Let me know your thoughts or experiences with the querying process! Additionally, if you're interested in becoming a beta reader for my current WIP - a 1930s historical mystery homage to Agatha Christie and the Golden Age of Detective Fiction - please express your interest at the link: forms.gle/KzGGfU1C85rpHdY38
Preach, Jackie, preach! You said so much of what I think sometimes when I see comments like some of these on QueryTracker. I’ve seen comments that have gotten mad at a rejection after an hour too with the same ‘I sent a query, three chapters, and a synopsis. There’s no way they reviewed all of that.’ And it’s like they may not have needed to to decide (like you mentioned). If it’s gonna be a rejection, I’d totally rather a quick one than a CNR lol. A *query* rejection after 1.5 years-ish is wild tho lol, but def no need call the agent a sociopath. Once a writer starts calling agents out of their names, I think it might be a good idea for them take a bit of a break from querying. This video was a great reminder to me to keep the business mindset when I start querying. It’s easy to forget after awhile in the trenches. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! I agree with you, I'd much rather be rejected quickly. At least then I know and I'm not waiting for what's (usually) a form reject.
Thanks for your insights. I’m just beginning the process of querying and have realized that it’s a great deal like applying for a job - which was also an ordeal!
I've been querying for two months and I admit I want to give up already. I won't lie, rejections suck. I let myself have a moment, but then I let it go and remind myself rejection is part of being a writer. And I certainly don't lash out at the agents who rejected me.
@@mrsmax3071 Yes, and two months is such a short time, it could still work out. You’re just beginning. I don’t know how many agents you’ve queried but you could always ask for feedback on your query letter if you’re not getting bites. (r/PubTips is great for this)
@jackiereadsandwrites I've been sending them out in "batches". The first two amounted to 15 agents, and I got nothing. I just sent out a new batch (9 agents) with a whole new query letter and a revised first three chapters. I received one form rejection already, but my fingers are crossed. Good luck out there! I hope you get the book deal of your dreams!
This video is fantastic! I've seen a couple of those exact comments on QT and I'm honestly shocked people act like that in any capacity, but especially in a professional forum. It's wild.
Thank you for the comment! Honestly - and I didn't even say this in the video - I've listened to a lot of literary agent interviews and some of them have said that they've actually had querying authors threaten them. I can never get over how unhinged some people are.
If you don’t want to undergo “criticism,” then traditional publishing will never be for you. Even after you get accepted by an agent, they will probably ask you to make changes to your work. Then when you get a publisher, your editor will ask for changes. As you said, this is a business, and they are trying to create what they believe will be the most marketable (which will generate sales). They do this because they want your book to succeed. If your book succeeds they make money. Sadly, publishers, who are usually beholden to stock holders, do not publish book for art’s sake. It would be nice, but if this is your goal, then self-publishing is probably a much better fit for you. While literary fiction does get published, it is years of work to get the “perfect” book. Best of luck in your writing endeavors.
Great video. You and I are in the same boat with roughly the same number of rejections. I agree that it doesn't take three hours to read a query. I, personally, *love* same day rejections. I can get on with querying the next agent. That doesn't, in the least, prevent me from throwing another ten plates against the wall. But there's really no sense in lashing out at agents. I do sometimes scratch my head though. I recently wrote a YA novella giving several agents EXACTLY, and I do mean *EXACTLY* what they *claimed* they were looking for. They all turned up their noses. Am I a poor writer or are they bad at their job? I ultimately take a cynical view of the whole process. I've read enough "bestsellers" to know that quality isn't what decides a book's success. Gratefully, no agent has critiqued my submissions. I get nothing or I get form letters. I'm okay with that. I'm not looking for their opinion. I can get that elsewhere. I expect them to be agents and to leave the writing to authors. I'm looking for representation.
Agreed, I'd much rather be rejected quickly. Tbh, I think MSWL is somewhat helpful, but even if you have something that matches an agent's wishlist, there might just be something about the execution that they personally don't like.
I'm generally happy to see a faster rejection because at least it's an answer. It's not like the probability goes up over time. I do think, though, that a lot of these agents are totally gatekeeping based on whatever prejudices and bugs up their butts they may hold. I generally don't query those types, who have descriptions on MWL and their own sites that advertise how much they want to fix the world. Funny, I thought they should want to sell books. But what do I know?
