Blogger: Wendy Lawton
You know what I love about some of my newer clients and many of you who are still unagented and unpublished? You don’t take things for granted. You worry about format for submission. You take care to craft the finest queries. You try to follow sketchy guidelines to a T.
It can make all the difference. Let me tell you three stories to illustrate this.
Client #1– Brand new. A young, powerful novelist whose manuscript arrived in pristine shape. I couldn’t put it down. She got “the call” offering representation while in the hospital, sitting by a family member’s bed. I told her I’d send my detailed client info form that I use to create the database but that she was not to worry about getting it back to me during this family crisis. I also sent her the Books & Such Style Guide and a sample proposal along with all the forms I use. Guess what? Within a week she not only had it all back to me but she included the proposal formatted perfectly to our style guide. I’ve had it on on my desk only two days when an editor sent a wish list for which this book was perfect. I made a couple minuscule changes and voila! Her proposal is on an editors desk within hours of when he requested it, all because she had it in perfect order.
Client #2– Brand new. A specialist in the field about which she wrote her book. Her website was already up and vigorous. Her materials came in. . . yep, you guessed it, near perfect. I asked her if she could do a v-log on her blog, talking about her book. She had that done in less than a week and it was amazing. I was able to slip her project into the projects I pitched at ICRS and received numerous requests for it. Now I’ve got serious interest.
Client #3– Seasoned author but new client. She took my material and redid her proposal so that when I received it, it was perfect. I asked if she could get me video clips of her giving a live presentation as a keynote speaker. It was up on Youtube within a week. I was able to get the proposal right out and I’ve got one offer and expecting at least one more.
This afternoon I was speaking to a colleague. She bemoaned the fact that she had proposals to get out but they were so far from being ready they were queued up waiting for her to whip them in shape. Some longstanding clients were still sending separate files for each chapter. (Hint: Back in the days of the Commodore 64, when we used dial-up for the internet, files had to be small or they would take hours to transmit. Guess what? It’s no longer the case. Your proposal or your full manuscript should be one continuous, numbered file.)
Too many long-established writers send it rough and dirty, expecting the agent to clean up and finish the proposal. Most of us are happy to do that but it means we miss many an opportunity while we work our way down the pile of projects.
If you do your part, you give us the tools we need to make magical things happen. If you believe you are somehow entitled to skip this step, you’ll only hurt your own career by slowing down the pace. I’m just saying. . .
Yes we work hard on the proposals we send out because it is also a reflection on us but when we get clients who offer a pristine product, boy oh boy, can we ever fly together.
My question for you is this: Are you following the most up-to-date practices? Do you know what has changed in the industry. If you are agented, do you follow your agent’s guidelines or style sheet carefully? Are you following outdated format books? (I have one on my shelf that says for a chapter by chapter summary you need to use a different page for each chapter. So wrong.) How do you compete with the new wunderkinds— the fabulous, hungry new writers– if you’ve been around for a while? Let’s talk.
This tells me if your proposals start to get lazy simply because you’re “seasoned” means your attitude and work will eventually show the shame.
I’m not sure if it’s lazy or just assuming that the publisher knows you enough not to need all that “busywork.” Unfortunately, cutting corners always costs.
Just checking in before heading back to work. School opens today.
Thanks for emphasizing the importance of following rules and being prepared, Wendy. I’m thrilled for your clients that their work and diligence paid off.
My answer to your question comes with a question. I think I’m following the most up to date guidelines, but your comment about the outdated book on your shelf has me wondering if it’s on my shelf too. Would you consider the books listed as recommended reading to all still be relevant resources or is there an updated style guide you recommend?
Thanks. Happy back to work day to you too!
I’m a sorta newbie with the flaming desire to do it PERFECT the first time. I want to be #4, when you write “and then Jennifer Major sent me her stuff and I cried it was so perfect!”
You may all roll you eyes, I give you permission.
I live in mortal fear of hydro dams(100% totally true, absolutely, utterly, purely terrified of them) and formatting my stuff. I can avoid the hydro dams, but not the formatting.
But for a certain agent, I’d stand on a hydro dam, vlogging about my fear of formatting while typing on my laptop. In the sow, going uphill both ways.
Just typng this makes me feel like a rhino is standing on my chest, puffing a cigarette and saying “I dare ya.”
Sounds like an interesting v-log, Jennifer. When can we expect to see it on your blog? 😉
Christine, on the next day that doesn’t end in “y”.
Formatting your stuff is mostly just common sense. And once you are agented or contracted with a publisher it will just be a matter of following style guides.
