It’s been six weeks and I’ve not heard back from Agent #3. Per the agency’s website, I sent a follow up email after four weeks. Not a word have I had in response.
I think it’s safe to assume that I won’t get one. Or that if, on some distant day, I do get one, it will be of the thanks but no thanks variety.
I queried this agent because he represents one of my favorite YA writers. I mentioned that in the query. I also mentioned that my manuscript is similar to Writer X’s novels. What I failed to mention is how my manuscript is similar.
Um, hello? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Yeah, so don’t do that. I know how my manuscript is similar (and how it’s different), but he doesn’t know. And why should he believe me when I say it is unless I tell him how? He doesn’t know me from Eve. He gets 75 queries a day. Some of them probably even invoke Writer X’s name. He is looking for every reason to roll his eyes and hit delete (or “auto response: reject”), and I gave him a good one.
So. I’m going to go crawl under my desk now.
I am a reader (I feel about books the way some people feel about chocolate: yum), a writer (I've written a book, even: The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year), and a mother (of four). So that's what I blog about: reading, writing, and raising my kids.
Write to change the world; keep writing until it’s accomplished.
Everyone has frizzy hair and nasal congestion; not everyone can compose a melody using only words. You can, so please do!
(This is a response to your wonderful post on Marcus Brotherton’s blog, which was quoted on Rachelle Gardner’s blog. Rachelle is our agent and you would love her!)
Keep writing. (We’ll quit giving advice now.)