We'd discussed, in the comments of some recent posts, the fact that it'd make it easier for author and agent alike if there could be a code for, "It's okay, give me feedback--I won't cause trouble/get mad/tell you you're wrong or evil."
Here are two examples in today's queries.
This one made me feel like the author could, in fact, be trusted with feedback:
Warm regards and best wishes for a happy new year.
Simple, but I got the feeling, reading this, that the author was human--and a kind human, at that.
This did not inspire confidence:
I recently found out that you accept new writers. So finally I get a person without any bias.
Erm...no. I have a bias against writers with anti-agent bias. This writer clearly has been angered by agents in the past. Red alert: no feedback here.
4 comments:
It's so warm and fuzzy coming to your blog. I like the lack of snark (snark is fun, but it's nice not to have it everywhere). You remind me that there's a beating heart behind rejections. Most of the time.
As for the code, thank you for the nice illustration of how careful we need to be with our choice of words. That should go without saying, being that we're writers, especially since there's no ebay ranking system with negative/positive reviews on aspiring authors. Our words have to speak for us... and won't they at every stage in our career? If I send off an angry email to an agent, maybe that agent would imagine me firing off belligerent emails and comments to potential readers/book buyers? Well, even if not, it certainly seems like an unpleasant way to work with someone.
The second query comment ("finally, an agent without bias") brought to mind a line from Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist:
"I refuse to be the goodie bag at your pity party."
Don't know why, but it just floated into my head.
Oh shoot, I need to go edit my query now.
Just kidding!
:)
Maybe we could have a scarlet letter within the agent/aspiring author world. But instead of an A for adultery, ours can be a B for bravery.
A simple elegant ~B~ beside our name at the closing of our query that tells an agent, bring it on. Don't hold back. Your feedback, whether good or bad, is valuable to me. I won't retaliate or shame myself by replying inappropriately.
Oh, and B for "bless you for braving the query pile."
My blog
Post a Comment