Ask Nathan Bransford! Guest agent from 02/07 - 12/09!

Yvettesgonefishing · Dec 16, 2008

To agent or not to agent?

Hello Nathan. I enjoyed your last contest on opening paragraphs...I continued to enjoy it long after my entry failed to garner any interest.

I found two boneheaded errors in my submission--after I clicked 'submit' of course--and spent the rest of the day wincing. Time to get over it and move on. I'm anxiously awaiting your next contest. Anyhoo...

I would like to ask a question here though. I am 13 chapters into a YA book and believe I am within six months of possibly being able to submit the finished, edited product (and after unmangling my opening paragraph). My question regards agents.

I started this book assuming I would be hitting the slush piles and hoping for the best. I have heard it can be infinitely more difficult to get an agent than possibly selling that first manuscript as an unknown, unpublished writer from that pile of unrepresented hopefuls. I am willing to entertain the notion that what I've heard to date is without merit, but so far, most of what I've read indicates that it is easier to get an agent once you've proven yourself by selling that first book on your own.

On the other hand, if I can't pass muster with an agent, what hope do I have in ever selling a manuscript (from the slush pile, no less) submitted to a legitimate publisher? Either my writing is at a professional level or it isn't, and if it's just not there yet, I don't have a real shot in either direction, do I?

Is it folly to query an agent as an unpublished writer? Do I need to try to sell that first manuscript on my own or should I attempt to get representation first?

Sweetleaf · Dec 16, 2008

I have a question about query letters.

Can I put in a Maori language thank you and farewell to an American agent (with or without translation)? Or would that just sound pretentious?

Thank you and have a great holiday!

Adam Hammonds · Dec 17, 2008

Hi Nathan,

Hopefully you can settle a debate that recently threatened to ruin a perfectly good Thai dinner between my fiance and I.

Please imagine a Ven diagram with four circles: book you love[d reading], book you hate[d reading], book you know you can sell, book you think won't sell. And assume small overlap between the four. Would you as a successful agent EVER choose a book you hated reading (whether you hated the writing, the protagonist, you're sick of the plot, whatever) but you knew you could sell? Maybe the market is so hot for the book that you look past the fact that you personally would set fire to it in a B&N?

OR. Is there so much good writing out there that you can ALWAYS find a book you both loved reading and felt confident about selling?

(My contention is #2. Please tell me I can win this one. I get so few chances.)

Thanks,
Adam

DeterminedNovelist · Dec 24, 2008

Finding an Agent for a Hybrid (Multi-Category) Novel

Hi, Nathan,

Just wondering what your thoughts are on marketing books that don't fit squarely within one category, but instead straddle them.

I definitely understand the necessity for books to fit readily into recognized marketing categories, but am hoping to get an agent's view of this problem, marketing hybrid books that mix categories.

Thank you!

David Erlewine · Jan 2, 2009

Hi, Nathan. My question concerns print versus web literary journals. While I complete my novel, I am attempting to bolster my submissions "cred" for the eventual agent query letters. So far, some of my "best" (as far as I know) acceptances are at Pedestal Magazine, Literal Latte, Keyhole Magazine, SmokeLong Quarterly, and elimae.

I have been planning to start submitting exclusively to print journals such as Black Warrior, Ploughshares, Story, Tin House, etc. but have not yet cracked fine web journals such as Night Train, FRiGG, Wigleaf, etc. Should I emphasize print journals at this point exclusively so that I'll have some bigger "name" journals when I begin shopping my novel? I know there is some "overlap" (Esquire has both print and online, etc.) so I'm generally referring to "exclusive" print versus "exclusive" web journals.

Many writers on Zoetrope insist agents don't treat the great bulk of web journals seriously. I'm confused if that is accurate. Thanks so much. David

Ralph Pines · Jan 4, 2009

Hi Nathan. Right now I am working on two projects which fit very different genres. The first one is a short Literary Fiction novel (50k-60k, on second draft getting ready for BETA) while the second, emerging from my 08 NaNo is urban fantasy (first part done, two more parts left on the first draft).

If I query an agent and he likes one, what happens to the other?

Would she/he be willing to represent me no matter what I write if its within the types of genres his agency accepts/markets?

