Sorry aekap!
Full rejections are painful.Hopefully it's just a matter of finding the right fit. good luck.
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Sorry aekap!
Full rejections are painful.Hopefully it's just a matter of finding the right fit. good luck.
Thanks for the webinar review, Ineti. I've managed to read some of the same points on Kristin's blog, and I hope they're helping me reformat my query.
I don't think I'll send query her on the epic fantasy that I just finished, because I still don't get the feel that's what she wants or sells. But when my UF or paranormal romance WIP's are ready, she's first on the list.
Filigree
I don't think I'll send query her on the epic fantasy that I just finished, because I still don't get the feel that's what she wants or sells. But when my UF or paranormal romance WIP's are ready, she's first on the list.
Filigree
Filigree - many agents prefer to represent the entire body of a writer's work unless it's something they absolutely, positively don't connect with. I know Kristin considers herself a representative of the writer and not the work (in itself) because she is my agent. If her website says she represents something and you think you'd like to work with her, then I wouldn't hesitate to query her. Or Sara, who is building her client list at the moment.
Hi all, just a quick heads-up about Nelson Literary Agency. They are all fine girls, I see them and speak to them now and then at the coffee shop a few doors down from both our offices, however, if you're thinking of using them as a literary agent, you should know that they ARE a girl's club. They rarely even look at a manuscript written by a straight man.
Not a complaint! Just a heads-up. I know there are lots of men's clubs still out there, too, which is also sad. Just don't waste your time with them unless you fit in.
Good luck with your ventures!
Not a complaint! Just a heads-up. I know there are lots of men's clubs still out there, too, which is also sad. Just don't waste your time with them unless you fit in.
Good luck with your ventures!
A good example of multiple agents with one author is John Scalzi. He has one agent represent his fiction and another agency representing his non-fiction work.
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They represent our dear AWer Jamie Ford, NYT Bestseller on his debut novel. He's as straight as they get.
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I'm pretty sure they're women, not girls.
They actually addressed this on their blog a while ago. Also, how on Earth would they know someone's orientation based on nothing but a query letter?
I queried Kristin on an epic fantasy project in Nov. 2009, and got a prompt form rejection. After serious workshopping, detailed critiques from beta readers, and massive rewrites, I'm querying on this mms again (while finishing up an unrelated sf mms for another query round next year.)
I've since seen her webinar information, and it impressed me. Seems that she does represent more than UF and paranormal. I'd love to query on the original project again, since it's changed so much in a year. But I'm unsure if that's kosher with Kristin or Sara.
Filigree
I've since seen her webinar information, and it impressed me. Seems that she does represent more than UF and paranormal. I'd love to query on the original project again, since it's changed so much in a year. But I'm unsure if that's kosher with Kristin or Sara.
Filigree
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I'd go ahead and requery. You've done major revisions and it's been over a year. Besides: what do you have to lose?
Thanks, Corinne. I'll take another look at Kristin's recent sales, and see if there's any possible overlap with my revised project. I might re-submit.
Filigree
Filigree
it appears that unless you are previously published or the winner of contests Ms. nelson is not interested. She has prompt response times to email queries, but it is clear you'r wasting your time if you are an anonymous writer.
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Really? She was the first agent I queried, and was the first agent from which I received a request for a partial.
I did receive a rejection on that partial, but it seems to me that she wouldn't have bothered to request and read it if she wasn't interested in new (and unknown) authors.
Just my experience...
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Why is that so clear? She considered a partial of mine earlier this year and I'm as anonymous as they get. She considers tons of partials and has signed plenty of writers from the slush.
Don't you end your query letter with Sincerely, (Insert name)?
Yeah, and I'm really impressed with Ms. Nelson's gaydar if that's enough to tell her what gender I do or don't have the hots for.
Would this be because she bounced your query with a form rejection?
She read my full manuscript after a slushpile query
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While I've had questions about Ms. Nelson's sales record in certain genres, I don't believe that she only considers award-winning or pre-platformed writers. She'd be closing the door on too many discoveries. And like most agents, she's shown ample evidence in her own writing that she loves discovering new writers.
Filigree
Filigree
That's just silly. She wouldn't spend so much time blogging and sending out monthly newsletters and helping new writers if she wasn't interested in them. Just because you got a form rejection doesn't mean she's uninterested in anonymous writers. It just means she's not interested in your work at this time.
Only if it doesn't suck... and how many straight guys do that?
However, I can assure you that Kristin is still taking on - and selling! - unknown straight male authors.
As Corinne noted, Kristin has already explained this: she reps a lot of romance, and dudes don't write that much romance.
However, I can assure you that Kristin is still taking on - and selling! - unknown straight male authors.
Kristin has a partial of mine. She also strongly considered my husband's full before finally rejecting it after sitting on the fence for four months.
I didn't see anyone on the boards talk about it, but Sara Megibow, the junior agent at Nelson Lit, ran a 90-minute webinar this week with Writer's Digest on hooking an agent in your first few pages.
She reiterated that she's currently looking for new clients and that she's looking for:
I think the webinar will be available on Writer's Digest's site if it's not there already. Might be worth checking out if you're getting partial requests but full rejections or need help making your critical opening pages spark interest. The price was maybe a bit steep at $89, but I feel the content was worth the price, esp if you're a newbie writer looking to get into the major publishers. It's less than I paid for some writing courses, and far less than the sum of the writing books I have on my shelf.
She reiterated that she's currently looking for new clients and that she's looking for:
- YA and MG
- Romance (all subcategories other than category and inspirational)
- SF/F
- Commercial and women's fiction (including chick lit)
- Lit fic with a commercial bent
I think the webinar will be available on Writer's Digest's site if it's not there already. Might be worth checking out if you're getting partial requests but full rejections or need help making your critical opening pages spark interest. The price was maybe a bit steep at $89, but I feel the content was worth the price, esp if you're a newbie writer looking to get into the major publishers. It's less than I paid for some writing courses, and far less than the sum of the writing books I have on my shelf.
I just participated in Sara Megibow's webinar and had some correspondence with her afterwards... I am unpublished in fiction, but can I say that she is the most pleasant, smart, helpful, etc. agent I've interacted with in awhile??
I have done one other webinar in the past (where the feedback was very limited!), but this time it was definitely worth my time. I would think anyone who snags her as an agent is very fortunate.
I have done one other webinar in the past (where the feedback was very limited!), but this time it was definitely worth my time. I would think anyone who snags her as an agent is very fortunate.
Email query sent to Sara Megibow 1-18-2011
Email form rejection sent back on 1-19-2011
Guess I'll wait another year, and maybe try them with a different project.
Filigree
Email form rejection sent back on 1-19-2011
Guess I'll wait another year, and maybe try them with a different project.
Filigree
I would venture to say that after looking at all their books they've sold that pitching a book with a strong female character would grab their interest more than one with a strong male character. All my books have Male main characters and I have 100% rejection by them even though I fit their needs and criteria for SF/F.
I am NOT saying that this upsets me. In fact, It's nice to see agents so true to their personal tastes.
I am NOT saying that this upsets me. In fact, It's nice to see agents so true to their personal tastes.