Now with hydro dams, I can’t help you.
LOL! I have to keep an eye out for that daY.
The hydro dam thing is a big phobia. Thankfully, there are very few agents on top of hydro dams.
But there *are* police cruisers doing 75 mph over them (it’s a bridge too)during a terrible storm, at 2am. Lights and sirens, loaded side arms, the whole show, going to a dangerous 911 call. Did I mention it was a hydro dam? In a storm? 75mph police car? Sirens? Yeah, scary enough, eh?
Guess who picked that night for a “ride along”?
I’ll now quote one of my BFF’s “don’t you DARE throw up in my cruiser!!”
I was fine once we got over the dam.
Your experience sounds like a great it would be great in a novel.
So much has changed, Mary. When it comes to creating a proposal check out any samples on agent websites rather than outdated books. Before you are agented you just need to create your own template that makes sense. (Common sense goes a long way– that book I referred to? It just doesn’t make sense to put two or three lines on a page and insert a page break– plain annoying.)
After you are agented you will just follow the agency style guide.
Thanks, Wendy.
Thanks for this reminder, Wendy. Doing the proposal right takes a lot of time, but it’s good to hear that it’s time well spent for the writer and the agent.
I’m wondering the same thing as the others–what’s the best reference tool right now for formatting these stinkers, er, beautiful works of art?
I’m not sure there’s a perfect handbook. check out agent websites. I first learned from an article in a book that was written by Michael Hyatt. Maybe he has the info in an ebook.
Such a good post, Wendy. It seems like sending out a quality product should be common sense. My desire is to do all I do with integrity and to the best of my ability.
I’m wondering what Sally is. What are the books to have on our shelves to help us stay up to date on industry standards/expectations?
I loved reading the examples of your new clients (and your seasoned one!). I hope one day, an agent can say that about me. 🙂
Even within our agency there is room for different formats for different agents. Just cover all the questions an agent or an editor is likely to ask. I believe our own Rachel Kent blogged about proposals recently.
I think in the world as it currently exists, anything that saves anyone TIME makes you a superhero. And I’m guessing your clients are doing such a great job at least in part thanks to this blog. Your expectations are clear from the get-go and you have great resources listed. Thank you so much for that!
And it’s not just saved time but nobody can describe the book like the author– the one who is most passionate about it.
Good morning Wendy!
This post could not mean more to be right now for I am running (once again) a fine tooth comb over my query, synopsis, bio, proposal, website, blog and debut novel manuscript. whew… 😀
I am doing my absolute best to make sure everything is in the appropriate style and format. I have felt overwhelmed (a lot!). 😀
This post is further encouragement of what I have learned: that we need to be as prepared as we can when querying, present ourselves and our work as being professional and not think that an agent or editor will fix the problems that we should have addressed.
I’ve taken the advice that I have read on this blog and in others as well as books, author interviews, etc. to heart. Do not send out anything until you feel it is finished and is the best representation of yourself and your work. Thanks!
P.S. Is the Elements of Style book still reliable for use in manuscript editing, etc.?
P.S.S. We are human and even though we try our best, we are not devoid of making errors! lol Example: “This post could not mean more to ME (not be!) right now…” 😀
I hope everyone has a great day!
Elements of Style is pure gold. No better book.
You illustrate what I’m saying Morgan. “Fine tooth comb,” “absolute best,” “prepared as we can be.” This is why comfortable mid-list writers need to sharpen their game. I’m blown away by how impressive new writers are these days.
I love it when agents use real examples (not just hypothetical ones). It’s fun to hear about things that happen in your day-to-day work.
Whenever I have an agent, I hope he or she can say the same thing about me: that I send in pristine work, and just what he/she asked for.
It’s funny, but many good things can happen when we just send in what’s asked for, following instructions to a T. I won a science fair in middle school not because my project was brilliant–please, all I did was see if seeds sprouted faster if placed in the microwave first–but because I included all required parts (hypothesis, documentary photos, etc.) on my display board at the fair. 😛
What a great example. No one is trying to make writers jump through hoops needlessly. All those things we ask for help tell the story and get us to the yes.
This was great, Wendy. Molding a submission to fit a set of particular guidelines is one more chance to flex and stretch and grow as writers, honing the craft even in the synopses and snippets involved in proposals. Thanks for your wonderful guidance.
Thanks, Amanda. You’re one of those new writers who work hard to get it all right.
Wendy, thanks for another insightful glimpse at the business from your side of the desk. I don’t always pause to offer a comment, but I always appreciate what I learn from you friends at Books & Such. Blessings to you all!