Or will an agent simply ignore anything that does not follow the original genre?

BrookieCookie777 · Jan 7, 2009

Is the Christian Market Feeling the Economic Downfall?

Hi Nathan,

I am an agented christian children's author and have had a few offers from adult genre agents to rep my devotional book. (To make that less confusing, my agent specializes in children's books) However, with so many publisher's feeling the poor economic status, I'm a bit afraid to begin anything right now since we only get that "one shot" to make an impression with them.

How is the Christian market looking right now for the adult genre? My children's agent is well known and we have many best selling authors -even still we all have been struggling to make sales. I have been writing for CBN, Christianity Today and Mature Living as a regular for many years which usually helps me out in the Christian world but in this economy I'm not sure if that will be much help. Would you suggest a hold in taking on an adult genre agent until the market picks up?

Thanks for your help!

Brooke

K. M. Walton · Jan 10, 2009

Hi Nathan,
Are there general' industry rules' on re-submitting a query to an agent you've been rejected from? Length of time? After major book revisions? After major query letter revisions? Or a different book completely?
Thanks for your time,
K. M.

dogsoldier · Jan 11, 2009

Dear K.M. (apologies for not being NB):

Why would you want to resubmit to an agent who has rejected your query? Do you know how many agents there are out there?

Let go. Find another.

But...I know how you feel. I once thought about resubmitting to an agent with whom I'd had a contract. He let me go--because my rewrite was so terrible. It's a great temptation to be validated by the past, especially when you have moved on and done a better job. But why invite the pain of another rejection?

Go forward.

Willow_way · Jan 11, 2009

Dear Nathan, Thanks for being here. I don't have a question so I will just read and learn. I do want to thank you again for your quick response when I gueried you with my first noval, even if it was a refusal. It was quick and it was also encourages. I had two refusal and the first was just a quick "not interested". But you took the time to use my name, tell me it just wasn't what you were looking for at that time. And to encourage me to keep trying. Thank you again.

zanizh · Jan 12, 2009

Hi, Nathan. Thank you for being here and answering questions.

I've gotten a lot of advice from fellow writers on the subject of what is and what isn't relevant in a query to an agent or publisher. On my queries, I used to list how many articles I've written online whether it was an open content site like Helium and Associate Content, to articles I was hired to write for other sites. How relevant is that information when I'm querying for a fiction novel? Many people advise me not to list any credentials because it's not fiction. What are your thoughts?

I'm also going to ask Jennifer this question and see if the consensus is the same.

Yvettesgonefishing · Jan 22, 2009

Uh oh, I'm hearing crickets over here. 10 days of inactivity. Is Nathan coming back?

Mike Martin · Jan 28, 2009

Hiya, Nathan!

Thanks for sharing your time with us. I've got two radically unrelated questions for you.

1) I've heard that YA horror is a tough sell these days. I've got a YA zombie book that is almost more action/thriller - and has something of a literary voice. I'm a little worried that just the word "zombie" may turn agents off, however. Should I pitch it more as a thriller with horror elements?

2) I've been deeply blessed to have some wonderful writing mentors in my life, including National Book Award nominee Joshua Ferris (Then We Came to the End). Is it kosher to mention this in a query letter, and perhaps even quote certain things Josh has said about my work?

Thanks!

- Mike Martin

OpheliaRevived · Jan 30, 2009

Mr. Bransford:

I'm glad to have the opportunity to ask an agent this question.... I'm working on a new opening for my novel. It's historical mystery. What do you look for in this genre and are you opposed to opening this kind of work with dialogue? (Meaning, would you through the sample on the pile?)

Sweetleaf · Feb 3, 2009

Yvettesgonefishing said:
Uh oh, I'm hearing crickets over here. 10 days of inactivity. Is Nathan coming back?

I was wondering the same thing. Extended holiday perhaps?
Hibernation over winter? Or just the usual excessive workload?

Judg · Feb 4, 2009

I remember him saying once he wanted to get this thread up to 1000 posts.

