Is it a good strategy to requery people who requested a partial?

Prawn · Sep 30, 2008

I am querying my second book. First I want to query the agents who showed interest before by requesting partials or fulls of my first project. Should I mention that in the query letter? How about something along the lines of

You requested a full of my last book involving this protagonist, and I think you will find this one even more interesting.

Karen Duvall · Sep 30, 2008

Prawn, I advise against mentioning anything about the first book. Especially if they rejected it, you don't want to remind them of that fact. You'll set the stage for a second rejection. Just approach it as a new project, which it is, and let the strength of the query and your pitch carry it through. That will be the basis of any request for more pages, not a reminder of a past rejection. Ouch.

Deccydiva · Sep 30, 2008

If I was in your position, (but I'm not - so take this with a pinch of salt) I would certainly approach the same agent with a second book. I would explain specifically why this one is better than the first by refering to the previous feedback. Good luck!

Phaeal · Sep 30, 2008

I would only remind the agent of the previous contact if the agent specifically requested that you send her future projects.

IceCreamEmpress · Sep 30, 2008

What Phaeal said. Don't remind people of rejections.

Prawn · Sep 30, 2008

Thanks for the feedback. Even if I don't mention the first project, does it makes sense to query these people first, since they have already shown an interest in my writing by requesting a partial or full of my first book?

Karen Duvall · Sep 30, 2008

Prawn said:
Thanks for the feedback. Even if I don't mention the first project, does it makes sense to query these people first, since they have already shown an interest in my writing by requesting a partial or full of my first book?

Absolutely!

astonwest · Sep 30, 2008

Seems rather contradictory to send it first to people who have requested a partial, but not to mention that they had done so...

:Shrug:

Susan Breen · Sep 30, 2008

I would definitely target agents who've requested partials. When I was looking for an agent I used to write: "You were kind enough to say you liked my novel, X. I hope you will enjoy this one." Or something like that. A lot of times agents remembered who I was, and I thought it was good to establish a connection. I did the same thing with short story editors who rejected me. Good luck!

Charlie Horse · Oct 1, 2008

If they requested something from you the first go around, they may at the very least remember your name and best case scenario, they may think,"Oh yeah, that guy's work was good. Maybe I should give him a second look." That might count for something, so yeah, I'd hit them first but not mention your history with them. As someone else said, let the merits of you current project stand on its own.

Danthia · Oct 1, 2008

Every book is like a fresh start. Treat it as if it was the first time. If an agent asked for a full in the past, and said something like "this was close, but I have to pass. Please send me your next though" you could mention it if you really wanted to (I probably wouldn't though). But ONLY if they read your full. Partials don't count, because it didn't hook them enough to ask for the full, which doesn't bode well the next book.

RainbowDragon · Oct 1, 2008

To say this book is better than the last one may compromise your ability to get the agent interested in the first book even if (s)he signs you for this newer one.

Unless you had a meaningful (non-form) dialogue with an agent over the last partial, I'd suggest just starting over with the new query as if you've never spoken before (they may not remember your partial anyway depending on how much time has passed). Just my 2 cents, feel free to let us know what approach you take and how it works out. Good luck!

Prawn · Oct 1, 2008

Okay, I won't mention book one, but I will still hit those agents that showed interest in my first project. If they remember me, great.

Speaking of form rejections, two people rejected me in the following way. Are these form rejections?

>As to your material I'm afraid I must pass -- while the premise is
>intriguing, the prose doesn't seem quite as polished as it could be.

another said

> Thank you for the query but unfortunately I did not love the writing enough to want
> to see more.

What do you think? If these are form rejections, I won't requery. If they are something more, I will contact the agents again.

astonwest · Oct 1, 2008

Susan Breen said:
When I was looking for an agent I used to write: "You were kind enough to say you liked my novel, X. I hope you will enjoy this one." Or something like that.

I'd personally go with this method. An agent probably receives hundreds of queries a week. To think that they would remember your name out of that many seems rather naive.

Of course, success is going to depend on the rest of your query, but I would think a reminder that they enjoyed your work previously would be a step up.

Is it a good strategy to requery people who requested a partial?

Prawn

Writing is finite,revising infinite

Karen Duvall

Chalice the Hatchet Knight

Deccydiva

Back from the dead

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Prawn

Writing is finite,revising infinite

Karen Duvall

Chalice the Hatchet Knight

astonwest

2 WIP? A glutton for punishment

Susan Breen

Charlie Horse

Speaking in metaphors

Danthia

RainbowDragon

Perpetuous Revisasaurus

Prawn

Writing is finite,revising infinite

astonwest

2 WIP? A glutton for punishment