help me find the list of q's for agents...

aekap · 01-25-2011, 03:19 AM

A few weeks (?) ago, someone posted a very helpful list of questions to ask an agent when they call to discuss your manuscript. At the time, I thought, "I should bookmark this," and (of course), I didn't do it. Now I think I may need it fairly soon, and I can't locate it. Could some extremely kind person help me out? My search has turned up a couple of other threads, but not the one I'm hoping to find (it was a pretty exhaustive list, and contained a few items that hadn't occured to me).

Thanks!!

kaitlin008 · 01-25-2011, 04:34 AM

I don't know if this is the one you mean, but this list by Kate Hart rocks: http://www.katehart.net/2010/08/thin...ask-agent.html

And the post also links to a few others on the same topic

suki · 01-25-2011, 04:47 AM

Agent Rachelle Gardner has a great post on the subject, too:

http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/20...ask-agent.html

~suki

CaoPaux · 01-25-2011, 05:25 AM

This one, maybe? http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194870

Be sure to check out AAR's FAQs, too: http://aaronline.org/FAQ

Miriel · 01-25-2011, 06:20 AM

Michael Carr did this on his Q&A thread. I have no idea what page it's on, but I copied and saved his response as follows:

1. Why do you like my book?

I wish I were better at answering this question than I am, but I'm afraid that I fumble this one more often than not. "Uhm, uhm, I REALLY like it." I feel like I've asked someone to the prom and she just asked me why. "Well, cuz you're real purty."

My point is, you want to find out if there is a deep connection between your work and this agent. I don't represent books I don't love and I don't think you should sign with someone who doesn't love your book. It's a long, torturous process and you want to be sure you've got good (professional) chemistry.

2. What are your thoughts for marketing this?

Are you and the agent on the same page, roughly? Is the agent going to market it as horror when you think of it as a furry fantasy novel about lovable talking bunnies?

3. What do you think needs to happen to the manuscript before it goes on submission?

I pretty much always suggest revisions. This is one of my strengths. I also don't sign a writer if I don't feel it's super close. If it needs more revisions, I'll ask for them before I sign. There are agents who will ask for an overhaul, though, and this is something you should know up front, especially if you're trying to decide between offers.

And a bonus:

4. What do you advise me to work on while we're shopping this book?

This is to see if the agent has thought about your career going forward. It also might suss out the all important question of what the agent will do if she does a great job trying to sell this book but it doesn't get an offer? Does she drop you? Is she going to stick with you while you fight it out?

mellymel · 01-25-2011, 08:09 AM

^^ this is what i was thinking of. i too copied and pasted this onto a doc on my desktop

aekap · 01-25-2011, 08:40 PM

Thank you!

01-25-2011, 03:19 AM	#1
aekap New kid, be gentle! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: DC area Posts: 209	help me find the list of q's for agents... A few weeks (?) ago, someone posted a very helpful list of questions to ask an agent when they call to discuss your manuscript. At the time, I thought, "I should bookmark this," and (of course), I didn't do it. Now I think I may need it fairly soon, and I can't locate it. Could some extremely kind person help me out? My search has turned up a couple of other threads, but not the one I'm hoping to find (it was a pretty exhaustive list, and contained a few items that hadn't occured to me). Thanks!! __________________ YA Sci-Fi/Romance- 78k- have agent, will travel... Check out my shiny new blog here.

01-25-2011, 04:34 AM	#2
kaitlin008 Seeing newness all the time Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 2,002	I don't know if this is the one you mean, but this list by Kate Hart rocks: http://www.katehart.net/2010/08/thin...ask-agent.html And the post also links to a few others on the same topic __________________ Blog\|Twitter\|YA Highway

01-25-2011, 04:47 AM	#3
suki Opinionated Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3,557	Agent Rachelle Gardner has a great post on the subject, too: http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/20...ask-agent.html ~suki __________________ Don't feed the Trolls! Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads PERSONAL EFFECTS (Candlewick Press, September 2012). Now available! B&N ~ Amazon ~ IndieBound~ Interested in supporting a great indie bookstore (and ordering an autographed copy of Personal Effects at the same time)? Read more here.

01-25-2011, 05:25 AM	#4
CaoPaux Mostly Harmless SuperModerator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Coastal Desert Posts: 10,589	This one, maybe? http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194870 Be sure to check out AAR's FAQs, too: http://aaronline.org/FAQ __________________ ICAO --------- Achievers strive for excellence. Perfectionists drive themselves to extinction. -- A Grapple A Day I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage. -- Charles DeSecondat 2012: II2013:

01-25-2011, 08:09 AM	#6
mellymel I find ur lack of faith disturbing Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: I'm not sure, but if you find me, for the love of God, please let me know! Posts: 3,585	^^ this is what i was thinking of. i too copied and pasted this onto a doc on my desktop __________________ "The good thing about telling the truth is that there's nothing to remember."--John Ford Noonan (playwright) "Falling on your face is still moving forward."--Ron Maranian (comedian) WIP: YA Thriller--finally done after three rounds of revisions! About to ride the query train. Hold my hair back while I puke? Thanks. Blog--YA for the YAt Heart

01-25-2011, 06:20 AM	#5
Miriel New kid, be gentle! Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 552	Michael Carr did this on his Q&A thread. I have no idea what page it's on, but I copied and saved his response as follows: 1. Why do you like my book? I wish I were better at answering this question than I am, but I'm afraid that I fumble this one more often than not. "Uhm, uhm, I REALLY like it." I feel like I've asked someone to the prom and she just asked me why. "Well, cuz you're real purty." My point is, you want to find out if there is a deep connection between your work and this agent. I don't represent books I don't love and I don't think you should sign with someone who doesn't love your book. It's a long, torturous process and you want to be sure you've got good (professional) chemistry. 2. What are your thoughts for marketing this? Are you and the agent on the same page, roughly? Is the agent going to market it as horror when you think of it as a furry fantasy novel about lovable talking bunnies? 3. What do you think needs to happen to the manuscript before it goes on submission? I pretty much always suggest revisions. This is one of my strengths. I also don't sign a writer if I don't feel it's super close. If it needs more revisions, I'll ask for them before I sign. There are agents who will ask for an overhaul, though, and this is something you should know up front, especially if you're trying to decide between offers. And a bonus: 4. What do you advise me to work on while we're shopping this book? This is to see if the agent has thought about your career going forward. It also might suss out the all important question of what the agent will do if she does a great job trying to sell this book but it doesn't get an offer? Does she drop you? Is she going to stick with you while you fight it out?

01-25-2011, 08:40 PM	#7
aekap New kid, be gentle! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: DC area Posts: 209	Thank you! __________________ YA Sci-Fi/Romance- 78k- have agent, will travel... Check out my shiny new blog here.

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