Here's a strange question

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 8, 2007

If an agent says to send the first page, does that mean you send the first half page? I mean, the first page starts with the title halfway down the page and then has my biline, then the text. So it's actually less than half a page.

Or should I estimate maybe 250 words and send that.

By the way, they want it in the body of an email, if that makes any difference.

Thanks.

Ferret, with another in a long line of silly questions.

KTC · Aug 8, 2007

Hey Ferret,

I'm surprised they want only a page? But, if that be the case, I would do as you said...submit 250ish words (whatever makes up a page). I find it odd that they requested a page, though. Good luck with the submission...

HourglassMemory · Aug 8, 2007

that actually made me laugh.
the agent getting all curious and then all s/he sees is the title.

KTC · Aug 8, 2007

HourglassMemory said:
that actually made me laugh.
the agent getting all curious and then all s/he sees is the title.

lol. Yeah. Me too.

Joe Moore · Aug 8, 2007

Reformat the first page to give the agent as much text as you think necessary. The sample still has to be double spaced, Times Roman or Courier 12 point. Keep in mind that if you can't hook the agent with the first page, you probably won't hook the editor or reader. Good luck.

justpat · Aug 8, 2007

That's really odd. Are you sure this is a reputable agent?

Shady Lane · Aug 8, 2007

No no no, agents request this all the time with email queries, it's no problem. Michelle Andelman asked me for a full after I included the first five pages in my query, and you can't say she's not legit.

250 words. Good luck.

reenkam · Aug 8, 2007

Just to add to Shady's post, I've had legit agents ask for 2 pages with queries, 3 pages, 5 pages, 10 pages. They just want to see if you can write without having to request a partial.

Good luck!

justpat · Aug 8, 2007

Really? I've never heard of a request for anything less than 5 pages. Learn something every day.

RLB · Aug 8, 2007

I've noticed them asking for just one page, especially in equeries where you're pasting it in the body of the message. I don't think it's too out of the ordinary...

job · Aug 8, 2007

I have to admit I don't think I've ever heard of a request for just a single page. Five pages -- Yes. One page -- No.

It's what the agent wants, so send it. But I'm durned if I can see what you'd discover in 150 words of writing, (one page, double-spaced,) that you wouldn't see in the query letter.

I dunnoh. I guess the great books I look at have great first pages. The 'good and enjoyable commercial fiction' sometimes have ok first pages.
So I guess maybe the agent only wants to sign great writers.
Cool.

AdamH · Aug 8, 2007

I don't expect it's that unusual. There are a lot of things you can tell about a writer within the first few pages of a particular story.

You can tell if they can write a sentence, use proper grammar, whether they write mostly passive or active sentences...things like that.

Also, it can also show them if your potential best-seller has a beginning that can grab them and leave them wanting more. I can't remember how many books I've picked up at the library and have only read the first couple pages because it didn't hook me. It might be something along those lines.

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 8, 2007

Yes, the agent is legit. And thanks. I emailed approximately 250 words.

johnzakour · Aug 8, 2007

Yeah, it's just a simple easy test to basically make sure you're not totally awful.

Just cut and paste the first 250 -- 300 words. When it's pasted into an email, formating doesn't matter much.

reenkam · Aug 8, 2007

job said:
It's what the agent wants, so send it. But I'm durned if I can see what you'd discover in 150 words of writing, (one page, double-spaced,) that you wouldn't see in the query letter.

A query is a strange form of torture for most people, while writing is (or should be) fun. I think most people would agree that writing a piece is easier than a query...there's so much to consider in the query that someone who writes fiction, or even non fiction, doesn't usually think about. Especially since it's a one page business letter...

Prawn · Aug 9, 2007

I tend to put in the first chapter (about 8 pages) when I send an a-mail query. It doesn't cost anyone anything, and the agent can always stop reading after a paragraph or two if they don't like it. If they continue reading, that's groovy.

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 9, 2007

reenkam said:
A query is a strange form of torture for most people, while writing is (or should be) fun. I think most people would agree that writing a piece is easier than a query...there's so much to consider in the query that someone who writes fiction, or even non fiction, doesn't usually think about. Especially since it's a one page business letter...

I have no confidence in my query writing ability. Even after submitting them to SYW, I still rewrote and revised it before finally sending it out. And after each rejection, I rewrite it again.

ChaosTitan · Aug 9, 2007

Unless the agent specifies content, I always include the first five pages with an e-query. That's what research is for. One time I did send one page. Another time I sent the first ten, plus a synopsis. As reenkam said, they just want to make sure you can write.

johnzakour · Aug 9, 2007

ChaosTitan said:
Unless the agent specifies content, I always include the first five pages with an e-query. That's what research is for. One time I did send one page. Another time I sent the first ten, plus a synopsis. As reenkam said, they just want to make sure you can write.

Actually, 1-5 pages doesn't show if you can write a novel, but it can show that you CAN'T write. ;-)

maestrowork · Aug 9, 2007

Reformat the first page and send in about one typed page (~250 words). Like John said, the agent probably just want to see if you CAN'T write (that may be his way of weeding out 95% of the slush).

job · Aug 9, 2007

reenkam said:
A query is a strange form of torture for most people, while writing is (or should be) fun. I think most people would agree that writing a piece is easier than a query...there's so much to consider in the query that someone who writes fiction, or even non fiction, doesn't usually think about. Especially since it's a one page business letter...

The abiltiy to write a query letter is related to the ability to write a 120,000-word work of fiction
in about the same way as, say, balancing your checkbook or unclogging a toilet.

That is to say, somebody with sufficient wherewithall to write a good novel can probably also do the other two if given sufficient motivation.

The (successful) query letter for the first novel I submitted was a half page that said, more or less, 'I have a manuscript I hope you'll take a look at.'
And that's all.
So it's obviously not the query letter.

Yes, an illiterate query letter will reveal an illiterate. But a mediocre query letter does not mean a mediocre manuscript.

If an agent doesn't want to look at any significant writing sample, he doesn't understand that.
I dunnoh.
I think I want an agent who understands that.

Here's a strange question

Court Jester

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Stand in the Place Where You Live

QueryTracker

my name is hannah

aka cupcake

QueryTracker

bundled

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

Pumped Up Kicks

Court Jester

Dangerous with a Keyboard

aka cupcake

Writing is finite,revising infinite

Court Jester

Around

Dangerous with a Keyboard

Fear the Death Ray

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript