Blogger: Rachel Kent
If you are getting ready to send out your query and you are considering sending to Books & Such, this post is for you. I’d like to walk you through the behind-the-scenes process of what happens to your query letter.
We accept queries that are approximately one page in length and we want them to include a brief description of the project and an author bio. Query letters should be emailed in the body of the email to representation @booksandsuch.com (remove space). We do not accept attachments.
When you email your query to us you should get an immediate auto-reply. Our auto-reply states that we have received your query and will look at it, but can no longer respond to all queries. We get more than 100 query letters each week, so it has become impossible to send individual replies. The auto-response also shares that we will respond within 30 days if we are interested in taking a look at a proposal or complete manuscript for the project. If you don’t hear back within 30 days, it is a sign that we do not believe we are a good fit for your project at this time.
All of the query letters are reviewed by our office assistant, and if she thinks the idea has merit, she will send it along to the appropriate agent for the final decision. If your query letter piques the agent’s interest, she will respond to you to request that you send a proposal with sample chapters. If the proposal seems like a good fit, we will request a full manuscript for fiction, or contact you to arrange a phone call to discuss representation for nonfiction authors. We don’t need a full manuscript for nonfiction projects, though it is often a good idea to have your book completed. Sometimes a publishing house will want to see the whole book, or at least additional chapters before accepting the project for publication.
Unfortunately, we have to pass on most of the projects we receive query letters for. We can only take on the ones that really speak to us. If you are rejected by us, it doesn’t mean that you can’t submit a future idea. We will also look at a second query for the same book if the idea has been significantly revised.
I wish you the best as you begin or continue your hunt for agent representation!
Are you planning to send query letters in 2016? How do you prepare to send your query?
Becky McCoy
*I’m planning on submitting a query and (hopefully) going to a conference.
*is there anything in particular that grabs your attention? I’m working on a non-fiction book in the memoir category and having a hard time choosing what to include in a summary. Are there samples to read anywhere?
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Becky, for what it may be worth to you…I want a signed copy of your memoir when it comes out. Your courage and faith have carried me through some pretty nasty days. When I flag, I think, “Would Becky give up?”…and I keep going.
* And if you need a Beta reader, I volunteer. Your story is one that the world needs to hear.
Becky McCoy
Thanks for the encouragement, Andrew!
Norma Brumbaugh
I plan to query. One is a nonfiction book I would like to pitch that has a unique twist to it that is powerful. But it takes the cooperation of another person letting me tell her story. It is a series of questions, answers, and dialogue from an online friendship. I saw a post of hers on Facebook and thought she was suicidal. I sent a private message. From there a year’s worth of private messages flowed back and forth. It’s raw and real, the stuff of real life…and the exposing of the hurting/scared person behind the spiritual mask…the things we need to help us deal with hurtful pasts. It has multiple dynamics including the generational gap between her and me. Whether it happens or not is up to forces I cannot influence, only God can. It requires vulnerability. Its message is important (and life giving). That’s why I’m praying she will eventually say yes. (Names would be changed etc.)
Norma
Oops. Submitted the above comment in the wrong place. But while I’m here, Becky, I’ve done a memoir style book. It reads like a spiritual, reflective journal. I just checked out your site and appreciat your message. We “Go with God” through the seasons, be they comfortable or difficult. Wishing you well on your book. Norma
Becky McCoy
Thank you, Norma.
Rachel Kent
For a nonfiction book, you’ll want to include a chapter-by-chapter outline. Since it is a memoir, this will read more like a summary, but you can just list the contents of each chapter. I’m not sure where you could get samples. You might find them on a writing blog somewhere. I don’t think we have put any up in the past.
As far as what grabs our attention…good writing, unique ideas, and a strong hook.
Becky McCoy
Thank you! Those were my instincts, but affirmation is helpful.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
I’ve heard that the email query is far less likely to garner interest than a pitch at a conference, since conference attendance shows a will to professionalism, and even a clumsy face-to-face pitch is often a better statement for a book than is the most elegant written query – because there’s heart in it.
* How true is this, Rachel?
* As for my plans…I don’t know. Keeping the blog going is the prime focus, because it has a loyal readership, and seems to have developed a message with resonance. The contents have to be organized into book form, but whether that will be queried…not having psych qualifications may make that futile. Fiction? Lower priority.
Jared
Andrew,
here’s an anecdote from my own experience. At a conference pitch session, you get a few minutes of your target agent’s attention. That alone is valuable, and more time than you’re average query letter will be given. I also think agents are more generous with extending their requests at a conference. I don’t know whether it’s just harder to say no face to face, or they respect the time and money that conference attendees have invested.
Those are the positives. The negative is this: I think a lot of agents treat a request at a conference as basically “sure, you can query my slush pile.” I went to a conference last August in NY. I came away from the pitch session with 5 full MS requests, and 9 more partial requests. I was ecstatic. Half a year later, all those submissions have netted me a handful of form rejections, and a bunch of no-responses. The two full requests I heard back from were also form letters.
