mkassel
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« on: February 27, 2012, 10:57:45 PM » |
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In my query letter, I cited two authors/titles as comparative work. Okay, yes. Good thing to do. Here's where the idiot part comes in: I spelled one of the authors first name wrong. As in "Allie" instead of "Ally." I sent four of these queries out today before realizing what I did––two of whom are high on my list. I've read every book by this author, so I should've KNOWN better. It's not worth resending my query over, but if they google her based on my spelling, they'll find zip. I've worked so hard on my book, and worked for weeks on the perfect query, only to make such a boneheaded mistake.  Has anyone else goofed something up in their query? And gotten a request anyway? |
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Carakasla
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« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2012, 11:57:07 PM » |
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Any agent worth their salt will request pages based on being intrigued by your plot and not reject you because you make one silly, little mistake. We are all human!  Can't say that I've gotten a request despite a mistake. I don't get requests regardless of what I do  |
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Shadow's Dawn (EF) -- Querying Morning Darkness (EF) -- WIP Evening Light and Untitled Fourth (EF) -- Outline Toulon (YA paranormal) -- WIP Website: http://theshadowsseries.webs.comTwitter: @Krysten_Hill Facebook Fanpage: The Shadows Series. |
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Tabris
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« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2012, 06:11:05 AM » |
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You mean like getting a full request from Agent A despite having written Dear Agent B? Yeah.
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mkassel
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« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2012, 09:55:35 AM » |
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Thank you for that, Tabris. After all that, you got a request. Your book must have knocked their socks off. Happily, I got a partial request this morning from one of those agents I sent the flawed query to, so it's all good  Carakasla, I've read your query threads and your story rocks. Someone will nab it, and if they don't, you should find another way to get it out there. Like self pubbing or a smaller press. Seriously, you sold me on Caraka's back story alone. Maybe try hitting a few conferences and pitching in person. But you must stay positive! Or at least neutral. Negativity never brings positive results. But what do I know? I did call myself a dumbass yesterday. Karma!  |
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Falen
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« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2012, 10:09:16 AM » |
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Yeah, no worries about little stuff like that. They'll overlook it.
I once sent my full ms with another agent's name and query in the MS. That was like 3 hours of panic.
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cube
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« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2012, 07:36:30 PM » |
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Agents see some pretty weird crap on a regular basis, so I doubt this will even phase them. My rule of thumb is that once it's out of the outbox, it's out of mind. Focus on the next thing.
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AnyaHarker
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« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2012, 07:52:27 PM » |
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Honestly? I'd rather see a wrong name that's an honest mistake as opposed to the cute openers that really aren't cute, the smart ass openers, or being one in a list of 55 different agency addresses. And yes, I've seen all three of these so far at the Agency.  |
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Falen
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« Reply #7 on: February 29, 2012, 07:58:20 AM » |
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Agents see some pretty weird crap on a regular basis, so I doubt this will even phase them. My rule of thumb is that once it's out of the outbox, it's out of mind. Focus on the next thing.
 It's definitely something to keep in mind. I mean, we're only human. And if an agent rejects you because of a stupid mistake like that, they probably aren't the right agent for you anyway |
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LateToTheParty
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« Reply #8 on: February 29, 2012, 11:45:00 AM » |
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And, it's just that, (yeah, I'm real, real late to this party) a mistake. Now, after I read this and do the same exact thing, I'll be the dumbass.  Just saying.
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Critiques should spur growth and improvement. Neither is painless.
I don't do personal attacks, defense/debate of work or grudges.
Remember, my comment's worth exactly what you paid for it. Use it, ignore it or PM-me and I'll remove it.
Buona fortuna!
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munley
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Literary Fiction: Mystery
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« Reply #9 on: February 29, 2012, 12:32:39 PM » |
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I once had an agent turn down me down for a book I didn't write. I didn't take it personally though.
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I quietly take to the ship. -- Herman Melville
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