Query credits--how important are they?

juliatheswede · Sep 21, 2010

OK, so just had to start this new thread regarding query credits.

How much does what comes after the actual pitch matter--the writer's credits? Is it actually so unimportant you could leave it blank? I think not..

I copied the following lines from a query under the "Successful queries" thread:

"I'm a three-time novelist with HarperCollins, London. My novels sold respectably in Britain and extremely well in France, the first two climbing into the Top Ten there. The North American rights for these three novels - multi-ethnic family sagas, set mostly in India - are still available, and several foreign publishers are eager for more work from me."

This author states she got several requests for fulls and partials. No shit... If I were an agent, I'd LOVE to work with this author (as long as the pitch/book summary sounded halfway decent and I handled the genre). Basically, with such impressive credits, the author could pretty much just call up any agent and ask for a meeting (well, maybe not, but you get the idea..)

So what's a newbie to do? All I have is a bunch of newspaper articles published, a couple of book reviews and tons of online articles. Oh yeah, a short story twenty years ago in Sweden too, but I doubt that'll help me now. Would it be sufficient--for the credits part--to simply put:

"I have published dozens of articles and reviews in newspapers and magazines, both locally and nationally. I also write health and fitness articles for Demand Studios on regular basis." (The magazine stuff is from Sweden too, which I doubt helps if I mention.)

Basically, my credits are pretty worthless. So what should I write in the credits section? My story is set in NYC and is about three girls who want to be on American Idol (different name in my book). Is it enough to write something like "I'm a New Yorker who loves American Idol almost as much as I love writing novels." (Okay, maybe that's awful, but I honestly don;t know what the heck to put except the stuff about some minor newspaper publication and demand studio articles)

Really need advice on this one...

ChaosTitan · Sep 21, 2010

Your credits sound fine to include in a query. A lot of unpublished authors have zero credits. I had absolutely nothing to include in my query, except a well-written concept for my novel, and that's what got me signed with an agent.

The thing your query needs to sell is your Book, not You. Small or zero writing credits really won't hurt you if your book pitch is strong.

Ryan_Sullivan · Sep 21, 2010

Credits can only get your submission read a little faster.

I cannot stress enough to everybody concerned with credits--don't worry about it. They will not make or break your career. They can only move things a little quicker.

suki · Sep 21, 2010

Credits can help, but they are not necessary. I had zero credits and had a good request rate from well-known agents.

Seriously, it's not at all necessary. Many, many uncredited writers get signed by top agents all the time.

Sure, if you have good, impressive credits, list them, and they can get your query read more closely, or maybe even your pages read more often - but it still all comes down to the writing.

And there are too many writers on this site alone who signed with agents with absolutely no credits for credits to be all that necessary.

But, what I have seen several agents say is that grasping at straws credits are worse than no credits - and that some credits can hurt you - ie, a prior book that tanked, listing as a credit something that isn't a credible publication (by making you look uninformed), listing credit in something that turns the agent off, etc.

~suki

Paranormal_Writer · Sep 22, 2010

Just to reiterate what everyone else has already said but credits really do not matter. It is true that they can sometimes help sway an agent’s decision if on the fence, but like Suki said, if they're not legitimate credits then it could actually hurt the writer. If you have impessive credits, go ahead and list them. If not, do not worry!

In fact, never having had a book published before can actually work in your favour because agents can market you as new and fresh talent, so just make sure that your pitch blows them away. (I also signed with a top agency with no writing credits whatsoever, and have recently just signed a two book deal.)

Also, you may find this blog post by Jessica Faust on writing credentials helpful:

http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/search/label/credentials

Danthia · Sep 22, 2010

I had no real credits worth mentioning. I put what I had, but I'm sure they didn't do squat to help my query. I used them only because I felt I "had" to have something.

I feel that credits only influence agents on the fence. If your query hooks the agent, it won't matter what your credits are. If your query doesn't hook the agent, it won't matter what your credits are. Few agents are going to dislike a book idea, then rethink it because of the credits.

But if the agent is on the fence about the query, and they see you've sold X stories in your genre or whatever, then they may decide to take a peek at a few pages. Your credits have proven that someone paid you for your writing, so odds are there's something worth seeing there.

If you don't have any, don't worry about it. Just make your query the best it can be, because that's what matters most. Heck, I pitched my agent at a conference, and she didn't hear any of my paltry credits. All she heard was the idea, and that was enough.

Your credits sound fine as they are. I wouldn't stress over them.

firedrake · Sep 22, 2010

Echoing what Suki said, I've seen agents tweet or blog saying that if the credits aren't relevant, don't include them.

juliatheswede · Sep 22, 2010

Thank you all for these responses. I hope it will help others without credits. I at least had no idea you were fine without them. Also, for those who want to read more about what agents say you should do if you don't have any credits, in addition to Jessica Faust's link, check out these:

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2008...ublishing.html

(Kristin Nelson's about how one new novelist with zero credits got Kristin's attention with her query):
http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2006/08...-shearins.html

Amarie · Sep 22, 2010

I just wanted to add I had zero credits to put in my query, and it turned out I didn't need them.

OctoberRain · Sep 22, 2010

Ditto -- no writing credits here, either.

kaitlin008 · Sep 22, 2010

Like many of the others, I had no writing credits. I just skipped that, because what they really care about is your query and your pages.

Kasey Mackenzie · Sep 23, 2010

Just to provide another data point, I had absolutely no credits to use in my query letters and it never hurt me even one tiny bit. =)

Jamesaritchie · Sep 23, 2010

Let me put this another way. Good credits are extremely important and useful and meaningful if you have them.

But credits mean nothing, and do not hold you back, if you do not have them.

Query credits--how important are they?

juliatheswede

Got the hang of it, here

ChaosTitan

Around

Ryan_Sullivan

Agented YA Writer

suki

Opinionated

Paranormal_Writer

Nearly always write!

Danthia

firedrake

practical experience, FTW

juliatheswede

Got the hang of it, here

Amarie

carpe libri

OctoberRain

I triple dog dare you.

kaitlin008

Seeing newness all the time

Kasey Mackenzie

One Hit Wonder?

Jamesaritchie