Nathan Bransford · Feb 11, 2009

Yvettesgonefishing said:
Hello Nathan. I enjoyed your last contest on opening paragraphs...I continued to enjoy it long after my entry failed to garner any interest. I found two boneheaded errors in my submission--after I clicked 'submit' of course--and spent the rest of the day wincing. Time to get over it and move on. I'm anxiously awaiting your next contest. Anyhoo...

I would like to ask a question here though. I am 13 chapters into a YA book and believe I am within six months of possibly being able to submit the finished, edited product (and after unmangling my opening paragraph). My question regards agents.

I started this book assuming I would be hitting the slush piles and hoping for the best. I have heard it can be infinitely more difficult to get an agent than possibly selling that first manuscript as an unknown, unpublished writer from that pile of unrepresented hopefuls. I am willing to entertain the notion that what I've heard to date is without merit, but so far, most of what I've read indicates that it is easier to get an agent once you've proven yourself by selling that first book on your own.

On the other hand, if I can't pass muster with an agent, what hope do I have in ever selling a manuscript (from the slush pile, no less) submitted to a legitimate publisher? Either my writing is at a professional level or it isn't, and if it's just not there yet, I don't have a real shot in either direction, do I?

Is it folly to query an agent as an unpublished writer? Do I need to try to sell that first manuscript on my own or should I attempt to get representation first?

Hey everyone, sorry (again) for the longer than anticipated absence. The beginning of the year is always hectic, and particularly this one given the number of queries I received in January, which were astronomical. Hopefully February will be a little more reasonable.

Now to the question. You're not going to be far with most publishers without an agent. That was particularly true a couple years ago, and even more true now given the bookselling climate, which is dismal. If you don't find an agent you can self-publish, but of course, that's a whole 'nother can of worms.

Nathan Bransford · Feb 11, 2009

overtired said:
I have a question about query letters.

Can I put in a Maori language thank you and farewell to an American agent (with or without translation)? Or would that just sound pretentious?

Thank you and have a great holiday!

Trust your own judgment, folks!

Nathan Bransford · Feb 11, 2009

Adam Hammonds said:
Hi Nathan,

Hopefully you can settle a debate that recently threatened to ruin a perfectly good Thai dinner between my fiance and I.

Please imagine a Ven diagram with four circles: book you love[d reading], book you hate[d reading], book you know you can sell, book you think won't sell. And assume small overlap between the four. Would you as a successful agent EVER choose a book you hated reading (whether you hated the writing, the protagonist, you're sick of the plot, whatever) but you knew you could sell? Maybe the market is so hot for the book that you look past the fact that you personally would set fire to it in a B&N?

OR. Is there so much good writing out there that you can ALWAYS find a book you both loved reading and felt confident about selling?

(My contention is #2. Please tell me I can win this one. I get so few chances.)

Thanks,
Adam

No, I don't think I'd probably choose a book that I hated reading -- I wouldn't be a very good advocate for it if I completely hated it. But hate's a strong word. I definitely would take on a book for which I might not necessarily be the target reader, but usually I'm able to find projects I genuinely love.

Sorry I'm not able to answer this definitively, things just don't really break down so neatly, and I have to evaluate a variety of factors when I'm deciding whether or not to take something on.

Nathan Bransford · Feb 11, 2009

DeterminedNovelist said:
Hi, Nathan,

Just wondering what your thoughts are on marketing books that don't fit squarely within one category, but instead straddle them.

I definitely understand the necessity for books to fit readily into recognized marketing categories, but am hoping to get an agent's view of this problem, marketing hybrid books that mix categories.

Thank you!

You know how in politics they always talk about the "base," as in the core supporters of a candidate? I'd think of crossover books in the same way. A book has to have a base of support before it can cross over. So even if it draws from multiple genres, it has to have a strong base in one genre.

If, however, it kind of straddles two or more categories without appealing to one or the other base strongly enough, it's not going to work.

Nathan Bransford · Feb 11, 2009

David Erlewine said:
Hi, Nathan. My question concerns print versus web literary journals. While I complete my novel, I am attempting to bolster my submissions "cred" for the eventual agent query letters. So far, some of my "best" (as far as I know) acceptances are at Pedestal Magazine, Literal Latte, Keyhole Magazine, SmokeLong Quarterly, and elimae.

