Hi! I'm curious whether an author's geographical location is also a factor for an agent to accept a manuscript?
I once asked a similar question in the comments of a YT video interviewing a CEO of a Big 5 publisher. What I gathered there is that it is a consideration, and publishers are more likely to sign agented authors from the EU and US than, let’s say, Asia (I’m from SEA 🥲), mostly because of logistical reasons like book signings and meeting bidders.
If agents do not see location as a variable for representing an author, while publishers do consider it, would you say that this becomes a reason why a work dies on sub?
Read back cover copy on your favorite novels to get an idea of how to write a query letter, hooking the reader without spoiling the ending. Subscribe to Publishers Lunch, the free version of Publishers Marketplace, and look up successful query letters on QueryTracker. I got my dream agent through referencing her MSWL (manuscript wish list) and was pulled from the slush ten years ago. There is hope!!! Good luck!
i got my agent by cold emailing one of my favorite writers for an interview, and after the writer responded (!!), we hadd a nice conversation and i told him i was thinking about turning the cccontent of the interview into a book and would he write the intro? he said yes and this led to a few publishing friends passing along a blurb to their agent buddies. now we're on submission!
Not much, if you ask me. I tried at a recent Paris writers workshop, but he blew me off right away with “the main thing is the joy of writing”, well, duh. Of course, I’ve had worse at these gatherings, including physical revulsion after some nut at a Chicago workshop would hardly talk to me after I paid her: at least the guy in Paris did that. Agents don’t care about me, about how my pedigree currently fits in with the human pound of flesh. But that’s okay, I’ll continue to forge on, into the abyss if I have to.
This genuinely made me sharpen my tagline to a finished version. I had a version before, but now I found the perfect format for it that mirrors my author voice well too. All of this was very helpful. I used to think my funny, ironic versions was just a fun thing I did for myself but those are genuinely the ones my beta-readers love, because they recognize my author voice right away. Because let's be honest, two psychoaths falling inlove and being horrified about it is genuinely funny. They are having an existential crisis ofcourse, but me and my beta-readers are enjoying the panicked powerplays.
That’s so insightful, thank you! Just a quick question, for memoir queries, are there any differences or is the process the same? Besides not needing to send the final draft.
Hi! I'm curious whether an author's geographical location is also a factor for an agent to accept a manuscript?
I once asked a similar question in the comments of a YT video interviewing a CEO of a Big 5 publisher. What I gathered there is that it is a consideration, and publishers are more likely to sign agented authors from the EU and US than, let’s say, Asia (I’m from SEA 🥲), mostly because of logistical reasons like book signings and meeting bidders.
If agents do not see location as a variable for representing an author, while publishers do consider it, would you say that this becomes a reason why a work dies on sub?
This is great info and I love the examples. How would you suggest tailoring some of this advice to nonfiction? For example, the one-sentence pitch.
So, you're saying there's a chance . . . 😉
How do you all feel about being addressed by your first name vs Dear Ms. Agent?
Thank you beyond. It’s as if the generals heard we needed air cover here in the query trenches.
Read back cover copy on your favorite novels to get an idea of how to write a query letter, hooking the reader without spoiling the ending. Subscribe to Publishers Lunch, the free version of Publishers Marketplace, and look up successful query letters on QueryTracker. I got my dream agent through referencing her MSWL (manuscript wish list) and was pulled from the slush ten years ago. There is hope!!! Good luck!
Thank you very much for all of this! It's grounding.
So helpful. I'm saving this. Thank you.
So grateful for this. Thanks.
i got my agent by cold emailing one of my favorite writers for an interview, and after the writer responded (!!), we hadd a nice conversation and i told him i was thinking about turning the cccontent of the interview into a book and would he write the intro? he said yes and this led to a few publishing friends passing along a blurb to their agent buddies. now we're on submission!
So appreciate the comprehensiveness!
Not much, if you ask me. I tried at a recent Paris writers workshop, but he blew me off right away with “the main thing is the joy of writing”, well, duh. Of course, I’ve had worse at these gatherings, including physical revulsion after some nut at a Chicago workshop would hardly talk to me after I paid her: at least the guy in Paris did that. Agents don’t care about me, about how my pedigree currently fits in with the human pound of flesh. But that’s okay, I’ll continue to forge on, into the abyss if I have to.
This genuinely made me sharpen my tagline to a finished version. I had a version before, but now I found the perfect format for it that mirrors my author voice well too. All of this was very helpful. I used to think my funny, ironic versions was just a fun thing I did for myself but those are genuinely the ones my beta-readers love, because they recognize my author voice right away. Because let's be honest, two psychoaths falling inlove and being horrified about it is genuinely funny. They are having an existential crisis ofcourse, but me and my beta-readers are enjoying the panicked powerplays.
Extremely helpful. Defining sub genre can be a challenge. Would love to read more on that.
That’s so insightful, thank you! Just a quick question, for memoir queries, are there any differences or is the process the same? Besides not needing to send the final draft.
I really appreciated this article! So helpful!