Agent Suzie Townsend (New Leaf Literary) has posted a generous offer on her latest blog post:
Starting NOW until I sit down to do my queries next Friday (September 14), you can query me and instead of a form rejection I will tell you exactly why I'm passing.
She also says:
*This will not be a critique of your query. It will most likely be one or two lines, similar to what I've said in this post.
*This will also not be an opportunity to engage me in a conversation about what you can do to make your query better. By participating in this, you're promising not to reply to the email and ask me more questions or even send thanks and praise.
If you shoot her a query, I know you reeeeeeally want a request for pages, BUT if you don't happen to get one, remember that a non-form rejection (especially at the query stage) is a valuable commodity! If Suzie accepts your genre, and you have a manuscript ready for agent eyes, I suggest you take her up on this offer. You should probably send it by Thursday night to be safe :)
~~~
A new first page contest has popped up on Writer Therapy, and it's a fabulous one with plenty of time left to enter. After carefully reading/following directions, leave your first page in the comments of THIS POST by September 29th.
Prizes include query critiques and first chapter critiques from agents:
Grand Prize for 3 talented winners
Query critique from agent Sara Crowe, Harvey Klinger
Query critique from agent Molly Ker Hawn, The Bent Agency
1st Chapter critique from Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency
Query critique from agent Sara Crowe, Harvey Klinger
Query critique from agent Molly Ker Hawn, The Bent Agency
1st Chapter critique from Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency
Runners-up will receive awesome prizes, including more 1st chapter critiques, books, mouse pads, and more!
Amazing! I'll share this for you, Jess. (BTW - I'm having a HUGE giveaway, over 40 writerly gifts and services up for grabs.)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I've read about your giveaway of awesomeness~ I love how you're celebrating your fantastic news!!!
DeleteGreat opportunity! And remember not to say thank you. ;-)
ReplyDelete"By participating in this, you're promising not to reply to the email and ask me more questions or even send thanks and praise."
I know it sounds silly, but I think she's trying to avoid the time-suck that comes from opening even thank you notes. It's very nice of her to change her policy for a little bit, so I hope people can avoid the temptation of emailing a thanks back :) Being raised by the mommy I was raised by, I've had to reign in my instinct to send thank yous :) It's a hard habit to break.
DeleteThanks for continually rounding up these incredible opportunities, Jess. You rock!
ReplyDeleteMartina
You do too! I've read so many cool interviews at your website and gotten so many writing tips :)
DeleteI've had experience with Suzie, and she is a gem. The "thank-you" thing is kind of hard to guage. I once thanked an agent who passed on my query, and the next day she emailed and asked for a partial. I thanked another agent who replied and said she'd like to hear from me in the future. So you never know. But if the agent specifically said don't thank me, then it's best to follow her guidelines. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree that sometimes it feels appropriate (especially if they offer feedback of any kind), and it sounds like you've definitely benefited from it! Looks like she's being specific, though, so I guess it's a no-go here :)
DeleteWhat a fantastic query offer! I'll definitely check that one out!
ReplyDeleteI want to know what you're working on, Beth! You never talk about your projects on your fabulous blog!
DeleteHmm, I think I will query Suzie. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat! Best of luck :)
DeleteThank you, Jess! Another great opportunity you've pointed us to. Also just wanted to say thanks for your recent link to Miss Snark's Sept. Secret Agent contest, first 250 words. I was able to take part in that (whoo-ee!) and though I didn't win nor get named a runner up, I gained sooo much from the commenters' critiques and the secret agent's tips. A super experience that came from checking in here...appreciate what you do!
ReplyDeleteOh, cool! I didn't win anything when I did it back in August, but I agree that it was a fun experience and a great way to get critiques :)
DeleteSo essentially she's stating that "It's slow enough right now that I can forego a form rejection for a real rejection."
ReplyDeleteOkay, that's cool I guess. You should work out a deal with some people who get these to post the reasons (anonymously) on your blog. I'd be curious to read them to see if they're more than one line.
A.K.A. "Voice is wrong." (that's three words) or "Wrong agent, wrong genre" (that's four words) or "Needs professional editing" (again three words).
I could go all day with three and four liners. :P
She actually might do that herself~ she's pretty consistent with doing a query round-up every couple of weeks that lists general reasons she passes (e.g. 5 passes due to unoriginal concept, 12 passes because I didn't connect with the voice, 3 passes because I have similar things on my list already, etc.).
DeleteGood luck everyone!
ReplyDeleteI'll ditto that!
DeleteThanks for the info, Jess. I always hear about awesome stuff from you. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck if you submit to Suzie or the contest!
DeleteAs usual, you are my go-to source for all things contest and agent-related. I love it!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck if you query/enter!!
DeleteJess, thanks SO much for this post. Your blog is packed with such great info. I just saw this yesterday, and sent my query off on the last possible day to Ms. Suzie T. She requested the full manuscript! I know that's a loooong way from the finish line, but just wanted to say thank you...! Have a great weekend and watch out for the bear.
ReplyDelete