This is an excellent video, people need to understand how the industry operates, whether they like it or not. At the end of the day, all authors need to put on their sales hats when submitting a letter. Instead of being turned off by the preferences of literary agents, think of it as insider information that set your submission apart from the rest. I've been passively working on a project for years to the point where it's time to start sending off letters. For something I spent years working on, I definitely want to do everything right and have all the advantages I can so I'm not wasting time/opportunities. Also a few questions: Do you recall ever receiving multiple submissions from the same person or a re-submit and how is that viewed in the industry? Can you share some examples of queries and manuscripts that you would give to an agent? Thanks again!
This was really useful. The tips you gave came from the real world of how queries are actually seen.They are very practical. Now I will know that I should first aim to impress the intern and make their job easier. Persuading the intern to get to the agent is clearly as important persuading the agent to get to the publisher. (And those examples you gave have convinced me to send any query e-mail to myself first. What you said about some queries coming in with one letter to a line got me scared.)
8:39 - the MANUSCRIPT can’t be in courier? I use Highland as a word processor and courier is the default. I hope I can change it? Interesting how screenplays have the same rule BUT in reverse. “Use courier only, nothing else. No weird fonts like calibri!”
Maybe it's outdated but I've seen Times New Roman and Courier listed as *the* standard manuscript fonts... which is probably why she receives so many manuscripts in Courier font. She says use "normal" fonts and Courier is literally the definition of Normal. Sounds like this might just be her personal preference. I mean, Calibri for your email, fine, but for your manuscript??
I am only half joking: it is completely inevitable that these observations evolve into a critique of everything that's wrong with the _"literary agent system"._
I'm an editor for a literary journal. We post guidelines, but we also understand that we are merely one of potentially many places they are submitting. I give folks lots of grace. And expecting folks to personalize a query just for your agency? Oi. I know agencies expect it, but man that is a lot of hubris right there. The relationship hasn't been established at all. All those courtesies can happen after interest is shown.
My story is totally original. True story about an event in the lottery that's never happened before in the world before, along with countless other things that don't sound true either, but are. Craziest true story there'll be. Who wants to help get my story known?
If you make a mistake in the process of typing a query...say your fingers jump and it gets sent incomplete, how do you handle this embarrassment that was unintentional?
That’s actually just one small tip I gave out of the whole video. And yes, submitting your manuscript in an insane font like many people do is unprofessional. And more people do it than you’d think. That’s why it was mentioned. You could also continue to watch the video to see the rest of the tips about the content of the manuscript and query.
Updated because, I'm coming across as rude. Really, my intention is to express my frustration as the manual, twitchy, process that hurts the industry. I.e. I can't fix it, this content is good and helpful, but... And I vent. My original comment: Agents. Go into your email settings and switch to non-HTML. That will solve your font issues. This is more of an agent problem than a submitter problem. Goodness. Learn your tools. And don't accept manuscripts pasted into the email. What the heck! That's asking for issues. This agency seems very back alley.
That’s actually how many of the agencies operate. Why do you continue to come back to the same video to leave more rude comments 7 months later. It’s not my fault that’s how the industry operates and has for a while. I’m just saying how my experience was at the agency.
@@AveryAvidReader Just expressing frustration at agencies giving their issues on authors. Apologies. I'm venting more than anything. And I came back seven months later because a friend asked for a decent video on querying and so I rewatched this one. Look. You are putting out good information, but it also highlights the warts in the industry.
I literally spend the whole first five minutes explaining what a literary agent is, how traditional publishing works, what a query letter is, explaining how many queries I read in order to give myself the credibility to give advice, what this video will/will not cover, and how even though I'm not an agent, interns read most of the queries, so my advice is valid.
I am waiting for _season two,_ when this show turns into the most cynical, world-weary condemnation of the publishing industry imaginable, from the perspective of *a former intern.* And I'm subscribing for that reason.
My advice is not to send your queries in crazy colors and fonts. I stand by that. It’s not professional to send a manuscript in purple courier typing. That looks ridiculous.
Sharing your experience as a person who actually read and screened thousands of queries was helpful. But here's a tip for you from a video producer: don't shoot your videos with your bed in the background. Not very professional.
With respect…Avery isn’t interviewing for a job, on the news, or submitting this to her workplace. She made a (very) insightful video on TH-cam, giving tips to viewers. I personally don’t see how a bed - functional piece of furniture - isn’t perfectly appropriate for this setting. Next time maybe evaluate the situation before providing constructive criticism : )
![อยู่คนเดียวกับเขา - ส้ม มารี (Zom Marie) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gq1cWAIQDLg/mqdefault.jpg)
This is an excellent video, people need to understand how the industry operates, whether they like it or not. At the end of the day, all authors need to put on their sales hats when submitting a letter. Instead of being turned off by the preferences of literary agents, think of it as insider information that set your submission apart from the rest.
I've been passively working on a project for years to the point where it's time to start sending off letters. For something I spent years working on, I definitely want to do everything right and have all the advantages I can so I'm not wasting time/opportunities.
Also a few questions:
Do you recall ever receiving multiple submissions from the same person or a re-submit and how is that viewed in the industry?
Can you share some examples of queries and manuscripts that you would give to an agent?
