Comments on: AGENT SERIES–Part One: WHEN an Agent? http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/ Testing the Plot Monkey Blog Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:49:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Plot Monkeys » Blog Archive » AGENT SERIES–Part Two, WHY an Agent? http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-27091 Plot Monkeys » Blog Archive » AGENT SERIES–Part Two, WHY an Agent? Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:41:45 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-27091 [...] With apologies to everyone following this series…last week, I mistitled the entry. I had it as WHY, but it should have been WHEN. I’ve corrected it. This is the WHY entry, to be followed by WHO, then HOW and WHAT in the end. This is Part Two. Part One is HERE, if you want to read the series from the start. [...] [...] With apologies to everyone following this series…last week, I mistitled the entry. I had it as WHY, but it should have been WHEN. I’ve corrected it. This is the WHY entry, to be followed by WHO, then HOW and WHAT in the end. This is Part Two. Part One is HERE, if you want to read the series from the start. [...]

]]> By: Julie Leto http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26369 Julie Leto Tue, 05 Jun 2007 03:20:50 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26369 Celise, I think you have every right to follow up on a submission after 3 months, which is where you are. How you respond depends on if you know for a fact the submission was received. If you do, a short note via email or letter would be fine. If you're not sure it was received, then follow up (via email or letter with stamped return envelope) and check on that, as well as status. Do not call...and it pains me to say that, honestly. Because I'd call. But a lot of agents, particularly those who are smaller agencies without a receptionist, really frown on it. Better to look to email. If it's a big agency, then I'd feel safe to call. :-) Celise, I think you have every right to follow up on a submission after 3 months, which is where you are. How you respond depends on if you know for a fact the submission was received. If you do, a short note via email or letter would be fine.

If you’re not sure it was received, then follow up (via email or letter with stamped return envelope) and check on that, as well as status.

Do not call…and it pains me to say that, honestly. Because I’d call. But a lot of agents, particularly those who are smaller agencies without a receptionist, really frown on it. Better to look to email.

If it’s a big agency, then I’d feel safe to call. :-)

]]> By: Celise http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26362 Celise Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:19:40 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26362 Seeing as how I'm currently doing the agent search thing, this should be very interesting. I already have a question that maybe you can address in the next few posts: I started my search in February. I'm still waiting for a response from my initial contact with several agencies. How long should I wait before querying them again? Or should I not query them again? Seeing as how I’m currently doing the agent search thing, this should be very interesting. I already have a question that maybe you can address in the next few posts:

I started my search in February. I’m still waiting for a response from my initial contact with several agencies. How long should I wait before querying them again? Or should I not query them again?

]]> By: Jessica Raymond http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26233 Jessica Raymond Mon, 04 Jun 2007 08:20:32 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26233 Thank you, Julie! :D I'd really look forward to reading your thoughts on that topic. Jess x Thank you, Julie! I’d really look forward to reading your thoughts on that topic.

Jess x

]]> By: Julie Leto http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26139 Julie Leto Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:42:05 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26139 Jess, I will definitely think about how to wrangle my thoughts on this subject! Jess, I will definitely think about how to wrangle my thoughts on this subject!

]]> By: Jessica Raymond http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26125 Jessica Raymond Sun, 03 Jun 2007 08:41:42 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26125 I really enjoyed reading this article. Thanks, Julie! You mention that agents for category authors is another article altogether -- can I ask if that will become a post here on the blog? I'd be very interested to read your thoughts on that, too. Jess x I really enjoyed reading this article. Thanks, Julie! You mention that agents for category authors is another article altogether — can I ask if that will become a post here on the blog? I’d be very interested to read your thoughts on that, too.

Jess x

]]> By: Julie Leto http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26108 Julie Leto Sun, 03 Jun 2007 02:10:10 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26108 Robin, you are quite right...truer words never WERE spoken! And rewriting takes skill...a whole second layer or knowledge. I applaud you and Jodie and all the other hardworking writers out there who respect the craft enough to work at it. Nothing in this business happens fast. The average time from serious submission to publication is counted in years, not months or days. Donna M, I'm so glad that readers enjoy these writing discussions. I know I love having them! Robin, you are quite right…truer words never WERE spoken! And rewriting takes skill…a whole second layer or knowledge. I applaud you and Jodie and all the other hardworking writers out there who respect the craft enough to work at it. Nothing in this business happens fast. The average time from serious submission to publication is counted in years, not months or days.

Donna M, I’m so glad that readers enjoy these writing discussions. I know I love having them!

]]> By: Robin http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26081 Robin Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:21:11 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26081 Thanks Donna, I plan on trying until something happens :) Jodie, you are so right! Sometimes it feels like I'm in the wrong tunnel altogether. But I try to remind myself that just finishing a manuscript is a big accomplishment - so congrats to you and good luck with the rewrite! Thanks Donna, I plan on trying until something happens

Jodie, you are so right! Sometimes it feels like I’m in the wrong tunnel altogether. But I try to remind myself that just finishing a manuscript is a big accomplishment - so congrats to you and good luck with the rewrite!

]]> By: Jodie http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26078 Jodie Sat, 02 Jun 2007 18:58:03 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26078 Nope, Robin, you are certainly not alone. I had my first ms almost finished - actually the first draft is finished - and now that I've finished Debra Dixon's GMC (suggested my Julie a couple of weeks ago), I'm going back and redoing big chunks of it. I know it will make it a better, stronger copy in the end but it's so frustrating to think you're seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, only to realize its a freight train! :happy2: Nope, Robin, you are certainly not alone. I had my first ms almost finished - actually the first draft is finished - and now that I’ve finished Debra Dixon’s GMC (suggested my Julie a couple of weeks ago), I’m going back and redoing big chunks of it.

I know it will make it a better, stronger copy in the end but it’s so frustrating to think you’re seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, only to realize its a freight train!

]]> By: Donna M http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26076 Donna M Sat, 02 Jun 2007 18:30:55 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/461/agent-series-part-one-why-an-agent/#comment-26076 Hi Julie, This is interesting even though I have no desire to become an author! I'm content with being a reader that buys & reads a lot of books!! These Saturday blogs & the struggles you all post on the daily blog make me appreciate how hard all of my favorite authors work to produce the books I enjoy. :) Everyone have a great weekend. Good luck to all of you that are writing & not yet published. Keep trying! :) Hi Julie,
This is interesting even though I have no desire to become an author! I’m content with being a reader that buys & reads a lot of books!! These Saturday blogs & the struggles you all post on the daily blog make me appreciate how hard all of my favorite authors work to produce the books I enjoy.
Everyone have a great weekend.
Good luck to all of you that are writing & not yet published. Keep trying!

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