I have been planning to start submitting exclusively to print journals such as Black Warrior, Ploughshares, Story, Tin House, etc. but have not yet cracked fine web journals such as Night Train, FRiGG, Wigleaf, etc. Should I emphasize print journals at this point exclusively so that I'll have some bigger "name" journals when I begin shopping my novel? I know there is some "overlap" (Esquire has both print and online, etc.) so I'm generally referring to "exclusive" print versus "exclusive" web journals.

Many writers on Zoetrope insist agents don't treat the great bulk of web journals seriously. I'm confused if that is accurate. Thanks so much. David

I wouldn't overthink this. What journals someone has been published in is very far down on my list of priorities when I'm reading a query. They can be a bonus, but they're not make or break, and I'm not going to be taking the time to parse out which journal is more reputable than the other, particularly since the correlation between being a good short story writer and a novelist is extremely tenuous.

Nathan Bransford · Feb 11, 2009

Ralph Pines said:
Hi Nathan. Right now I am working on two projects which fit very different genres. The first one is a short Literary Fiction novel (50k-60k, on second draft getting ready for BETA) while the second, emerging from my 08 NaNo is urban fantasy (first part done, two more parts left on the first draft).

If I query an agent and he likes one, what happens to the other?

Would she/he be willing to represent me no matter what I write if its within the types of genres his agency accepts/markets?

Or will an agent simply ignore anything that does not follow the original genre?

It really depends. I would hesitate to encourage you to genre hop, but if I thought I could sell both I would consider it. It all depends on how good they are, how your agent sees you career going, and whether you both thinks it makes sense to hop.

Nathan Bransford · Feb 11, 2009

BrookieCookie777 said:
Hi Nathan,

I am an agented christian children's author and have had a few offers from adult genre agents to rep my devotional book. (To make that less confusing, my agent specializes in children's books) However, with so many publisher's feeling the poor economic status, I'm a bit afraid to begin anything right now since we only get that "one shot" to make an impression with them.

How is the Christian market looking right now for the adult genre? My children's agent is well known and we have many best selling authors -even still we all have been struggling to make sales. I have been writing for CBN, Christianity Today and Mature Living as a regular for many years which usually helps me out in the Christian world but in this economy I'm not sure if that will be much help. Would you suggest a hold in taking on an adult genre agent until the market picks up?

Thanks for your help!

Brooke

Every market sucks right now. I don't think there's anyone who's immune at this point.

I'd trust your agent on whether to move forward, they're going to have a much better sense of whether it is or isn't a good time because he/she knows the particularities of your project and situation.

Nathan Bransford · Feb 11, 2009

K. M. Walton said:
Hi Nathan,
Are there general' industry rules' on re-submitting a query to an agent you've been rejected from? Length of time? After major book revisions? After major query letter revisions? Or a different book completely?
Thanks for your time,
K. M.

It's fine to re-query an agent when you've completed a new project (provided a few months have elapsed since your last query), however, it's not ok to query the same project.

Nathan Bransford · Feb 11, 2009

zanizh said:
Hi, Nathan. Thank you for being here and answering questions.

I've gotten a lot of advice from fellow writers on the subject of what is and what isn't relevant in a query to an agent or publisher. On my queries, I used to list how many articles I've written online whether it was an open content site like Helium and Associate Content, to articles I was hired to write for other sites. How relevant is that information when I'm querying for a fiction novel? Many people advise me not to list any credentials because it's not fiction. What are your thoughts?

I'm also going to ask Jennifer this question and see if the consensus is the same.

I don't think it's particularly relevant.

Here's a blog post that further explains my feelings about how and whether to list publishing credits: http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-and-whether-to-list-your-publishing.html

Ask Nathan Bransford! Guest agent from 02/07 - 12/09!

Yvettesgonefishing

Sweetleaf

Momentary lapse of reason

Adam Hammonds

DeterminedNovelist

David Erlewine

Ralph Pines

BrookieCookie777

K. M. Walton

dogsoldier

Willow_way

zanizh

Lost in Revision Hell

Yvettesgonefishing

Mike Martin

OpheliaRevived

Real Men Have Gills

Sweetleaf

Momentary lapse of reason

Judg

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