Do literary agents actually look at the slush pile?
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
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Welcome to another #AskMeAnything session! In this series, I'm responding to your questions about the publishing industry and how to write a better book. Leave me any additional questions in the comments and I will add them to my list for future videos!
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TODAY'S #ASKMEANYTHING :
00:53 - What is the standard manuscript format?
01:23 - Do agents actually look at the slush pile?
03:13 - Should you query with your legal or pen name?
03:46 - Should the author bio be written in first or third person?
05:35 - How can you develop your skills as an editor?
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ABOUT ME:
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with nearly a decade of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey-whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.
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I love the way your thumnail poses capture the videos' sentiment.
"Slush pile? There is no slush pile. There is only work that is almost ready and work that needs more love"
Interesting answers, especially the editing advice at the end. Thank you.
These are so good and informative, I always learn so much. Thank you for your work!!
I'm so glad you enjoy them - thanks for commenting!
I have a somewhat large question in mind, but I hope you have time to answer:
Why are literary agencies a thing in the anglophone world?
There are no agencies in my home country. Authors just send their manuscripts straight to the publishing house, and a national authors' association has standards for a fair contract and the author can discuss about the offered contract with with the association's lawyer.
Why would this same model not work in the anglosphere? Do agencies with their established relationships with the Big 4 publishers make it more difficult for new publishing companies to emerge?
The answer to your question is money. If big 5 publishers didn’t use agents, then they’d have a lot more work to do in terms of going through hundreds of thousands of manuscripts and selecting ones they believe will be profitable. It’s similar to how a company may decide to use a recruiting firm to fill an opening.
It's because angloids are (and always have been) staunch practitioners of gatekeeping.
A question: What are your favourite things when reading a novel? Like atmospheric setting, suspenseful hooks, emotive internal narrative, etc? I don't think I phrased this how I wanted but I don't think I can articulate it...but basically, what elements and "stuff" makes you lean in, invested, and forget you're reading?
I actually wondered myself about the "slush pile" so thanks so much for clarifying! Awesome content as always 😉👍
BEST DAY OF THE WEEEEEEK!
Thanks so much for your response to my question! I appreciate the thoroughness of your answer, and think it's awesome that your process is so mindful of author intent. While listening, I realized that I've been afraid of making a story worse during dev edits. But, allaying judgementabout an element until you know the whole story, and then assessing your evaluation through the lens of author intent, sounds like a fantastic way to at least ensure the story stays true to what the author wanted.
Looks like I'll hit the books again and start doing some deeper story analyses!
Hi! I know Alyssa has already addressed your question in this video, but I hope she won't mind me (a random person) adding to it ;-)
To "train" editing skills, I recommend reading bad amateur fiction. I am NOT trying to shame anybody here AT ALL, but the thing is that when a piece is written without much expertise, without being beta'ed and without too much thought put into it, it is easy for an editor to find ways to make it better. It's a much easier exercise than reading fiction by someone who is serious and aspiring to be a professional author. Read original fiction or fanfiction on AO3 or on wattpad. There is a lot of actually good, serious writing there, but there are also a lot of writers posting stories just for fun. Take those and think about what you would improve in the story to lift it to another level. Which questions were left unresolved? What lesson should the character have learned? How would YOU have written the resolution? Etc.
Obviously, I don't think you should give those writers critical public feedback. If someone is writing stories just for fun and they are enjoyed by other people, let's please not intimidate them away from this hobby by being snobby about it! But we can always think about their stories in terms of a private editing exercise :-)
As I enter into the beginning steps on the path to publication, thank you for dispelling the slush pile myth.
As I go from developmental edit to final revision, several points in the story got "flagged" questioning certain plot points that are minor in this story, but come to fruition in the next next book. How do you recommend handling such "plot seeding?"
Thank you again Alyssa ❤
Appreciate you. 🔥
Hey Alyssa.
I have a critique partner due to writing my first book with a friend (it was my first book but it wasn’t hers)
She did share a book that she wrote by herself with me but I tried to be a beta reader and just gave my reaction to her chapters. But I realize that I want more of that from her and I don’t know what I am allowed to say. Brandon Sanderson empathized the importance of not making their story what you want it to be or what you would do. But he was talking about being a beta reader. How do I be the best critique partner possible so I can return the favor my friend has given me in guiding me through my first novel?
