Question on agent query

Status
Not open for further replies.

Scrawler

Bored fanatic
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
662
Reaction score
62
Location
Los Angeles
Hi everyone
My novel was rejected by some of the best agents and I can see why! Now I've completely re-worked it:
the plot is new
focus has changed
title changed to suit the new storyline
writing is better
some charcters have either been cut and/or developed
I've cut and rewritten chapters
the ending has changed
etc. etc. etc.

Do I mention all of the above in a query (as in, "I sent this to you before but have changed this, this this and this") , or do I query as though it's a new book? I hate to think I've blown my chances with some of the top agents, but then again, I think the new version has changed by about 60%
(I can't imagine a busy agent would even remember the original submission, but just to be on the up & up...)
Any ideas?
 

scfirenice

professional multitasker
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 18, 2005
Messages
3,937
Reaction score
388
Location
Between a rock and a hard place.
No. No to all of that. Query this as a new project, UNLESS you had an agent interested, but requesting the rework. Also, make sure you post your query here and let us rip...I mean tune it up for you. : ) If you have truely changed as much as you say, you'll be fine.
 

Scrawler

Bored fanatic
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
662
Reaction score
62
Location
Los Angeles
Great- thanks!
No one requested the rework- it was basically flat-out rejections with a couple of clues ("too much of the same thing" was how one put it.) I took this to mean IT NEEDS A *&^%#@ PLOT.

One agent sent me a form letter but had handwritten something along the lines of "not this project, but feel free to send something else" so I might circle back.
 

UrsusMinor

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 23, 2005
Messages
439
Reaction score
51
Location
Butt in chair
If you changed it that much, then it IS a new project. Just be sure that enough time has elapsed for a major reworking to seem feasible.

Novelist Carolyn See is of the opinion that seeing your name over and over again works in your favor, as long as it isn't too frequent--after a while, they think they recognize the name and think you must be 'somebody.' But I wouldn't count on this theory as a main strategy....
 

Scrawler

Bored fanatic
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
662
Reaction score
62
Location
Los Angeles
Thanks everyone! Yes, major time has passed for major revisions (over a year for some, 6+ months for others.)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.