What to send when they don't specify what they want

Chasing the Horizon · Jan 14, 2009

It's strange, I didn't encounter this with my last novel. What am I supposed to send agencies that either don't have a website with submission guidelines or who don't specify what they want under their submission guidelines (it sounds weird, but I've so far run across three websites where all they give is their address and response time).

Is it wrong to send a few sample pages (like, say, the first five pages) along with the query letter when they don't tell you what they want?

Danthia · Jan 14, 2009

Seems like a good compromise to me. I'd suggest sending whatever easily fits (and folds) into one envelope, so maybe 2 or 3 pages. Just enough for them to get a sense of your book and writing.

SteveCordero · Jan 14, 2009

Danthia said:
Seems like a good compromise to me. I'd suggest sending whatever easily fits (and folds) into one envelope, so maybe 2 or 3 pages. Just enough for them to get a sense of your book and writing.

That's a good idea.

I've read on agent blogs that they suggest just sending a query if an agent doesn't have submission guidelines available. Sending them some sample pages in a #10 envelope with regular first class postage makes sense. Saves a step for them asking for it.

Chasing the Horizon · Jan 15, 2009

Thanks. I'll send a few sample pages with the query, then.

(Does this querying thing ever stop being confusing?)

nevada · Jan 15, 2009

Miss snark said always include the first 5 pages. nobody will reject you if you do and if they like your query they'll have something to read right way.

waylander · Jan 15, 2009

seconded

TsukiRyoko · Jan 15, 2009

Hope To The Horizon said:
(Does this querying thing ever stop being confusing?)

It gets easier like being jabbed with a pin gets easier. It makes you grind your teeth and curse every time, but after say, a hundred times, you get used to it. Kind of.

...Well, you know what's coming, at least.

RJK · Jan 15, 2009

I won't dissagree with those who suggest sending the sample pages, and I've done it myself with electronic submissions.
If you were to follow Noah Lukeman's advice as he writes in How to Write a Great Query Letter, He says send the letter only. Your ability to write a query letter, the genre of your novel, and your bio will make or break you.

I should say, that I was surprised at his advice. It was quite different from Miss Snark and from much of what I read here. Looking at the track record of my existing queries, I'm tempted to try his way.

Kathleen42 · Jan 15, 2009

RJK said:
I won't dissagree with those who suggest sending the sample pages, and I've done it myself with electronic submissions.
If you were to follow Noah Lukeman's advice as he writes in How to Write a Great Query Letter, He says send the letter only. Your ability to write a query letter, the genre of your novel, and your bio will make or break you.

I should say, that I was surprised at his advice. It was quite different from Miss Snark and from much of what I read here. Looking at the track record of my existing queries, I'm tempted to try his way.

He may have been speaking from a personal preference. I would do what you're comfortable with.

I have heard some people say that the advantage of just sending the query is that you will get a better idea if it's your query or your pages that are the problem.

Personally (at least for email queries) I plan on sending the first five pages unless their submission guidelines say not to.

IceCreamEmpress · Jan 15, 2009

Kathleen42 said:
He may have been speaking from a personal preference.

Lukeman's advice is very idiosyncratic. He recommends FedExing your query (a no-no for most agents), not including your protagonist's name in the query (a no-no for most agents), and other guidelines that may well win his heart and alienate the hearts of other agents.

Kathleen42 · Jan 15, 2009

IceCreamEmpress said:
Lukeman's advice is very idiosyncratic. He recommends FedExing your query (a no-no for most agents), not including your protagonist's name in the query (a no-no for most agents), and other guidelines that may well win his heart and alienate the hearts of other agents.

Had a similar experience with a different book on agents. Luckily, I had done enough homework that I knew the advice would turn off far more agents than it would attract.

waylander · Jan 15, 2009

Kathleen42 said:
He may have been speaking from a personal preference. I would do what you're comfortable with.

May - pretty much is.
IMHO most agents disagree with his approach, which is 10 years old. The world has changed; there was no such thing as an e-mail query when his book was written

scope · Jan 15, 2009

Sending a query letter and the first five pages of the manuscript sounds right to me.

ORION · Jan 15, 2009

I agree. That's what I did and look where it got me lol...

RJK · Jan 16, 2009

I'm glad I got these responses. Lukeman's advice did seem contrary to what I would have done in a lot of cases. The one thing that does make sense is to show the agent that you have done your homework and know what he/she has successfully repped in the recent past.

Here's the question: Does anyone have a good segue for comparing your work to other successful books that are NOT ALIKE, but are in the same genre? Let me explain a little.
In my research, I found an agent who represents several authors who write crime/suspense. One of those authors has been fairly successful (Amazon ratings under 15,000), but,
A) She writes from a woman's POV - I do not.
B) Her books have a strong romantic subplot - mine do not.
C) She includes a lot more geographic description than I do.

Madisonwrites · Jan 16, 2009

Yeah, I think that's fine. Me personally, I would just send in a query, but that's what I would feel comfortable doing. Whether you include pages or not is up to you.

Good luck and happy writing!

What to send when they don't specify what they want

Chasing the Horizon

Blowing in the Wind

Danthia

SteveCordero

Pit Livin' & Purgatory Dreamin'

Chasing the Horizon

Blowing in the Wind

nevada

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

TsukiRyoko

Forced into cell phone life

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

ORION

Sailed away years ago

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Madisonwrites

The Unicorn Writer