Author's Writing Credits Questions

Hisa Rania · Sep 4, 2007

Hey everyone,

I very recently sent off some query letters and just got back a response from an agent that requested a synopsis, partial, and author's writing credits. I just had a few questions that I'd hoped y'all might help me out with.

1. It was an email query and an email response. Should I reply back via email to let the agent know I will send him the hard-copy and that I appreciate his response?

2. I don't have any previously published writing credits, though I did receive a call from a fairly famous author during a writing contest. A fax problem had ended up eating one of the pages of my entry and he had enjoyed the writing enough in the first few to bend the rules and request the missing page. It still ranks up there with one of my best moments, but is this something I should mention? Would it make any difference in a prospective agent?

3. Since I don't have any other credits, should I just come out and type that one a nice cover letter?

Thanks muchly in advance!

Calla Lily · Sep 4, 2007

Did the agent specifically ask for hard copy? Otherwise, I'd send it as an attachment.

If you didn't win the contest, that doesn't qualify as a credit. Sorry! Just come clean and say you don't yet have any credits.

Congrats on the request for partial!

Hisa Rania · Sep 4, 2007

Yep, he asked for a hard-copy partial, but he sent me an email to request it. Just wonderin' if I should reply back to the email or if it'd just stuff his box with unwanted mail.

And sounds good, I'm okay with being a mint-in-package writer. ^_^

Calla Lily · Sep 4, 2007

Nah. Just send the hard copy. Make sure you put "REQUESTED MATERIAL" in the bottom corner of the mailing label/envelope/box.

Hisa Rania · Sep 4, 2007

Thanks so much!

And I'm off~

Calla Lily · Sep 4, 2007

Good luck!

waylander · Sep 4, 2007

Hisa Rania said:
Yep, he asked for a hard-copy partial, but he sent me an email to request it. Just wonderin' if I should reply back to the email or if it'd just stuff his box with unwanted mail.

And sounds good, I'm okay with being a mint-in-package writer. ^_^

I usually drop them an e-mail to thank them for asking for the materials and saying "the package was posted today, hope you enjoy it."
But then I'm sending transatlantic and that is subject to more screw-ups than domestic mail.

Calla Lily · Sep 4, 2007

Probably a good idea for UK-to-US mail, waylander.

victoriastrauss · Sep 4, 2007

Don't worry about not having any publication credits--plenty of people get published for the first time without them (if not, no one would ever get published at all...) A reputable agent won't turn away a promising manuscript just because the author hasn't published before.

- Victoria

lkp · Sep 4, 2007

I would definitely send them an e-mail telling them it's on the way.

And to be honest, I always forget to put "requested material" on my envelopes, and I've never found it has delayed replies at all, when they know the material is coming. I think so many people fake "requested material" that it isn't worth much. But do send a cover letter with the partial, reminding them of your query and their request.

J. R. Tomlin · Oct 15, 2007

Writing credits-- ok, I have a question about this. Exactly what kinds of publications are considered "credits" for fiction? I don't sub to non-paying short story markets because I've been told those aren't considered credits? Correct? How about token paying markets? Are those considered credits? What about a novel published by a royalty-paying PoD company? I've been told varying things about that--some say that if they pay royalties it is a credit and others say that if they don't pay an advance that it isn't a credit. Which is correct?

Obviously, I'm confused.

Deirdre · Oct 15, 2007

J. R. Tomlin said:
How about token paying markets? Are those considered credits? What about a novel published by a royalty-paying PoD company? I've been told varying things about that--some say that if they pay royalties it is a credit and others say that if they don't pay an advance that it isn't a credit. Which is correct?

I'm a short fiction editor, and this is my take.

Depends on the non-paying market. If it's a respected (as in a major university's) literary print market, I'd include it.

Token paying markets are credits.

Royalty-paying POD companies are credits IF they paid an advance (even a small one) AND IF they did not require payment of any kind. PA is an anti-credit.

In all the above, what matters is selectivity. Did an editor have to turn other work down to print yours and did they pay you? Does this press actually have a real readership? If yes to those, it's a credit.

