Email vs. Snail Mail

Kingson · Oct 22, 2010

When an agent indicates you can send a query with the first ten or twenty or fifty pages either by email or snail mail, is it better to go the snail mail route? Is anyone of the opinion that reading the hardcopy presents the sample in a more positive light than reading copy pasted into the body of an email?

I'm wondering if there's a psychological component that facilitates the ease in which one can discard an email versus hard copy. I mean, a click of the mouse and your rejection is on the way so the agent can go to lunch. The hard copy, though, can sit on the agent's desk while he/she eats and returns to their desk feeling refreshed and ready to read a brilliant submission.

Any opinions? Thank you.

elimccl · Oct 22, 2010

Some agents are very pro-green, but they will usually specify that they prefer only e-mail queries. Others are adamantly opposed to the idea, most likely for the same reason publishers so often are. It varies. My instincts are usually to send something concrete, unless they actually ask. If they cared, odds are they'd mention they prefer e-mail. If not, my best bet is on having them hold it in their hands, so they can't X out of it quite so easily.

agentpaper · Oct 22, 2010

I don't think it matters, honestly. They'll reject it if they don't like it just as easily in hard copy as e. The only thing is, IMHO, it may make you appear more serious if you send hard copy. As well as if you get a return receipt, you'll know they got it. Whether or not they respond.

Also, it can be hard to properly format the e-query.

That being said, I'm cheap. I always sent email queries if at all possible.

Email vs. Snail Mail

Kingson

elimccl

agentpaper

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