No such thing as a stupid question?

[Spidah]

I have sent out my MS (MG mystery) to a long list of agents. I am uber green, my protagonist is really into the environment, and it is safe to say that the environment is a big theme in my MS.

I do all of my querying via email. I don't send any queries by regular mail because I don't imagine someone who still insists on paper would be that into my book.

Today I received a request for a partial by post (from an e query). In reading about the agent on QT, I see a lot of instances where he requests partials and then rejects. This makes me feel that a request for a partial is not necessarily a big deal for this agent.

I have read so much here and on the web about not unduly bother agents, but I am itching to send him an email and ask if I can send it in email.

Is this just a terrible idea? A silly waste of an opportunity?

Advice appreciated. Pls be gentle, this is my first thread.

[Cyia]

The reasons agents ask for snail mail is 2 fold. One, they want to see if you're willing to follow directions, and two, some of them prefer to read in paper format that the can mark up.

I'd suggest buying recycled paper and sending it off.

[Shadow_Ferret]

I'd follow the agent's directions.

[Toothpaste]

Did the response specify snail mail? Though I suppose if it was sent by snail mail the implication is pretty clear he wants it in return.

Why don't you want to snail mail? It isn't that extravagant a cost. Hey it's way better than in the UK where all my queries were snail mailed from the get go. Personally I think it's worth mailing it. It shows you're serious about making an effort (some agents request snail mail because of the time it takes to do it demonstrates the author is really invested).

But I don't see a problem in asking either politely. I'd make sure it was pretty clear that you'd be more than willing to snail mail, but that you weren't entirely clear as despite getting a snail mail response your initial query was email. If the agent gets angry at you for asking, I dunno, sounds like a guy with a short fuse.

[blacbird]

As an aside, I teach a couple of core-level science courses at the local university, and I guarantee you:

There are such things as stupid questions.

To clarify, I don't mean to imply that this is one of them.

caw

[mccardey]

Why don't you want to snail mail? It isn't that extravagant a cost. Hey it's way better than in the UK where all my queries were snail mailed from the get go. Personally I think it's worth mailing it. It shows you're serious about making an effort (some agents request snail mail because of the time it takes to do it demonstrates the author is really invested).

I think because of the environmental aspect of paper and carriage.

Spidah - I can see you wrapping yourself up in the minutae of this and missing a bigger picture. If you become a fabulously successful writer, you'll have a platform from which to convince millions of people to be as green as possible. In the meantime, though - either you or the agent will print out so you're not saving that much paper. The postal service is still going to be doing its thing whether you email or not and you don't get many chances to impress an agent (CONGRATULATIONS by the way ;) ). I wouldn't waste them. The agent works the way he works. It's not something you can effectively comment on from so far outside.

It's not a totally stupid question ;) Environmental concern is a good thing - just choose your battles would be my advice...

[ishtar'sgate]

I realize you want to do your bit to save the trees but if the agent responded by snail mail then I'd send the partial by snail mail.

It really doesn't matter if your agent is 'green'. Agents are looking for good stories they think they can sell. All agents reject far more than they accept so I wouldn't be too worried about the number of stories this agent rejects. A selective agent is a good thing.

Good luck!

[Wayne K]

There are stupid answers however. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

[ChaosTitan]

Send it snail mail.

Think of it as supporting the US Postal System. ;)

[kaitie]

Send it snail mail. That's how it was asked for, so that's the best option. Consider as well, though, that a lot of agents who take snail mail recycle manuscript pages (or will send them back to you if you include a SASE for it). So there's a really good chance that it's environmentally friendly, anyway. ;)

[Terie]

The one implied question that hasn't been answered yet is this: yes, it IS a big deal that an agent requested a partial. :)

90% of what agents get is pure, unadulterated crap. The next 5% is nearly there but not quite ready yet. (For a multitude of reasons.) The top 5% is good enough to be published; some reasons manuscripts in the top 5% will be rejected can include things like 'already have a project like that', 'just doesn't jingle my bell' (you want your agent to be totally in love with your work), 'don't think I can sell it', and so on.

An agent who requests a partial does so only on queries that are in that top 10%, and approaching the top 5%. They still reject most partials, and even most fulls.

But the fact that you got a request for a partial means you're already in the ballpark. So swing for the fence!

[Spidah]

Thanks Peeps-
this is a big help. You're all completely right. I should not obsess about this issue at this moment.

blacbird-- very funny. I also teach and you are so right.

[Spidah]

Also-- Wayne K- you nailed that.

[Jamesaritchie]

I have sent out my MS (MG mystery) to a long list of agents. I am uber green, my protagonist is really into the environment, and it is safe to say that the environment is a big theme in my MS.

I do all of my querying via email. I don't send any queries by regular mail because I don't imagine someone who still insists on paper would be that into my book.

Today I received a request for a partial by post (from an e query). In reading about the agent on QT, I see a lot of instances where he requests partials and then rejects. This makes me feel that a request for a partial is not necessarily a big deal for this agent.

I have read so much here and on the web about not unduly bother agents, but I am itching to send him an email and ask if I can send it in email.

Is this just a terrible idea? A silly waste of an opportunity?

Advice appreciated. Pls be gentle, this is my first thread.

First, who the heck told you that e-mail is greener than paper? It isn't. Paper is a renewable resource. Most of what goes into computers does not come from renewable resources. Computers are about as far away from green as you can get. People talk about saving trees, but rarely give a thought to what must be destroyed, never to be replaced, by savining a tree that must be cut, anyway.

Second, agents sell what's marketable, not what they're "into" on a personal level.

Third, what, are you only wanting your book published electronically? If not, it's going to use an awful lot of paper. Thousands and thousands and thousands of trees, if you're really lucky.

Fourth, mail the partial. You'll be doing the environment a favor, and if the agent says no, it'll be solely because he doesn't think the novel is good enough to sell, not because he isn't "green" enough.

[shaldna]

Follow the agents directions.

[Miss Plum]

btw, spidah, just what do you intend to do if your book finds a publisher?

[Spidah]

Yes, paper is renewable, but that is not the same as being sustainable. Turning diverse forests into monoculture systems is not good for wildlife, biodiversity, or ecology.

I am fully aware of the toxic materials within my computer. The materials are mined by children in developing countries in a way that is both environmentally damaging and toxic to them. Worse, we send many of these materials back to those countries (occasionally illegally) for disposal. The path our goods take from mining, to production, to garbage is covered in environmental degradation. Annie Leonard http://www.storyofstuff.com/
describes it better than I ever could.

But, I can send tens of thousands of emails with one computer, and I can only print 50 pages by using 50 pages of paper.

Reduce, reuse, recycle is not just a slogan, it is also an order for things. I try to be conscious about reducing what I use in the first place, and reusing goods. Recycling uses a ton of water, energy, and material to reach its goal.

And yes, of course I would love to write many books, and have them printed and shipped all over the world in a way that I am certain could not be 'green'. But I also feel I am a far cry from that at this stage. I also would hope that my character's respect and passion for the environment might counter some of the resource use.

I also think (and could be totally naive) that an agent will connect on some level with a book. I imagine that an agent who is not working in a green way in this day and age might just not be that into my book.

I'm a normal person. I live on the grid. I don't believe the solution for the future is to have everyone sitting around without electricity and eating granola.

But I also feel that if we don't imagine a different way of doing things, then things will never change.

FYI I mailed it out yesterday. Thanks for all the advice.