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Here are the hard facts: an agent gets 100-200 query letters every week. Around 75% are hopeless.
They're poorly-written, subject matter completely outdated, reeking of amateur. They are tossed aside after the first few lines. From the remaining query letters, the agent will request one manuscript a week. From those 52 manuscripts, they'll take on two or three first novelists to represent. A year. Total. Two or three out of 5,200-10,400. Wow. At best (three out of 5200), fewer than one half of one percent get representation. Odds: not good. So what can you do? Well, first, some good news. If you're teachable -- and you are, or you wouldn't be reading this, looking for answers and advice -- chances are that your work isn't completely hopeless. Oh, sure, it can probably be improved. EVERY writer improves with the right editor. But do not underestimate the number of unbelievably horrible writers there are in the world. Seriously. The completely hopeless letters start something like: - I am giving you the opportunity of a lifetime to represent me and me works. Call me rite now.
- If you're not a scum-sucking tool of the Commies, you'll sell my manuscript.
- Hi. I been working on this story for a really long time and my family and friends all thinks its great. Could you please read this and tell me how much money you can get for me?
Do any of those lines come from your query letter? If so, you may be an idiot. You should box up your computer and return it immediately to the store and tell them you are too stupid to own it. If those lines don't sound like you, then the chances are that you are NOT in the 75% of hopeless cases. If that's the case, you can change those odds dramatically in your favor. Just look at the numbers: 25 out of 100 per week are passingly competent. That's 1300 competents a year. At one agency. Out of 1300, 52 (or 4%) get requests for the manuscript. If three new novelist a year emerge from the 1300 competents, that's a 0.2% of getting representation. We're not even talking sales yet, just getting in the game with a decent agent. So 4% and 0.2% aren't great numbers, but they're a long sight better than 0.005%, aren't they? (For those of you who hate math, the correct answer is yes.) For you nonfiction types: nonfiction makes up around one fifth of the slush pile and ten nonfiction projects are offered representation each year. So what's a writer to do? Agents, Part II has some answers. Registered users have access to that article. Doesn't cost anything to register. |
