I'll give you that I might have mis-spelled attention but that is one of the most commonly mis-spelled words in the English language. That would be one of the reasons that I employ a prof. editor. One that costs money out of MY pocket, not my authors.
While I certainly agree that a writer should never submit anything less than a polished manuscript, there's a teensy bit of difference between a ms and the webpage that is, for all practical purposes, your business-face to the world.
I challenge you or anyone else to send me a complete manuscript and not have a single mis-spelled word. Mostly when spell check is not available- especially as in this format.
Then perhaps you shouldn't throw stones. Glasshouse, and all that.
You seem to have taken to task to bash me.
"Taken to task" means reprimanded. Possibly the phrase you're looking for is "taken up the task". There's that thing about presentation again.
I think one of the things people don't seem to understand is that I get upwards of 20 submissions a day. You have not a clue as to the incompetence that I see. People who don't care enough to even research the proper format or even do a spell check on the manuscript- much less have it edited.
If you think the people here don't know from slush, you are very much mistaken.
Anyone, including you, who wants to question my ethics or my submission guidelines should refer to the 'conglomerate' guidelines. Or simply pick up Jeff Herman's book in which he clearly states numerous times that when you query an agency you should make sure your manuscript is properly formatted and professionally edited.
We're mostly questioning your credentials and experience.
The entire idea behind submission guidelines is this; If you do not care enough to follow the submission guidelines then you probably didn't care enough to properly configure your manuscript.
Very true. On the other hand, PublishAmerica will take anything, formatting be damned.
Although the novel industry is not as cut throat as the music industry; let me explain something the music industry does. When an A/R Rep. requests a Cd from an artist they require that the artist place about 10 different random things on the envelope. If the artist deviates from that or leaves out even ONE thing on the mailing envelope- it goes into the trash.
This is completely irrelevant.
I actually tried my own version of this technique for about a month. I put on my submission guidelines that authors had to put a random note in the subject line of their e-mail query. Out of the estimated 20 queries a week I get- over that period of time I only got 2 people who paid enough attention to put that random note in the subject line.
Again, how does this relate to your ability to sell your clients' manuscripts?
You can continue to bash my agency but you need to check your facts first. I'm not here to screw anyone. I'm here to help people. I know the evil's of the publishing industry and those who set out to cheat people. I've witnessed it first hand.
Checking our facts. Right. Tell us about the sales you've made to legitimate, advance-paying, commercial publishers. That way we can get our facts straight from the source.
But if I refuse to reply to someone who does not properly submit their query then I guess I'm evil. You and everyone else should review the 'submission guidelines' page on my site. You'll see that it states to keep your query to no more than 275 words. Yet; I get 19 out of 20 queries that go well over that. My contact page does not allow more than 275 word count. But, they drown on about their personal lives before getting to the heart of their novel. More times than not; I get a few sentences of their novel query.
How writers submit to you isn't of interest here. Whether or not you can sell their manuscripts is.
And then there are those who drone on and on about how if they don't get a book deal their life is going to come to an end. I'm a business woman. Period. I'm sorry if you feel like your life is going to be destroyed or you are threatening to end you life if I don't represent you book- you need professional help I can't give you.
My goodness, woman. One would think you've never seen slush before. That doesn't speak well of your experience.
So in closing, I can't stop what you seem to have taken up as a personal vendetta to bash me; but you should stop and consider all the facts before you do so. If you or anyone else is an editor from RH, S&S or such, then go right ahead, I guess you have earned the right. But so far, none of my contacts at any of the big publishing houses is complaining as to my business ethics.
There is no personal vendetta against you. Gormless agents and publishers are a dime a dozen. We're simply trying to find out if you have what it takes to competently represent authors.
What are your credentials?
Do you have experience in reading, understanding and negotiating publishing contracts?
What books have you placed?
Wishing you all the best,
KK
And to you as well.