Super fly shoes for Superfly, who’s sent us the following question: I write middle grade novels and also have written and illustrated a picture book. I have sent queries out to agents for both projects at different times and had some interest. I have a few fulls and partials out […]
revisions
19 posts
Stina shares a question from the Absolute Write forums: If an agent rejects a partial or a full and gives you a reason why, and then you not only fix that problem (with the intent of moving on), but also several other issues the agent didn’t mention but their existence […]
T.S. Ferguson, an editor at Little Brown Books for Young Readers, has a great post up on his blog about the correlation between finding an editor, and finding a boy/girlfriend. As an agent looking at a ton of queries (more on that soon -- I'm trying to come up with some numbers for you!), there's a lot I agree with.
Chinese shoes for Susan, who writes, "I am writing a memoir about my marriage to a man from central China and have received requests for partials from a number of agents. And rejections from most of those agents. So in early June, I started working with a couple of editors to get my sample chapters in better shape. I've gone through 2-3 rounds of changes with each editor, both of whom I've paid and have said that the chapters have vastly improved. One agent has patiently been waiting for my samples since July, so I sent off 50 pages to him yesterday. My question is this: if this agent rejects my samples, do I query another agent and send the same samples, or do I go back to the editors and revise again?"
Rose shoes for Susan, who writes, "I'm trying to find an agent to represent my memoir about my time in China, specifically when I was married to a man from rural, central China. My query letter seems to be working: I've had half a dozen requests for my proposal or sample chapters after sending out only 20 letters. Of those requests, I've already received three rejections. Some agents think I need to broaden the scope of my readership and that a memoir about failed marriage to a guy from a completely different world won't sell. One suggested that I pitch it as a look into Chinese culture from the perspective of an American woman who becomes part of a Chinese family. Do you have any thoughts about that? Would a women-focused memoir sell? Or should I open it up to entice men to read it, too?"
It is May 1st, and it's snowing, of course, so why wouldn't I choose this day to try to get some important errands done? But driving around this morning in the snow got me thinking about inspiration, and how it truly can come from just about anywhere (and it's usually not sign-posted).
It's an exciting day around Unfeasible Enterprises, as boxes are piled around us and we wait for the movers to arrive. While we wait, let's tackle some of your questions, shall we? Time for a SPEED ROUND!