Requested Material, so why am I nervous?

WendyNYC · Mar 29, 2008

I recently met an agent at a dinner party and, long story short, he encouraged me to send him some of my writing. I assume this means send him a highly polished version of my novel (am just finishing my first draft now, so I have a way to go.)

So, when I'm finally done with the thing -- what is the protocol? He doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts, so do I mark "requested material" on it? Do I send just a partial? A letter? The whole thing? He owns the agency -- does that make a difference?

Thanks!

Julie Worth · Mar 29, 2008

Only send polished material. Be sure to mention the conversation in your cover letter, preferably before anything else. Put requested material on the outside. Only send a partial unless he specifically asked for the MS, and be sure to send it with a SASE and delivery confirmation.

IceCreamEmpress · Mar 29, 2008

WendyNYC said:
I recently met an agent at a dinner party and, long story short, he encouraged me to send him some of my writing.

Yay! I was wondering if this was dinner-party guy!

I assume this means send him a highly polished version of my novel (am just finishing my first draft now, so I have a way to go.)

So, when I'm finally done with the thing -- what is the protocol? He doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts, so do I mark "requested material" on it?

Yes.

Do I send just a partial? A letter? The whole thing?

I'd send a cover letter and partial--three chapters or approximately 50 pages, whichever makes more sense for your book. And what Julie Worth said about the SASE, etc.

You can be a little chattier in the cover letter, because you've met socially, but be just as businesslike about the rest as you would for any stranger.

ishtar'sgate · Mar 29, 2008

WooHoo! Good for you. Yes, make sure you put REQUESTED MATERIAL in bold letters on the front of the envelope. If he said send him some of your writing, he's not looking for the whole manuscript. Some generally falls between 50 pages and 3 chapters. Definitely include a cover letter with a nudge, reminding him of your meeting and his request to see your work. And - the very best of luck!!
Linnea

jannawrites · Mar 29, 2008

I agree with everyone else, Wendy. And best of luck!!

WendyNYC · Mar 29, 2008

Thanks everyone. And yes, it was the dinner party guy from a few weeks ago. He was very nice and seemed interested in talking about writing and the publishing industry in general.

jannawrites · Mar 29, 2008

WendyNYC said:
Thanks everyone. And yes, it was the dinner party guy from a few weeks ago. He was very nice and seemed interested in talking about writing and the publishing industry in general.

Man, if we could all be so fortunate! That sounds like the perfect, ideal circumstance.

WendyNYC · Mar 29, 2008

Thank goodness my husband is King of the Small Talk. He gave me a good opener since I was initially frozen with intimidation.

ORION · Mar 29, 2008

I do NOT want to rain on your parade...but 99.99999999999% of agents, editors, publishers who meet a writer socially will always say, "sure sent it to me when you are finished."
They have learned it is the easiest way to react when a person says they are writing a novel.
You can work it to your advantage by REALLY polishing your novel and TAKING YOUR TIME...It is only a foot in the door but it is not by any means a sure thing. Your novel will have to shine.
You still need to research to see if this agent represents what you write...Yes you do mention where you met him and when in your cover letter, but you still show you know what and who he represents -- read some of his authors...
JMHO

WendyNYC · Mar 29, 2008

ORION said:
I do NOT want to rain on your parade...but 99.99999999999% of agents, editors, publishers who meet a writer socially will always say, "sure sent it to me when you are finished."
They have learned it is the easiest way to react when a person says they are writing a novel.
You can work it to your advantage by REALLY polishing your novel and TAKING YOUR TIME...It is only a foot in the door but it is not by any means a sure thing. Your novel will have to shine.
You still need to research to see if this agent represents what you write...Yes you do mention where you met him and when in your cover letter, but you still show you know what and who he represents -- read some of his authors...
JMHO

Thanks, Patricia. I know that making a contact is just the very beginning and is in no way some sort of offer for representation. I'm actually much more nervous to send anything to him than I would be for any other agent. It has to be *ready.* On top of all that, some of his authors are people I know personally, so it would be beyond embarassing to send him something that wasn't good, even if he ultimately decided to pass.

I knew who he was before I met him, but yes, I'll do more research. (PM me if you are curious.)

Susan Breen · Mar 29, 2008

I would love to hear more about that dinner party! So now you have a connection, and it's no guarantee, but it can't hurt. Go get him.

Phaeal · Mar 29, 2008

Dinner parties. I've read about those things in novels...

Wow him, WendyNYC. If you're one of those writers whose first drafts are fairly smooth and clean, without the prospect of major changes, maybe you could polish up the first three chapters to a high gleam for submission sooner rather than later.

But then you'll have to be prepared to polish like mad should he request the rest of the MS. But then again, that's a nice problem to have.

chroniclemaster1 · Mar 29, 2008

Phaeal said:
But then you'll have to be prepared to polish like mad should he request the rest of the MS. But then again, that's a nice problem to have.

I agree! Polish this up quick and get it sent in to him. No one was ever published turning down offers like this. Go get him!

David I · Mar 31, 2008

ORION said:
I do NOT want to rain on your parade...but 99.99999999999% of agents, editors, publishers who meet a writer socially will always say, "sure sent it to me when you are finished."
They have learned it is the easiest way to react when a person says they are writing a novel.
You can work it to your advantage by REALLY polishing your novel and TAKING YOUR TIME...It is only a foot in the door but it is not by any means a sure thing. Your novel will have to shine.
You still need to research to see if this agent represents what you write...Yes you do mention where you met him and when in your cover letter, but you still show you know what and who he represents -- read some of his authors...JMHO

I agree with all of that except the 99.99999999999% figure. A surprising number of agents take great pleasure in being nasty. I would say that 99.99999999999% of editors respond that way, but agents are another matter. The real horror stories I hear are always about agents, not editors.

As to the question about 'requested material', yes, you should defintely write REQUESTED MATERIAL on the package. Subtly, tastefully, but in a HUGE FONT with arrows pointing at it.

Requested Material, so why am I nervous?

WendyNYC

fiddle-dee-dee

Julie Worth

What? I have a title?

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

ishtar'sgate

living in the past

jannawrites

no, really

WendyNYC

fiddle-dee-dee

jannawrites

no, really

WendyNYC

fiddle-dee-dee

ORION

Sailed away years ago

WendyNYC

fiddle-dee-dee

Susan Breen

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

chroniclemaster1

Seeking Undercover Angel

David I