Comments on: The Great Query Letter Debate http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/02/22/the-great-query-letter-debate/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:39:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Karen Wester Newton http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/02/22/the-great-query-letter-debate/#comment-2054 Karen Wester Newton Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:28:11 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/02/22/the-great-query-letter-debate/#comment-2054 Well, to some extent, isn't it a matter of using an approach that represents who you are and how you want to work? If you are truly an unconventional person, maybe you need an unconventional agent. I would compare a query letter to a blind date. If you pretend you like going to baseball games when baseball bores you to tears, it won't help you any as far as finding a fulfilling long-term relationship. If you prefer slasher movies, you should say so. Otherwise you will find yourself nodding off during SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. Well, to some extent, isn’t it a matter of using an approach that represents who you are and how you want to work? If you are truly an unconventional person, maybe you need an unconventional agent. I would compare a query letter to a blind date. If you pretend you like going to baseball games when baseball bores you to tears, it won’t help you any as far as finding a fulfilling long-term relationship. If you prefer slasher movies, you should say so. Otherwise you will find yourself nodding off during SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/02/22/the-great-query-letter-debate/#comment-2053 Barbara Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:07:05 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/02/22/the-great-query-letter-debate/#comment-2053 People are looking for one correct answer, but I don't think there is one. Looking at the agents who blog (a small, but hopefully representative sample of the community), they all want and look for different things. I feel like professional is the way to go unless you know otherwise. I've never found a situation in life where you're hurt by coming across as a professional. If there are agents who are so intent on the up-front pitch approach that they can't look past that, I'm not sure they'd be the best person for me to work with. People are looking for one correct answer, but I don’t think there is one. Looking at the agents who blog (a small, but hopefully representative sample of the community), they all want and look for different things.

I feel like professional is the way to go unless you know otherwise. I’ve never found a situation in life where you’re hurt by coming across as a professional. If there are agents who are so intent on the up-front pitch approach that they can’t look past that, I’m not sure they’d be the best person for me to work with.

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