Am I the only one who hates writing letters?

AndreaGS · Feb 13, 2008

So when you respond to agents' letters, do you ever find it agonizing?

I'm sitting here at my computer, sweating over each word. She wrote me a very nice, very personal letter. So far what I've got is very impersonal, and I want to add a personal touch without sounding too familiar as well as touch on the things she mentioned, and should I defend my 140k words since she mentioned feeling apprehensive about the length or just not bring it up since she likes my writing and wants to see more?

It doesn't help that I like the agent and think I may have a shot!

Please tell me I'm not the only one with this problem. I hate writing letters in general.

I've already taken an nice, hot bath break, and now I'm taking a TV break. Methinks I am procrastinating...

Is there a bad letter writer support group or something?

bluntforcetrauma · Feb 13, 2008

AndreaGS said:
So when you respond to agents' letters, do you ever find it agonizing?

I'm sitting here at my computer, sweating over each word. She wrote me a very nice, very personal letter. So far what I've got is very impersonal, and I want to add a personal touch without sounding too familiar as well as touch on the things she mentioned, and should I defend my 140k words since she mentioned feeling apprehensive about the length or just not bring it up since she likes my writing and wants to see more?

It doesn't help that I like the agent and think I may have a shot!

Please tell me I'm not the only one with this problem. I hate writing letters in general.

I've already taken an nice, hot bath break, and now I'm taking a TV break. Methinks I am procrastinating...

Is there a bad letter writer support group or something?

Just be yourself and talk to her just like you do to us here. Be a friend. It's doggone hard to be mean to someone who's downright likeable as you are. There's a lot to be said for naked honesty. I don't know about defending your 140,000 MS, but you might say you can trim it if that'll help.

From me, who's never queried anyone in the writing biz- not even the girl behind the counter at Borders.

OddButInteresting · Feb 14, 2008

CVs, professional letters... heck! Even forum posts! I'm an absolute perfectionist. What sounded good thirty seconds ago sounds dreadful now, sort of thing.

You may notice that I edit my posts numerous times as I'll have noticed grammatical errors after having pressed "Submit Reply." (this correction was edited-(and the hyphen added in my second edit)in after I posted)

But yeah, professional letters are always tough. I totally feel your pain. It's either a case of a lot is riding on getting it just right, or you merely think a lot is riding on it. Either way, it's torture.

Shadow_Ferret · Feb 14, 2008

AndreaGS said:
So when you respond to agents' letters, do you ever find it agonizing?

Actually, I've never been in this position. So I can't relate.

And generally I like writing letters, so again, I can't relate.

The best thing to do, as someone above said, is be yourself. Be honest. Relax and let it flow. You're stressing, stop procrastinating and write it already.

DaddyCat · Feb 14, 2008

I don't have much problem writing personal letters, but I can really freeze up when my work requires me to draft letters as a third-person. I consider that the hardest part of my job.

arkady · Feb 14, 2008

AndreaGS said:
So when you respond to agents' letters, do you ever find it agonizing?

No idea. The only letters I've ever gotten from agents have been rejections.

cethklein · Feb 14, 2008

The trick with letters is stick to the point. Only include what NEEDS to be said. Also don't go overboard with the "thank you so much for giving me chance" when replying to an agent, keep it professional. Thank them and move on. Answer their questions completely.

ishtar'sgate · Feb 14, 2008

cethklein said:
The trick with letters is stick to the point. Only include what NEEDS to be said. Also don't go overboard with the "thank you so much for giving me chance" when replying to an agent, keep it professional. Thank them and move on. Answer their questions completely.

I agree completely. Don't overthink it or overwrite it. Be brief, be professional, be courteous. Oh, and good luck on a sale.

Linnea

AndreaGS · Feb 14, 2008

Thanks. I managed after a couple martinis, but of course I'm second-guessing myself now.

I defended my word count, in a friendly and non-defensive manner, but still! Should have said I would be willing to trim (which I am, if I can find the spots to do it!).

Aw crap.

Patrick L · Feb 14, 2008

I'm with you. I despise writing them, especially queries. Even in my business, I'm just not a big fan of banging out a letter. It seems like a waste of keystrokes.

Congrats on getting a positive response. Best of luck.

lute · Feb 14, 2008

I know everyone's telling you to relax and be yourself, but I can totally see being in your position and wanting to sound like yourself, but not wanting to scare them or be overly casual... I would be agonizing over it too! But in all seriousness, just take a deep breath and write back how you think it would be most fitting. You'll do great, and good luck!

ORION · Feb 14, 2008

Do not defend length. All novels benefit from editing. Keep letters professional. If you are serious about getting an agent then listen to them and be open to editing and say so.
Every writer is convinced their work needs to be that particular length and every writer is often times proved wrong.

AndreaGS · Feb 14, 2008

Phew! I'm glad I'm not the only one. At least with query letters, once you have the main body of the letter, you're done - with a little optional personalization to add in later.

I added a bit to say that I was open to cutting down the word length.

I hope that works out ok.

I'm still sweating.

Matera the Mad · Feb 14, 2008

I totally stinking hate writing letters to anybody, even friends

Garpy · Feb 15, 2008

AndreaGS said:
Phew! I'm glad I'm not the only one. At least with query letters, once you have the main body of the letter, you're done - with a little optional personalization to add in later.

I added a bit to say that I was open to cutting down the word length.

I hope that works out ok.

I'm still sweating.

Good...by adding that you were 'open to cutting' I'd say, imho, you probably made the difference between the agent walking away or sticking with you. Unless you are a simply br-r-rilliant writer...an agent won't want to deal with someone who's going to kick and scream over their reccomendations.

Life's way too short for that.

Birol · Feb 15, 2008

AndreaGS said:
Thanks. I managed after a couple martinis, but of course I'm second-guessing myself now.

AndreaGS said:
I'm still sweating.

It's out of your hands now. Move on to the next task. There's nothing else to be done until you hear back from the agent.

Am I the only one who hates writing letters?

AndreaGS

bluntforcetrauma

Esquire

OddButInteresting

Officially a practicing Novelist!

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

DaddyCat

arkady

cethklein

ishtar'sgate

living in the past

AndreaGS

Patrick L

looking for a home

lute

ORION

Sailed away years ago

AndreaGS

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Garpy

keyboard monkey

Birol

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