I sent you a query letter (see below). Last week two agents requested to see the manuscript of [Title of manuscript]. I’m letting you know out of professional courtesy, but honestly because out of all the agents I have researched I wish we could “click” and work together.* I value the tone of your website and your [specific feature of company/website]. And of course, your professional representation.
I have a full book proposal, synopsis, and finished manuscript.
Best wishes,
[Writer]
Good job. Gold star.
I should note a few things:
- This was this author's best and only option for getting our attention--this had been sitting in the company's query inbox for awhile, and no one had responded yet.
- Having two requests isn't, in the grand scheme of things, amazingly impressive--that said, because this is sweetly written (and her query was on the fence, hence its not getting a response yet), it tipped me over into the "Yes, I'll take a look" category.
_________________________________________________
* Note: You don't have to say this--and don't, if it isn't true! But if it is true, go for it--then we're sure that, if we go ahead and read this quickly and like it, we have a good chance of securing you as our client.
5 comments:
Good to know. Checking in with agents is such a grey area I think most of us are a little afraid of doing it, but there always is that one agent that we just wish we could have a chance with...
Good to know slobbering is not frowned upon. I was debating whether to employ the tactic (authentically, of course! No one likes disingenuous drool).
Yet if it comes down to a choice between two agents, and the slobberree (Bet you didn't know there were two "r"s in "slobberree". Neither did I.) declines, does it taint the acceptance of the less-idealized agent's offer?
In other words, if you verbalize your first choice to your first choice, does it bode well if you ultimately accept a lower-down-the-list agent?
Dealing in strict hypotheticals,
:)
:),
Do you mean that it might look bad to your first choice agent? Or that it might mess with your expectations?
Well, I mean if you tell one agent you like him or her best and then that agent passes and you accept an offer from another agent (you know, a year or ten later). . .
It sort of makes it awkward if your new agent runs into your woulda-been dream agent at a super bowl party and they get to talking about you.
Assuming that would NEVER happen, it could just be bad karma.
Thoughts?
:)
Okay...call me crazy or not, but do most writers have a first, second, and third choice on who they want to represent them? I mean, I know all about doing the research on an agent before you query him or her, but I guess I've never really had a favorite picked out, simply because until I talk with him or her on the phone or face to face, I'm not really gonna know for sure. Neither will the agent, will they? GK- your "proper" check-in here seems to be the way many writers go whether it's true or not, so I'm not sure I'd attempt that with an agent. Glad you posted the caveat on that.
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