The #1 mistake authors make when querying đŹ
Today's guest is Vice President and Executive Agent Brent Taylor
Hereâs the biggest mistake I see authors make when queryingâŚ
Sending out their manuscript way before itâs actually ready.
I get it: you finally reached âthe end,â and you should feel incredibly proud and excited for the next steps! Few authors reach this milestone.
But the hard truth is that your manuscript probably isnât the strongest it can be yet. That doesnât mean youâre a bad writer or that your story sucks. Revision is just a critical part of the process.
Your manuscript deserves your patience.
The highest form of respect you can show your story is putting in the work it deserves. No authorâs first draft is perfect, but your story will become something incredible in time.
In an industry where agents might only say âyesâ five times out of thousands of queries sent to them, you need a story thatâs ready to enter the highly competitive market.
In todayâs interview, Vice President & Executive Agent Brent Taylor shares the most common reason he has to pass on a project, the secret to making sample pages hum with tension, and why your social media presence matters more than it did a decade ago.
OUR SPECIAL GUEST TODAY ISâŚ
Brent Taylor
Vice President & Executive Agent at Triada US
Brent is open to queries via QueryTracker and is actively looking for new clients in a variety of genres and categories. See his MSWL here.
Whatâs the most common issue you see in manuscripts that keeps you from saying yes?
I believe that many writers get so excited about the prospect of seeking traditional publication that they begin querying their projects too early.
I recommend that authors really take their time to make their manuscript the best that it can be. Workshop it with friends, critique partners, etc. Only begin querying it when you truly donât see how you could possibly make the manuscript any stronger.
How can querying authors ensure their sample pages are engaging and intriguing?
Start the story where something is already in motion. Agents donât need explosions on page one, but we do need tension. That could be a question raised, or a problem introduced.
You also need to introduce your voice as an author and the voice of your characters. I should be seeing on the page why you are specifically the writer to tell this story.
Ready for feedback that takes your story to the next level?
âI have greatly benefitted from my collaboration with Alyssa; I would not be where I am today without her! Her developmental ideas and vision for my novel taught me so much and helped to elevate my work in highly effective ways. Her editorial fingerprint is evident in the final resultâa novel on bookshelves nationwide.â
âJill Beissel, author of Glitter and Gold
What traits or qualities do you look for in a potential client?
Iâm looking for a client to be a creative collaborator and a business partner. We should feel like strategic partners at every stage of the process, respecting one anotherâs ideas while also feeling comfortable bringing up our own thoughts and opinions.
Approximately how many queries do you receive per year, and how many of those result in an offer of representation?
Between 5,000 and 10,000, and I offer representation around 5 times per year.
Psst: I wrote a book! Check it out âşď¸
What trends or shifts in publishing do you think emerging authors should have on their radar?
10 years ago, the industry felt that social media wasnât that effective at selling books. Now, social media has the power to sell hundreds of thousands of books! I think a strong, energetic, and passionate social media presence is essential in this market.
ICYMIâŚthis week on YouTube, I share the real difference between bad and great writing â and a practical exercise you can apply to your WIP.
My tip to unpublished authors: Instead of setting the goal to get published next year, set the goal to read more books. Even better, take a break from writing (or partial break) to read 20-50 books. Then go back to your MS. You'll have a clearer picture of what you're doing wrong and how to rewrite to be as good as your favorite author.
So, writers have approximately between 0.05% - 0.1% chance to be picked AND publishers want them to do all the legwork to create a social media presence?
I kind of knew it, and, being as impatient as I am, I've just gone straight to self-publishing. Reading it confirmed candidly by an industry professional, I don't regret my choice to skip querying.