tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post3770533494060493312..comments2023-09-16T04:44:42.410-04:00Comments on Ask a Literary Agent: “I am just starting out and have never been published. What should I put in my bio?”Noah Lukemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04731880178684434531noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-40332732467103583072015-04-29T20:11:34.629-04:002015-04-29T20:11:34.629-04:00Hello,
I have a query letter done, cover page, ou...Hello,<br /><br />I have a query letter done, cover page, outline finished and 4 chapters done. Where do I go from here?<br />Thanks,<br /><br />DanAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18261419479981441809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-45947890495635487262011-06-29T06:56:29.145-04:002011-06-29T06:56:29.145-04:00If you are looking for a agent or some to publish ...If you are looking for a agent or some to publish your book i know a great company. http://www.createsoho.com/ really helped me out.Tobynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-57134968953799177442010-11-23T05:29:44.545-05:002010-11-23T05:29:44.545-05:00it's good to see this information in your post...it's good to see this information in your post, i was looking the same but there was<br />not any proper resource, thanx now i have the link which i was looking for my research.<br /><br />http://supremedissertation.co.uk/enomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02840728508526274651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-86813429497644269482010-11-23T05:28:29.969-05:002010-11-23T05:28:29.969-05:00Extremely useful and informative article. I wish i...Extremely useful and informative article. I wish i can do all of that in a short period<br />of time. But for sure doing those will produce results. I will try to spread your words<br />through my blog and link it back to you. Thanks a lot for those tips<br /><br />http://bestthesisonline.co.uk/enomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02840728508526274651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-23291105234133516012010-11-01T23:33:30.567-04:002010-11-01T23:33:30.567-04:00Question on queries. There seems to be 2 schools ...Question on queries. There seems to be 2 schools of thought:<br /><br />The business-like query that sums up the story in one graph, descibes the potential market for the work in a second, and author bio (if there is one) in the third; or...<br /><br />The 'show the hook, and some interesting details; the agent will decide if it hits the market window' type of query.<br /><br />Is one more appropriate than the other, is it an agent-by agent matter of preference...any guidance here appreciated!John Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09916798557666938084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-43147837572941476452010-08-10T16:41:59.408-04:002010-08-10T16:41:59.408-04:00Hi, Noah. I'm new to your blog but have found ...Hi, Noah. I'm new to your blog but have found it very insightful and informative. I'll soon be beginning the query process and was planning to deal with my lack of experience by keeping things short and to the point. I'm glad to see that this approach seems sound.Franklin Beaumonthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17950277803662347842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-63670079673733297322010-08-10T13:48:19.551-04:002010-08-10T13:48:19.551-04:00Great blog and a very helpful post here. I was won...Great blog and a very helpful post here. I was wondering what you thought of listing a blog as a credential? I write one about gardening and my children's' book is about a friendly insect. Does that count as a writing credential? or should I just leave it out? Many thanks.<br /><br />KateKate @ Gardening and Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02371717107588481262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-35216403061847330582010-07-10T12:31:25.440-04:002010-07-10T12:31:25.440-04:00Thank you for the insight.
Many agents now accep...Thank you for the insight. <br /><br />Many agents now accept email queries. Generally speaking, however, agents who accept email queries want only a query via email, whereas the same agent is often willing to accept a synopsis and/or sample when queried via snail mail.<br /><br />In light of this trend, I wonder whether an aspiring author does him or herself a disservice by querying an agent via email. It seems to me that not only is a hard copy query more likely to catch an agent's attention, but the opportunity to get your material, either in part or in whole, in front of the agent from the get-go would provide an author with a greater chance of success. That said, the snail mail query is obviously more labor intensive and costly.<br /><br />What are your thoughts on query methodology?<br /><br />Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-8793612911883470732010-07-06T22:14:37.164-04:002010-07-06T22:14:37.164-04:00Thanks for the email and link to this blog. I chec...Thanks for the email and link to this blog. I check it fairly often but saw I hadn't officially "followed." <br /><br />I assume you found me from my blogpost on avoiding bogus agents. If you left a comment, it was eaten by Blogger, which has munched on a most of my comments today. A new and crazymaking form of glitch.<br /><br />I look forward to your newsletter. I assign your classic book The First Five Pages to all my editing clients so they'll understand the principles of good writing. It's an elegant little book.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-30938048946750322982010-07-06T13:50:02.488-04:002010-07-06T13:50:02.488-04:00I'm new to your blog, Noah, but I do have your...I'm new to your blog, Noah, but I do have your book, The First Five Pages. (It's sitting behind my laptop.) <br /><br />Thanks for being specific in your answer about bios. I have been perusing the magazine submission lists, in order to attain some clips, so this is very timely for me. It encourages me to get focussed with my writing.<br /><br />I'm starting to review books on my blog, in a monthly format, purely for information (not an Amazon venture). Do you have any objection to my posting a review of your book on my blog?D.G. Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213237734772028645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-13318607129588809552010-06-27T13:27:59.523-04:002010-06-27T13:27:59.523-04:00Hi Noah,
I have few creditentials as a screenwrit...Hi Noah,<br /><br />I have few creditentials as a screenwriter and director (I even won an award with a short movie), but I have no creditentials as an author. Sometimes I have the sense that these creditentials means nothing in the book business, but maybe I'm wrong. Do you have any advice how should I approach literary agents with this background?<br /><br />Also, I'm a qualified graphic artist and I love to create sketches and draws for all my works and my new novel is not an exception (It's website is in my signature.). So, my second question is: do you have any advice how to present this website effectively in our query?<br /><br />Thank you for your answer.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />IstvanIstvan Szabo, Ifj.http://www.crystalshadeangeni.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-57271703721787912632010-06-27T00:09:46.589-04:002010-06-27T00:09:46.589-04:00Hi Noah,
Great blog. I have a question unrelated ...Hi Noah,<br /><br />Great blog. I have a question unrelated to this post - after firing an agent, can she use the options clause in your publishing contract between you and your publisher to claim a commission on future works?<br /><br />Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-64009683394623771922010-06-22T16:05:12.927-04:002010-06-22T16:05:12.927-04:00I was in the same situation and had to push myself...I was in the same situation and had to push myself into achieving a few credentials in the first place. You're right- not having them can be a great motivatorEeleen Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15221723342556515161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-36372536638628154222010-06-21T17:13:52.315-04:002010-06-21T17:13:52.315-04:00Thanks for the post Noah.
