Writers have copious amounts of imagination. It's what makes their stories so fantastic. But there's a darker side to so much out of the box thinking. When a writer is in the query trenches, their worries go into overdrive. They start pulling out their hair and imagine every possible disaster.
Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!
If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.
I'm happy to host a newer agent. Kurestin Armada is here from P.S. Literary Agency.
Does
one typo or misplaced comma shoot down the entire query?
If there’s just one, I don’t
think it will be a problem. However, if the only typo is in my name, you’re
definitely starting your query off on the wrong foot! It won’t make me
automatically reject it, but I’ll be in a worse mood reading it.
Do you
look at sample pages without fail or only if the query is strong?
As long as the query is
remotely interesting/in a genre I represent, I’ll read the sample pages. I
don’t want to miss out on beautiful writing just because the concept is
described a bit awkwardly!
Do you
have an assistant or intern go through your queries first or do you check all
of them?
I check all of them! I trust
the author to do the best job possible when it comes to pitching their book to
me. We do have a literary assistant who does a wonderful job of keeping the
query inbox organized for us, and she’s the one who you can expect to hear from
if we request material.
Do you
keep a maybe pile of queries and go back to them for a second look?
I do, actually! I’ll sort
through the definite “yes” and “no” queries, and then I’ll come back to the
“maybe” pile later to see if a different mood affects how I feel about them.
If the
manuscript has a prologue, do you want it included with the sample pages?
Yes. I want the sample pages to
start exactly where a reader would start if this was the published version of
your book.
How
important are comp titles? Is it something you want to see in a query?
I’m less excited by comp titles
than other agents I know. I think they can add something great to your query
when they’re done well, but bad comp titles can also really take away from your
query. Personally I get a bit turned off by comp titles that are all in a
different medium, like TV shows or movies. Those can work well to show tone,
but it’s just unrealistic to say that everyone who loves The Avengers is going
to love your book. So I think you should go ahead and include comp titles if
you feel very strongly about them and really think they add to your query, but
you should err on the side of not including them if you want to play it safe.
Never add them just because you think you’re supposed to include them.
Some
agencies mention querying only one agent at a time and some say query only one
agent period. How often do you pass a query along to a fellow agent who might
be more interested?
Our query inbox is set up so
that we can all see the queries. We pay special attention to the ones directed
to our attention, but if something comes in for Maria, for example, I might
still request pages on it. That’s why we say that a rejection from one of us is
a rejection from all. I wouldn’t need to pass on anything to my fellow agents,
because if they see it and love it they’ll try to snag it too!
Do you
prefer a little personalized chit-chat in a query letter, or would you rather
hear about the manuscript?
I’m very business-minded when
it comes to the queries. I love when people get right to the manuscript, and
focus all of their concentration on pitching it. If something comes naturally,
like a reference to #MSWL or a post I’ve made, feel free to include it of
course! But just like comp titles, please don’t force it in the letter just
because you think it’s a requirement. The only requirement is that you tell me
about your book!
Writers
hear a lot about limiting the number of named characters in a query. Do you
feel keeping named characters to a certain number makes for a clearer query?
YES. This is one piece of
advice that I truly hope people take to heart. I understand that those other
characters are very important to the action as it unfolds, but if I get
confused in your query and lost interest in reading further, it’s game over.
Some
writers have asked about including links to their blogs or manuscript-related
artwork. I’m sure it’s not appropriate to add those links in a query, but are
links in an email signature offensive?
Links in an email signature
for that sort of thing are great, actually! I’m likely to go snooping on the
net when I’m interested in representing an author, so links to your blog will
just save me some work. I’ll also be headed to the part of your web presence
that you’ve (hopefully) put the most work into! So it’s win/win.
What
bio should an author with no publishing credits include?
A little something about where
you’re from or what you do now is fine. You don’t have to stretch yourself
trying to find a way to make your career as an accountant sound relevant to
your current novel, honestly. That’s not going to affect how I read your query/manuscript.
Something that shows you’re actively engaged in your genre, like conferences
you’ve attended recently, would also be appropriate.
What
does ‘just not right mean for me’ mean to you?
It means I wasn’t interested in
reading the entire thing, that I was bored or just not excited about the story
at any point. If I represent your book, I’ll be spending a lot of time with it
throughout the process. If I can’t get through even one read of it, then I’m
not the right agent for the book.
What themes
are you sick of seeing?
Trends definitely come and go,
but right now there are a few things I’d like to take a break from. The top two
are angel/demon stories, and crime stories focusing on international sex
slavery rings. The first one may come back around and be fresh and interesting
again in a couple of years, but the second one is just never going to be my cup
of tea.
What
three things are at the top of your submission wish list?
I would LOVE to see these three
things:
·
Historical fiction (preferably
with a touch of something mysterious or magical, even if it has a realistic
explanation) where the city itself is a fully fleshed out character in its own
right! Think along the lines of THE MINIATURIST or THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI.
·
Science fiction that explores
both the future and the past of the world, while also showcasing strong
characters. Something like REVELATION SPACE or ANCILLARY JUSTICE.
·
An updated version of some of
the Tamora Pierce-style heroine narratives. I’m specifically thinking of
UPROOTED by Naomi Novik, which comes out later this year. It reminds me of a
lot of the books I read as a young girl, and I think it’s time for a revival of
those books, with a fresh update to fit today’s young women.
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Kurestin Armada began her publishing career as an intern with Workman Publishing, and spent time as an assistant at The Lotts Agency before joining
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