Thanks, Rick.
Not one “he” in those examples. Drat… 🙂
I could have given an impressive “he” example but his project went to auction two weeks ago– be still my soul– and took everyone’s breath away.
Wendy, you have the most upbeat and encouraging way to get a sometimes difficult point across! I know over the years I’ve grown sloppy from time to time with article queries and had to be brought back up to a high standard. It happens. You said it so nicely, though.
Marilyn
I can’t imagine you ever being sloppy, Marilyn, and I’ve known you for years.
Thank you, Wendy. The examples demonstrate well the importance not only of following directions, but of not procrastinating. As a teacher, I am a tyrant (or so some of my students think) in regards to following directions. I feel it is a vital life skill. So when I do something, I do my best to follow directions to the nth degree. Of course, my being a recovering perfectionist might be one of the reasons I do this, but the main reason is because I care about what I do and I want to do it well. The clients you used in your examples demonstrated that they cared about the product they sent out. How quickly they got things back to you demonstrates eagerness and ability. And in all cases, they benefited.
I was surprised when you said that seasoned authors expect you to clean up their proposals. It seems reasonable for a client to expect feedback and SOME corrections from his / her agent if he / she had made a couple of errors, but I don’t think it’s reasonable for clients to expect an agent to clean up work that the writer should have done properly the first time around. Then again, I’m a tyrant so….
My last comment is in response to Client # 2 doing the v-log in less than a week. I will admit that this would have sent me into sheer panic initially. I have not yet ventured into v-log territory yet. If I’d been Client # 2, I would have found a way to get it accomplished but it might have taken me more than a week and probably would have resulted in a general call for help from you and anyone else who could talk me through the technical process. I’d have to turn to a certain Canadian by the name of Jennifer Majors whose done some fantastic v-logs on her blog and ask her to talk me through it R-E-A-L-L-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y! 🙂
hahaha!! You know I’d be happy to help you!
Yes, I do. Thanks in advance. 🙂
I was making a rough point when I talked about seasoned clients and quick & dirty proposals. To be honest, most of my clients– even the bestselling ones– provide me with near-perfect tools.
But I do get proposals from seasoned writers seeking representation that assume way too much.
I just wanted to say to all the mid-list clients out there, “Beware. These up-and-coming writers will knock your socks off.”
I appreciated your comment, Wendy, about how the proposals you present reflect on you as agents. An underdone proposal is no more appealing than undercooked chicken. It COULD make a delightful meal…when it’s ready. When it’s complete. When little details like internal temperature are followed to a T. The Books & Such method is so well thought out and formatted. It’s a win-win-win-win situation if we follow through to present the cleanest work possible. The author wins by having the strongest proposal possible. The agent wins by having no reservations when presenting the work. The editor wins by having no reservations when receiving it. And the reader wins if there’s nothing like a small detail blocking the road to publication!
And you, Ms. Cynthia, always offer your agent a perfectly cooked meal.
Very timely post for me too. I’m in the middle of putting a new proposal together and taking great care to follow agency guidelines as close as possible. It’s not this agency though. I’m not going to have much of a market and comp section because of the genre it is, but that’s okay because the agent I’m querying doesn’t really factor it in to her equation with someone in my position. Have this knowledge straight from a couple of her clients.
Putting a proposal together is hard work, but it’s so much easier when there are clear guidelines to follow. It also helps when you have friends with said agency who are willing to share their proposals with you.
I find synopsis guidelines particularly helpful. I tend to write my first draft on the long side and knowing how many pages the agency wants it to be helps me cut it down.
Rachel,
The best of luck with your proposal. I’m glad that you have friends to help you with it.
Rachel, I’m glad you realize that every agent and every agency looks for different things. You are smart to have sensed that/
I’m young and inexperienced, but I can follow directions. Finally I have an advantage! 🙂 Thanks for the info, Wendy.
Always think of your proposal as your opportunity to sell the book– really sell the book. A writer may wish he could call the editor or agent up and tell him why the book is a winner. That phone call would last 15 minutes, the editor would forget half of what was said by the time he puts down the phone and when it comes to trying to sell it to the editorial committee a few weeks later he will recall very few details.
You proposal, on the other hand, can incorporate all that you are longing to say and will not get diminished with each person who retells it.
Powerful tool!
Very timely post for me too.
I’m in the thick of it all right now, polishing, reformatting, sharpening, perfecting, perfecting…
Books & Such clear guidelines are a huge help.
Thanks, Wendy