I didn't realize un...Thanks for the post Noah.<br /><br />I didn't realize until after reading your post how much writers have to try to promote their work and themselves before contacting an agent. <br /><br />You see, though I want to write novels, I've never had the desire to be a journalist or to write magazine articles. I have written short stories before but they were just for fun. Even my poetry I don't take seriously and was always for personal enjoyment.<br /><br />That's why it wouldn't occur to me to try and get something published in a literary magazine. I do want to get my novels published if it means I can write full time.<br /><br />The only thing I could put down in my bio is the fact that I did a literary degree. There was a creative writing component taught by author Blake Morrison. Even then I'm not sure if this would constitute as something worth pointing out in a query letter.<br /><br />Your post made me think.<br /><br />It reminded me of what I had to do to get my first acting agent. Like with the writing, when it came to the acting, I knew nothing and knew no one in the industry. But sometimes knowing nothing about an industry, gives you the foolish courage to pursue it. I didn't go to drama school or could afford to when I looked into it. What I did was I got out there and spoke to anyone who would speak to me about their passion for film. I acted in short films back to back and got a showreel from that. I had gone as far as I could without an agent. By the time I tried looking for one - I had a website, a showreel and some acting credits.<br /><br />Now, from your post, I'm beginning to think I may have to try and get something published no matter how small. <br /><br />But why dabble or force myself to write short stories when it's not what I want to write? Like with acting, theatre acting was something I wasn't keen on so I concentrated on screen acting. I just want to write novels. <br /><br />Thanks for making me think.Jessie Machttp://www.jessiemac.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-45286811534247882252010-06-16T02:56:39.659-04:002010-06-16T02:56:39.659-04:00My question has nothing to do with the post.
What...My question has nothing to do with the post.<br /><br />What are your thoughts on an author using multiple genres to tell their story, or series? For example, dark fantasy with sub-elements of crime, romance and the paranormal.Barbara Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00610140328527165017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-49508781755138598432010-06-14T03:31:42.853-04:002010-06-14T03:31:42.853-04:00Is any agent, by the rules of the profession, obli...Is any agent, by the rules of the profession, obliged to inform you specifically of where your work has been submitted and give you copies of responses?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-18338740200766695642010-06-13T20:53:08.930-04:002010-06-13T20:53:08.930-04:00As for credentials, should you list the conference...As for credentials, should you list the conferences or workshops you have attended, or any online courses you have taken to improve your writing skill? I was under the impression that Agents only want to know about publishing credentials, or an MFA, and if you have none of those to offer, just leave that section blank. Especially with the online query submissions, where the agent only wants to spend 2 minutes or less reading about your novel.<br /><br />So far, I haven't put anything about myself in my queries. My novel is a women's fiction focused on the effects of drugs/alcohol on domestic violence, but I haven't even put in my social worker or substance abuse degrees<br /><br />Jake this is such a controversial question, how and what to list as credentials. I appreciate you submitting it.<br /><br />Thanks for your indepth answer Noah. Though it still leaves me with questions, at least I know my efforts at becoming a more skilled writer will benifit me in the "bigger picture".<br /><br />.........dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-58733040466276228422010-06-13T19:34:31.780-04:002010-06-13T19:34:31.780-04:00Once again, a great post!!Once again, a great post!!ryan fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361694356025572544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880689819528856549.post-1751293584548846042010-06-13T19:07:59.235-04:002010-06-13T19:07:59.235-04:00Excellent input. Thank you for your blog and for y...Excellent input. Thank you for your blog and for your extremely helpful books. Here's a question which I have yet to find on any agent's blog, or internet search: My novel has been submitted to a contest which offers a publishing contract as first prize. The contest rules specify that contract terms are negotiable, and the winner won't be announced for months. As an agent would you recommend that folks who've entered contests wait until winners are announced before querying?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com