Hi Alyssa! I recently came across the advice to focus on "showing" rather than "telling" in writing. While I understand and appreciate the depth that strong "showing" can bring to a narrative, I personally gravitate towards books that have a more conversational and informal tone. I believe there's value in blending both approaches, but I'm contemplating leaning slightly more towards "telling." I've experimented with emphasizing "showing" over "telling" in my current draft revision, but it's led to prose that feels overly pretentious, as if I'm trying too hard to be poetic. Do you think it's feasible to strike a balance that favors "telling" while focusing on "Show" just on opening of chapter? I'd love your perspective on this, especially any advice on avoiding pretentiousness while still engaging the reader.
Hi Alyssa, your videos are great and always so encouraging. I’ve recently finished self editing my novel and am ready to show it to the world. I am on the fence as to whether or not I want to: (1) get an agent, or (2) publish with a small press. Is it ok to pitch a small publisher simultaneously with literary agents? I understand simultaneous submissions between literary agencies is generally acceptable, but this is a bit of a caveat on that principle. Best, Tim.
Hi Alyssa, thanks for all your amazing advice. I've noticed that literary agents often request that you paste the first 10 pages of your manuscript into the query. Is there some flexibility granted? I'm asking because if I insert only the first 10 pages of my manuscript, I'm cutting the action off abruptly. However, if I paste the first 15 pages, it fleshes out a little scenario in my story that captures the feel of my novel.
I have two mid-point conflicts that are the turning point of the story; one will be the obstacle that gets in my protagonist's way and raises the stakes. Unfortunately, I can't decide which one to use. Do you have a video that addresses choosing between two possible main conflicts?
When an agent asks you to submit ten pages with your query letter - is it standard practice to submit the first ten pages? Reviewing my novel, I find two groups of ten pages in my first 60 pages that I think better represent the story pacing and voice as a whole, but dropping the reader into the story this way may work against me. (Note: the agent did not specify to submit the first ten.)
Hi there - yes, it is standard to send your opening pages. I have another video that explains why: ruclips.net/video/6sRDYjz_MjY/видео.htmlsi=TB-Sh2ybEVMc9kMQ I hope that helps!
You often caution writers to avoid too many coincidences in a story. I agree with this, but since my story has speculative elements in it, I'm wondering how many coincidences/incidents of divine intervention are too many?
If you retelling a classic story, how close can you het to the original?
Hey Alyssa, thanks as always. Is it true that even if you paraphrase a single song lyric you are in violation of copyright?
Based on your query letter advice, should I just have writing experience, where I live and if I’m employed, or should I put more?
Late night eh? :)
Question.
Since the novel should be doubled spaced and size 12 letters. Does it apply to synopsis too?
@Alyssa Matesic, I have a question, if your manuscript is accepted by a publisher, will they assist in finding an illustrator for your novel? I have a very specific art style in mind, one in line with the style of Takato Yamamoto.
Such a great video, but I miss that cute dog 🐶
3:38 My full legal name is:
Hans-Georg Mikael Elitzur LUNDAHL
Do I need all of that, or can I use "Hans G. Lundahl" as per my habitual signature? (I use it in banks and for legal documents).
the best day of the week is right!! 🩷
❤the grommets
Hi Alyssa, I am still writing my manuscript, but I would like to find a literary agent before the completion. I am in the U.K. and goggling comes up with everything but literary agent. So, could you please advise me where and how I can find one?
Hi there! I would encourage you to finish your manuscript before querying agents - this video has some more information about that: ruclips.net/video/BxZ5TNMxXI0/видео.html When you are ready to start searching for an agent, here are some suggestions for finding them: ruclips.net/video/kP-zWzugpUE/видео.html Good luck!
It's bizarre to me that you don't like calling it the "slush pile". I had never even heard of the term until I started querying literary agents and they informed me of my status in said slush pile. Seems to be industry standard terminology.
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Your chances of being looked at or signed by an agent via a slush pile is very LOW.
You advertised a lady literary agent recently - I cant find the video now. Can you upload it again?