Thanks again!
Thank you so much!! Loved your advice on putting the book synopsis first... Hadn't thought of that. Thanks again!!!
This was really useful. The tips you gave came from the real world of how queries are actually seen.They are very practical. Now I will know that I should first aim to impress the intern and make their job easier. Persuading the intern to get to the agent is clearly as important persuading the agent to get to the publisher. (And those examples you gave have convinced me to send any query e-mail to myself first. What you said about some queries coming in with one letter to a line got me scared.)
8:39 - the MANUSCRIPT can’t be in courier? I use Highland as a word processor and courier is the default. I hope I can change it?
Interesting how screenplays have the same rule BUT in reverse. “Use courier only, nothing else. No weird fonts like calibri!”
Maybe it's outdated but I've seen Times New Roman and Courier listed as *the* standard manuscript fonts... which is probably why she receives so many manuscripts in Courier font. She says use "normal" fonts and Courier is literally the definition of Normal. Sounds like this might just be her personal preference. I mean, Calibri for your email, fine, but for your manuscript??
Great video! Definitely do more of this kind
I am only half joking: it is completely inevitable that these observations evolve into a critique of everything that's wrong with the _"literary agent system"._
Solution: Self publish. 😉
thanks for this info! out of curiosity, what percentage of queries would you say make it past the 'screening' stage done by the intern?
Dude this helped so much
I'm an editor for a literary journal. We post guidelines, but we also understand that we are merely one of potentially many places they are submitting. I give folks lots of grace.
And expecting folks to personalize a query just for your agency? Oi. I know agencies expect it, but man that is a lot of hubris right there. The relationship hasn't been established at all. All those courtesies can happen after interest is shown.
This is good advice, thank you! Also you are stunningly pretty. :)
When I submit the first 10 pages of my manuscript should I omit words such as "prologue" and "Chapter One" at the beginning?
No you can/should keep those!
I don't think I'd send anything to a Literary Agent who discards letters just because of the font!
My story is totally original. True story about an event in the lottery that's never happened before in the world before, along with countless other things that don't sound true either, but are. Craziest true story there'll be. Who wants to help get my story known?
Thanks! 🙏
If you make a mistake in the process of typing a query...say your fingers jump and it gets sent incomplete, how do you handle this embarrassment that was unintentional?
This would happen sometimes and is not a huge deal! Just resend the email and explain what happened, and it shouldn’t be a huge problem!
Very helpful. Thanks so much for doing this. Subscribed.
I have a finished manuscript. Would you please consider reading my first chapter to see if it's strong enough? If so, how much would you charge?
Is Specral okay?
I am currently using Spectral-Light font
So. It's all about the font.
That’s actually just one small tip I gave out of the whole video. And yes, submitting your manuscript in an insane font like many people do is unprofessional. And more people do it than you’d think. That’s why it was mentioned. You could also continue to watch the video to see the rest of the tips about the content of the manuscript and query.
Amazing thank you 😊
Thank you, that was nice.
Updated because, I'm coming across as rude. Really, my intention is to express my frustration as the manual, twitchy, process that hurts the industry. I.e. I can't fix it, this content is good and helpful, but... And I vent.
My original comment:
Agents. Go into your email settings and switch to non-HTML. That will solve your font issues. This is more of an agent problem than a submitter problem. Goodness. Learn your tools.
And don't accept manuscripts pasted into the email. What the heck! That's asking for issues. This agency seems very back alley.
That’s actually how many of the agencies operate. Why do you continue to come back to the same video to leave more rude comments 7 months later. It’s not my fault that’s how the industry operates and has for a while. I’m just saying how my experience was at the agency.
@@AveryAvidReader Just expressing frustration at agencies giving their issues on authors. Apologies. I'm venting more than anything. And I came back seven months later because a friend asked for a decent video on querying and so I rewatched this one.
Look. You are putting out good information, but it also highlights the warts in the industry.
Hello
Worse than comic sans?
You prevent yourself well. Thank you for sharing this information.
Five minutes in all I'm hearing is how you're going to be giving your advice.
I literally spend the whole first five minutes explaining what a literary agent is, how traditional publishing works, what a query letter is, explaining how many queries I read in order to give myself the credibility to give advice, what this video will/will not cover, and how even though I'm not an agent, interns read most of the queries, so my advice is valid.
I am waiting for _season two,_ when this show turns into the most cynical, world-weary condemnation of the publishing industry imaginable, from the perspective of *a former intern.* And I'm subscribing for that reason.
If you 'check out' when you see Courier font then you are too petty to be seen as any kind of professional.
My advice is not to send your queries in crazy colors and fonts. I stand by that. It’s not professional to send a manuscript in purple courier typing. That looks ridiculous.
Sharing your experience as a person who actually read and screened thousands of queries was helpful. But here's a tip for you from a video producer: don't shoot your videos with your bed in the background. Not very professional.
With respect…Avery isn’t interviewing for a job, on the news, or submitting this to her workplace. She made a (very) insightful video on TH-cam, giving tips to viewers. I personally don’t see how a bed - functional piece of furniture - isn’t perfectly appropriate for this setting. Next time maybe evaluate the situation before providing constructive criticism : )