an agent after a few books are out. I also self-published one book, and will try a few others.
@@ClintLoweTube I am considering the self publish route as well, but I know it comes with its own set of perils. Best of luck to you! I hope you find a publisher soon!
I think we sometimes forget that famous authors were once unknowns. They also submitted and got rejected multiple times until someone finally gave them a chance and the rest is history. As you say, you have to keep trying. You don't have to be famous to get an agent. You just have to be persistent.
Some agencies do allow international queries. The thing is if an agent loves your book no matter where you live they will want you and your book. Good luck
I've recently finished a manuscript for a young adult novel and am working on a query. When I write, I listen to random ost's and the music is what helps me create the scene as I write it. When we query and send a few page samples, would any of you guys be open to an unconventional approach of a musical readout (audio book style) to accompany the sample pages?- Thought I'd ask and just get an honest answer. Ty :)
Each BookEnds agent receives, reads, and responds to every query sent via QueryManager personally. Most queries (to most agents) receive form letter responses primarily for the sake of time. Sorry to hear you won't query again. Good luck to you.
I also queried you: I submitted my Children's Picture Book to you a couple of months ago but haven't heard back. I now have additional data from over 100 children independently surveyed showing that our book is liked by children more than Elf on the Shelf. This data can be found on my website: bestsellingpicturebook.com I would really appreciate a response. Thanks
You queried James with a picture book? He's responded to everything through this week. When you queried, was it through QueryManager? And did you receive a confirmation link?