Also: no more than three credits, no matter how many sales you've had. Pick the most recent, the highest paying, most prestigious, most relevant.

Susan Breen · Oct 15, 2007

I would second what Deidre says. I don't think the issue of money is important when you're evaluating a short story market. I've been published by a lot of literary magazines and I very rarely got any money out of it. But I did get my name out there, and that helped. The important thing is how seriously does the publication treat the stories they run. Do they only publish stories of quality or will they publish anything that comes along?

qdsb · Oct 15, 2007

Susan Breen said:
I would second what Deidre says. I don't think the issue of money is important when you're evaluating a short story market. I've been published by a lot of literary magazines and I very rarely got any money out of it. But I did get my name out there, and that helped. The important thing is how seriously does the publication treat the stories they run. Do they only publish stories of quality or will they publish anything that comes along?

Susan---Could you please point me in the direction of those publications that publish anything that comes along?? I could really use an esteem booster right about now.

J. R. Tomlin · Oct 15, 2007

Couldn't we all, qdsb?

Thanks! That clarifies things a lot. Now one last question. What about novel e-pubs? I'm not sure if they ever pay advances, but if one did would it also be considered a credit as ezines are when they pay?

Thanks again for all the information.

The issue of money in fact carries quite a bit of weight in whether a pub is SFWA qualifying or not, for example and I think does make a difference with agents who know the SF market. Well, they know all the important genre pubs and they all pay.

Edit: I don't do literary since I'm a genre writer. I don't think the non-paying genre publications have a lot of status although a few are fun to read. I stick with recognizable names but the competition can be killer even with the token markets.

Deirdre · Oct 15, 2007

J. R. Tomlin said:
The issue of money in fact carries quite a bit of weight in whether a pub is SFWA qualifying or not, for example and I think does make a difference with agents who know the market.

There are markets that pay pro rates, but aren't SFWA-qualifying markets. Interzone is one of them.

J. R. Tomlin · Oct 15, 2007

True, but you can request that they be qualified by the SFWA. If they meet the criteria (mainly time in business and pay rate, isn't it?) I don't know why they wouldn't be. IGMS was just recently added.

Edit: Anyway, I'm more than willing to believe you know more about that than I do. I'm very much still learning.

ORION · Oct 15, 2007

I wouldn't worry at all about pub credits- I had none. I agree with sending a thank you email and letting them know how you are sending it- Because I am from Hawaii I sent everything fed ex and explained that in my email - my postal service is "iffy"- I did not require a signature - just did 3 day and no Saturday delivery- and took down the tracking number- It made it so much easier- When I noticed it was received I just sent another quick email verifying that.
I had no agent protest at all- if it's between UK and US I think it might be wise- I get stuff fedexed from my UK publisher all the time.

I don't want to get in a dialogue re: what's better - reg postal or fed ex - I am just letting you know what I did in my situation.
Hope it helps.

J. R. Tomlin · Oct 15, 2007

Sorry, Orion, I brought up an old thread for a related question. Maybe I should have started a new one.

Edit: But I assure you I do worry about pub credits. All mine are in those token markets so far. Fat chance I'll get published in IGMS.

victoriastrauss · Oct 15, 2007

If reputable markets didn't accept writers without credits (or with only token credits that carry no weight in a query letter), how would anyone ever get published for the first time?

Genuine writing credits certainly can push you to the head of the queue, but they won't get you published--your work has to stand on its own.

- Victoria

J. R. Tomlin · Oct 15, 2007

Very true.

Well, I am working on the writing credit thing. It seems like a good goal.

Author's Writing Credits Questions

Hisa Rania

Calla Lily

On hiatus

Hisa Rania

Calla Lily

On hiatus

Hisa Rania

Calla Lily

On hiatus

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Calla Lily

On hiatus

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess

lkp

J. R. Tomlin

Deirdre

practical experience, FTW

Susan Breen

qdsb

Cynical Idealist

J. R. Tomlin

Deirdre

practical experience, FTW

J. R. Tomlin

ORION

Sailed away years ago

J. R. Tomlin

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess

J. R. Tomlin