Jessica posted this on her blog and I wanted to make sure you all had a chance to read this. I did want to add to this as well.
BookEnds, LLC — A Literary Agency: The Archaic Query: When authors spend time together complaining about query letters, one of the things I frequently hear is how archaic the process is, how que...
Jessica is right on the money with this. I have to add, however, that one thing many authors fail to remember is that publishing is a business. With that said, when you are sending a project to a potential editor or agent, what you are doing is "applying for a job as a writer." This is a career move and like any other job out there, when you apply for a job, you send a resume and a cover letter.
Your job is to convince the potential employer, in this case the editor or agent, that YOU are the next best thing. That YOU are someone we cannot live without. In the business world, it isn't just about the application or the resume, it is about who you are and the complete package. Think of it this way. Why do we have job interviews?
According to many writers, if we extend that argument of dumping the query, dumping the synopsis and just doing the reading, then you would also say in the business world that you want us to just read your resume or your application and make a decision based on that. I would seriously doubt many of you would want to take that option.
I guess I would have to say, if you honestly think "selling" yourself and your story isn't what you want to do, then maybe this isn't the business for you.
Just some things to think about....
Scott
Once you have a job it may be okay to wear your PJ's to work but I wouldn't recommend that for the initial interview.
ReplyDeleteThe system may be old, but it works. I don't particularly like it on my end, but I respect it.
ReplyDelete"With that said, when you are sending a project to a potential editor or agent, what you are doing is 'applying for a job as a writer.' "
ReplyDeleteNot quite. Authors "hire" agents, at least that what I've always been told. They can "fire" them, too.
"Your job is to convince the potential employer, in this case the editor or agent, that YOU are the next best thing."
Wrong again. Your job is to convince the agent the *book* you are querying with is the next best thing....through the query letter. And just that one book. Agents rarely care about the "package" unless you're a bestselling author with a huge following and big books.
This is very bad advice on so many levels I'm shocked I'm reading it. You aren't hiring authors, they are hiring you to represent them. And you're handing out bad advice to new authors who may or may not know any better.
I'd suggest you find out what agenting is all about before you make statements like this. You may be able to pass this around to English students who don't know any better, but there are publishing professionals reading these blogs and watching out for authors. Or, if you're going to start hiring authors and treating them like employees, start paying them instead of having them pay you!!