So, I still think that going to the conference was useful, I would just warn against getting too excited about a bunch of requests.
Rachel Kent
I think it depends on the agent, Andrew. I prefer query letters. Wendy likes conference pitches better. I might request a lot of conference projects, but I am typically not as excited about reviewing them as I would be for a project I requested from a query.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Hey, and thank y’all for the prayers for barbara’s dear friend…the B was on call all night, and her BFF was released from the ER at about 0200. I don’t know the diagnosis, but the prognosis is hopeful.
* I think the prayers did the trick,personally. I think they turned bad into good.
Rachel Kent
Good news! Glad to hear it. We will keep praying.
Kristen Joy Wilks
Yes, I do plan on querying a ms. that I “finished” way back in 2010. I did a huge edit with it this year where I cut out something like…12,000 words and changed it…a lot. Now I need to do one final polish to make sure that my changes all make sense, and then I will send it to beta readers, and then I will polish again, and then I’ll send out my query. I’ve been working on the query the whole time that I’ve been writing this story, since 2008. I keep a submission materials file where I work on the query and proposal off and on as I think of things.
Christine Dorman
I am planning to query this year. Currently, I am working with a working with a wonderful editor to get my manuscript query ready, and hope to start sending out queries in the summer. I had my query for you, Rachel, written for over a year now (though, of course, I will revise it before sending it off). Please God Michelle will like it and send it on to you (it’s YA). And hopefully, you will fall in love with Siobhan and her story. Regardless, you, Janet, Wendy, Michelle, Mary, and Rachelle have taught me so much and have been so kind and affirming that no matter who God gives me as an agent (or if, God forbid, I have to self-publish) I always will consider you (all at Books and such) as the people whom God sent to help me get this novel published. Thanks as well to the members of this blog community (I’m not going to start mentioning names because not only would the list be long, I would doubtless leave someone out and probably someone really important to me). Even though I haven’t been commenting much lately because I’ve been busy with the novel and with finishing my MFA, I read the blog nearly every day and you are all in my thoughts and prayers, and you have been my inspiration during discouragement (and procrastination). Thank you all, agents and writers (Michelle, I include you with the agents–and with the writers 🙂 ) for your constant support and affirmation. I pray for blessings of hope and peace for all of you, especially those who are sending out queries, proposals, and manuscripts, and for all who are in need of hope and peace for other reasons, such as pain and illness. You are very special people. All my love, Christine
Shelli Littleton
That’s such a sweet comment, Christine. 🙂 I can so understand. I’ve been busy writing, too. I have a few dirty dishes in my sink … just there … that’s not like me. But … I kind of give myself room for error during the first draft phase. 🙂
Christine Dorman
Thank you, Shelli. 🙂
Yes, definitely be kind to yourself. Maybe if you leave the dishes in the sink for a little bit, someone else in the house might wash them (LOL!)
Rachel Kent
Christine, I give you permission to email your query directly to my email address when it is ready to go. Just remind me that I told you you could on the blog. 🙂
Christine Dorman
Rachel, that is so good of you! I really appreciate it. Thank you. And you just gave me the incentive to redouble my efforts to get this draft query-ready by summer, so thank you for that as well. Many blessings! 🙂
Janet Ann Collins
This blog isn’t just for people trying to sell their books. It has become a community of writers who are Christians. Since I write articles and books for kids I doubt that anything I write will ever be suitable for Books & Such to represent, but I would hate to mess a single day of reading this blog and the comments.
Amber Schamel
Amen to that, Janet. This blog is one of my top resources as well.
Christine Dorman
You are spot on, Janet. This is a community of writers and agents who support, affirm, and genuinely care about one another. I read some other agent and writing blogs. None has the fellowship that exists here.
Jeanne Takenaka
I’m with you, Janet! This blog is my first stop in the mornings. Though I don’t always comment, it’s always refreshing to be here.
Rebecca Krusee
Thank you for sharing query guidelines! The Lord has placed a non-fiction book on my heart. So, we will see where it leads this year…
http://www.rebeccakrusee.com
Rachel Kent
You’re welcome! Sounds wonderful. 🙂
Amber Schamel
I am planning on sending out query letters as soon as I finish writing my next project, so hopefully late spring. I’ve spent several years following various agents/agencies and getting a feel for who they are and their level of representation. I’ve also spent time getting to know the industry, furthering my education, and building my platform. According to the books I’m reading, that should give me a good start.
Question: How long does it typically take from query letter to a request to see a full fiction manuscript? Do you ever consider projects that the author is still polishing?
Rachel Kent
I am pretty behind in my reading, so it can take awhile for me to review a proposal, unfortunately.
I want the manuscript to already be completed so that it is more likely that I am not the first reader. I always want authors to have critique partners or readers take a look and offer feedback before I see it.
Brook (Matt5verse6)
This is a great site! Thank you for the glimpse into the behind-the-scenes process.
Kindest regards.