213
65
Approach agents intelligently
by knowing what they do and
don’t want.
Not long ago I sat in on a panel of ten literary agents.
Here is the gist of what they said:
What Agents Want in an Author:
•
Give me a fresh voice.
•
Give me a one-line hook that makes me want to
read more.
•
The first couple of pages must draw me in.
•
I want a client who is at least 95 percent “ready.”
I don’t have the time to work with you if you’re
only 80 percent ready.
•
Write what’s in you.
On the Elusive Concept of “Voice”:
•
It’s a combination of character, setting, and page
turning.
•
A distinctive style, like a Sergio Leone film.
Z4273i_184-220.indd 213Z4273i_184-220.indd 213 9/24/09 11:21:33 AM9/24/09 11:21:33 AM
214
•
It’s who you are.
•
It’s personality on the page.
•
It’s something written from your deepest truth.
•
It is your expression as an artist.
Pet Peeves:
•
Unrealistic comparisons to popular authors.
•
When the synopsis doesn’t tell me how the book
ends.
•
Sloppiness in presentation.
•
Ty pos .
•
Proposals sent to the wrong agent.
•
Agent’s name is misspelled.
•
Not following an agent’s submission guidelines.
•
Omission of details: word count, genre, contact
information including phone number.
•
Cover letters that give your “life story.”
•
Obvious scattershot approach, rather than tar-
geting the right agent.
•
Opening pages that are mostly backstory, not
actually a scene.
•
Obvious first drafts.
Z4273i_184-220.indd 214Z4273i_184-220.indd 214 9/24/09 11:21:33 AM9/24/09 11:21:33 AM
215
On E-Mail Submissions:
•
Treat it just like a printed submission. No fancy
fonts and graphics.
•
Make the cover letter a business letter, with con-
tact information just as if on paper.
Z4273i_184-220.indd 215Z4273i_184-220.indd 215 9/24/09 11:21:33 AM9/24/09 11:21:33 AM
..................Content has been hidden....................
You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.