The Man in Black and White

Tuesday + Jason Pinter = Between the Covers

Anonymous Rex

In publishing, the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. This is true whether you’re a published author getting your first reviews, or a newbie just starting to query agents. The more places people see your name, the bigger people’s perception will be. It’s no secret that it’s difficult to get published, and even more difficult to get published well and succeed to have a long term career. But here’s a secret for everybody: there are ways you can tip the odds in your favor. The trick is…don’t be anonymous.

Sounds easy, right? Not exactly. But not impossible either. And if you get the hang of things, it can actually be pretty easy.

Publishing is like any other industry. In order to get in, you need to prove you’re worthy of admittance. Sound haughty? It’s really not. Agents and editors want good authors. They cry for good authors. Every day they pray that the next submission will contain a potential bestseller. They want you to be the Next Big Thing. But it’s your job to convince them of that.

So what do you do? The same thing you do when applying for any job. Build your resume.

When an agent looks at a query letter, it’s akin to looking at a job applicant’s resume. Simple as that. The query letter (resume) offers the author’s background (degrees, awards, professions, etc…), their work experience (where/when they’ve been published), and what they bring to the table (synopsis). Based on these qualifications, an agent decides whether or not to request a partial or full manuscript (i.e. interview the applicant). Once the interview is over, they weigh the mitigating factors (author’s skill, current market conditions, current client list, book salability) and decide whether to offer the job (offer representation).

Now, many debut authors have never published work anywhere. Doesn’t mean they’re not good writers…just means they have to work extra hard on the rest of their resume. Too many authors say, “I’m not good at writing query letters.” Here’s the truth: writing a book is a lot harder than writing a query letter. If you can’t write one single good page, why should someone pay you to write 300?

One of the biggest fallacies in publishing is that once a publisher pays an advance, there are no other monetary concerns. Some people even go so far as to offer their books to publishers for free.

Newsflash: a book with even a modest print run can cost a publisher upwards of $100,000 before it sells a single copy. Who pays for printing, binding, publicity and marketing? They do. So when a publisher takes on a book, they’re making a huge investment in the future of that author. So even if your first advance doesn’t cover a down payment on that beach house, your publisher does have a pretty high stake in you. And all the more reason for them to be extra picky who they publish.

Now building your writing resume is a lot like building a job application. If it looks good, it probably took you a long time to compile it. That’s not to say somebody who never graduated high school wouldn’t make a great employee…but if you’re an employer, who would you rather pay? The person with the great resume, clear skills and tools, or the person who says they’re not very good at writing a resume?

That’s why it’s easier for New York Times reporters to get big bucks for non-fiction. That’s why it’s easier for Iowa MFAs who’ve published in Glimmer Train to get agents and book deals. They’ve proven they can hack it at the highest levels. So if you haven’t done that, you have some ground to make up. It’s not impossible, but you’ve got to work at it.

Submit stories for publication. Write freelance articles. Start a blog and write thought-provoking and funny topics that get attention outside of just writers circles. Find your own, unique voice. Editors very rarely read blogs by “writers,” they read blogs by “authors.” Learning the difference is very important.

Stand out from the pack. Every week I get about 30 unsolicited queries, 25 of which start out with, “I know you probably won’t even read this email, but if you do please consider publishing my book.” That doesn’t stand out. That blends in. And blending in is the worst thing an author can do. Don’t be one of 25 homogenous unsolicited queries. Be that one submission your agent is passionate about.

So don’t be anonymous. Be bold. Wear orange pleather. Shave a Mohawk in your head. Do something to show every agent and editor out there that you’re the one they’re looking for. You’re the diamond in the rough. But they won’t see you if you’re covered in coal. It’s your career. Take charge of it. But have a sense of humor too.

Jason Pinter

author of THE MARK

Coming July, 2007 from MIRA books

Comments

[C.M. Mayo]

Spot on, Jason, but orange pleather?

[JT Ellison]

Nice job, Jason.

[Allison Brennan]

Excellent. Just sent it to some people. I've been saying this exact thing, but not half as well . . .

[Laurie Wood]

What's the most memorable first line of a query letter that resulted in your buying a book, Jason?

[Jason Pinter]

The best line was for a debut novel which read, "This is the best debut novel I've read in 10 years." And the letter was written by the agent who represents Michael Connelly and James Lee Burke. Needless to say that stuck in my head.

I've never bought a book off an unsolicited query. And 99 out of every 100 queries I get have the first line, "I know you probably won't even read this..."

Suffice it to say trying to guilt-trip an editor into reading your query DOES NOT get you published.

I can't stress how important it is for authors to NOT query editors, but to keep honing their craft until an agent is willing to vouch for them. Editors at major houses generally get over 500 agented submissions a year. I personally get between 10-20 a week. Between reading those and editing the books I have under contract, there just isn't enough time in the day for editors to also read 500 unsolicited queries from authors who either don't have agents, or don't know which editors acquire what books. Half the unsolicited queries I get are for books in genres I've never acquired (and never will).

This might be hard for authors to hear, but it's very, VERY true. If you want to get published, you have to respect the industry and editors who devote their lives to publishing (and get paid squat to do it).

[Laurie Wood]

Thanks for that informative answer, Jason!