Let me know your thoughts or experiences with the querying process! Additionally, if you're interested in becoming a beta reader for my current WIP - a 1930s historical mystery homage to Agatha Christie and the Golden Age of Detective Fiction - please express your interest at the link: forms.gle/KzGGfU1C85rpHdY38
Preach, Jackie, preach! You said so much of what I think sometimes when I see comments like some of these on QueryTracker. I’ve seen comments that have gotten mad at a rejection after an hour too with the same ‘I sent a query, three chapters, and a synopsis. There’s no way they reviewed all of that.’ And it’s like they may not have needed to to decide (like you mentioned). If it’s gonna be a rejection, I’d totally rather a quick one than a CNR lol. A *query* rejection after 1.5 years-ish is wild tho lol, but def no need call the agent a sociopath. Once a writer starts calling agents out of their names, I think it might be a good idea for them take a bit of a break from querying.
This video was a great reminder to me to keep the business mindset when I start querying. It’s easy to forget after awhile in the trenches. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! I agree with you, I'd much rather be rejected quickly. At least then I know and I'm not waiting for what's (usually) a form reject.
Thanks for your insights. I’m just beginning the process of querying and have realized that it’s a great deal like applying for a job - which was also an ordeal!
I've been querying for two months and I admit I want to give up already. I won't lie, rejections suck. I let myself have a moment, but then I let it go and remind myself rejection is part of being a writer. And I certainly don't lash out at the agents who rejected me.
@@mrsmax3071 Yes, and two months is such a short time, it could still work out. You’re just beginning. I don’t know how many agents you’ve queried but you could always ask for feedback on your query letter if you’re not getting bites. (r/PubTips is great for this)
@jackiereadsandwrites I've been sending them out in "batches". The first two amounted to 15 agents, and I got nothing.
I just sent out a new batch (9 agents) with a whole new query letter and a revised first three chapters. I received one form rejection already, but my fingers are crossed.
Good luck out there! I hope you get the book deal of your dreams!
This video is fantastic! I've seen a couple of those exact comments on QT and I'm honestly shocked people act like that in any capacity, but especially in a professional forum. It's wild.
Thank you for the comment! Honestly - and I didn't even say this in the video - I've listened to a lot of literary agent interviews and some of them have said that they've actually had querying authors threaten them. I can never get over how unhinged some people are.
If you don’t want to undergo “criticism,” then traditional publishing will never be for you. Even after you get accepted by an agent, they will probably ask you to make changes to your work. Then when you get a publisher, your editor will ask for changes. As you said, this is a business, and they are trying to create what they believe will be the most marketable (which will generate sales). They do this because they want your book to succeed. If your book succeeds they make money. Sadly, publishers, who are usually beholden to stock holders, do not publish book for art’s sake. It would be nice, but if this is your goal, then self-publishing is probably a much better fit for you. While literary fiction does get published, it is years of work to get the “perfect” book. Best of luck in your writing endeavors.
Query tracker is really useful! Yes, everyone gets rejected.x
Great video. You and I are in the same boat with roughly the same number of rejections. I agree that it doesn't take three hours to read a query. I, personally, *love* same day rejections. I can get on with querying the next agent. That doesn't, in the least, prevent me from throwing another ten plates against the wall.
But there's really no sense in lashing out at agents. I do sometimes scratch my head though. I recently wrote a YA novella giving several agents EXACTLY, and I do mean *EXACTLY* what they *claimed* they were looking for. They all turned up their noses. Am I a poor writer or are they bad at their job?
I ultimately take a cynical view of the whole process. I've read enough "bestsellers" to know that quality isn't what decides a book's success. Gratefully, no agent has critiqued my submissions. I get nothing or I get form letters. I'm okay with that. I'm not looking for their opinion. I can get that elsewhere. I expect them to be agents and to leave the writing to authors. I'm looking for representation.
Agreed, I'd much rather be rejected quickly. Tbh, I think MSWL is somewhat helpful, but even if you have something that matches an agent's wishlist, there might just be something about the execution that they personally don't like.
I'm generally happy to see a faster rejection because at least it's an answer. It's not like the probability goes up over time. I do think, though, that a lot of these agents are totally gatekeeping based on whatever prejudices and bugs up their butts they may hold. I generally don't query those types, who have descriptions on MWL and their own sites that advertise how much they want to fix the world. Funny, I thought they should want to sell books. But what do I know?