How cool is that? And pretty too.
Today, I thought I'd talk about queries after they are polished and ready to go. What do you do? Yes, you are going to send them out, but how and what do you do with all the info. You don't just send them out to anyone who will listen. It takes time, research, and organization.
The very first thing (if you haven't done it already) is to research agents. You don't want to send your pretty YA to a picture book agent. It's a waste of every one's time. Research the agents you want to send your baby to. That's right--research. Don't run away. If I can do this, you can too. This can be done while you are polishing your query. Simply look up who you think would be the best fit. Where ? It's called the Internet, people, and there's lots of info on it. So check out these sites that may help you make a list of agents that could change your life-- Preditors and Editors, AgentQuery, Querytracker.net, AgentQuery Connect (this website is great for query advice too), and Pub Rants. I know I'm missing some so please add below. Also, check out my query post from before--see above.
Next, set up lists of the agents you like. I set them up in an A,B,C list with my top picks in the A column and so on. This can be done by hand (you know, pen and paper) or Excel spreadsheet.
When you are ready to send, check the submission guidelines on the agency's website. Some require just a query, some a query and synopsis, some a query, synopsis, and sample pages--just make sure before you send.
The one thing to keep in mind is to keep all queries that are sent organized. I've been using Querytracker.net. You can research agents and keep a log of where you send your queries. Parts of it are free. They also offer a premium package. You can make a note of when you sent the query, and how long the agent usually takes to get back to you. Also, you can get info from others who have queried that agent.
So you're ready to hit send, but how many do you send at a time? My advice--send only a handful. For example, send two from your A list, two from B list, and two from C list. This way if an agent gives you helpful advice, you can fix it before you send out more.
Then wait, and wait, and wait, and wait--you know that patience thing. Trust me, people are busy. When you get a response go from there. If it's a request for a partial or full--go you, and follow the agent's instructions. If it's a rejection (I'm whispering here) then eat some chocolate and send out another query. Make sure you mark on your chart what you are doing to keep track. Rinse and repeat, right? Then go and write something new. Start a new project or revisit an old one. Keep writing!!
Do you have any query organizing tips?
Who has sugar overload from the weekend? *raises hand*
Have a great day!!
