Hello, writer,
"I queried four agents and didn't hear anything. Does that mean my book sucks? Should I give up and self-publish?"
I suggested sending a first wave of no less fewer than fifty query letters, and said that this week I would cover what to do next. And, so... It is now next week. (How does that work?)
So! You've sent your fifty queries, and you've gotten some responses. What
now?
Well, what now is: Take a look at what kind of responses you've gotten from those agents. That will determine what's next.
I see four possible categories of results:
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Result no. 1: No personalized rejections; only copy/paste form letters and/or ghosting.
Assessment: Yes, you may be on the wrong track. Or! You may have a good premise and good sample pages, but agents aren't even reading them because your query
letter has severe flaws.
Action: Send me your query package. If your book just isn't a candidate for so-called traditional publication, I'll let you know why* and we'll talk about what happens next, whether that's assisted self-publishing or helping you get a jump-start on a new project. Or: If you've got a not-zero chance but your query needs help, we'll talk about fixing it.
Result no. 2: Some personalized rejections with positive language (i.e., commentary from the agent that's specifically to you, about specifically your book) but no requests for more pages or the full.
Assessment: You may have a good premise and/or good sample pages and/or a good query, but something might be keeping your book from being what an agent considers sellable. (Which, let's face it: That's what matters to them. It's a business.)
Action: Send me your materials. We can talk about matching you with one of WriteByNight's readers/editors
for some feedback on the marketability of both your writing and your premise; meanwhile, others of us will work with you on your query.
Result no. 3: No firm offers yet, but legitimate
interest (e.g., requests for more pages or the full).
Assessment: You may be knocking on the door!
Action: While you compile a list of fifty more agents to query, we'll take a quick look at your full submission package and offer some guidance for improvements that might put you over the top.
Result no. 4: You sign with an agent.
Assessment: Um, that's cool.
Action: Party! And brag. And tell me about it. And then let's talk about helping you formulate your marketing and publicity strategy. Who better than WBN's own Joe Marich, Michael Crichton's publicist of 15+ years!
Please note, if it's not clear already, that if you fall under results nos. 1 and 2, that doesn't mean you should give up. (And no matter what happens, don't ever let
anyone -- yourself included!! -- tell you that your book sucks.)
Sometimes fifty queries isn't enough.
Sometimes 100 queries isn't
enough!
A few years ago, I queried a nonfiction book on behalf of its writer. We broke through the odds and he signed with an agent, after... 127 queries.**
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Next week, we'll look at the last line: "Should I give up and self-publish."
Is self-publishing giving up? Or is it seizing control?
And when is the right time to start that process?
(Spoiler alert: While you're still querying!)
* I don't know everything.
** Shortly thereafter, the agent quit the business and dumped her clients. But, still...
.
