As my manuscript gets passed from one literary agency to another, I am learning a lot more about the funky world of literary agents. Feels a little like when I was just starting out in marketing (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) and learning the ropes of marketing/p.r.
- First of all, I am trying to figure out what gets their attention. Turns out it’s much like getting a reporter’s attention – you need the “elevator” speech in the first paragraph. Without it, they just hit delete.
- Short is better. Agents read voraciously (I’m impressed that many read a manuscript in less than a week), but it’s only if they’re interested. The initial query’s gotta be tight (think 30 second spot).
- There’s also a certain amount of timing. One agent told me she opened my pitch because it was the day after she cleared her inbox of 500 pitches sent during the holidays.
- If you’re a marketer, so much the better. My prob is that I don’t have much experience in the writing biz. But I do have substantial marketing chops. I’m told that helps, since it seems agents want someone who can approach book marketing with a certain DIY.
- Grow thick skin. I’ve received several letters of interest, but also plenty of rejects. At first, I wanted to demand “why?” but I’ve learned to just go onto the next prospect. Like any marketing campaign, you’re not going to hit a high note with everyone. You just hope someone’s going to be enthused enough to bite (keep your fingers crossed for me).
