Holy cow Batman, an agent wants 30 pages.... eeck!

[meg_evonne]

play it cool.  play James Dean.  play some Enya music.  Re-read them one more time, call my editor to cry on her shoulders, and click the button.  EEECKKK!!!!
 

[Lanodantheon]

Calm down.... Have some dip.....

 



How can we help you today? BTW, how do you get in touch with an agent anyway? Are they expensive?

[belial.1980]

Hey congrats! Play it cool. Remember, you're a professional. 

[Murphy's Stunt Double]

MEG!!!!! How freaking awesome!

*Sends virtual flowers*



Just take a deep breath. You're good, darlin' Better than half the writer's who are already published. You can do this! 

[meg_evonne]

Wish Bob was here to hear the news.  *sigh*   Yes, I sent them off, with a very cool and simple 'thank you'   It probably won't go anywhere, but hey--that was my goal for the year, just to get someone to ask for them.  It might even be a pity act by a kind agent!  Still, I can check that off my to do list.

And thank you all.  I did get a fortune cookie that said I had a book in my future.  I thought karma meant my Turn Coat shipment.

[Matrix Refugee (formerly Morraeon)]

:: Offers you congratulatory goodies of your choice::

[Blaze]

YAY!  *Does happy dance around Meg Evonne*  I am so proud of you.  And Bob knows.

[thausgt]

Wish Bob was here to hear the news.  *sigh*   Yes, I sent them off, with a very cool and simple 'thank you'   It probably won't go anywhere, but hey--that was my goal for the year, just to get someone to ask for them.  It might even be a pity act by a kind agent!  Still, I can check that off my to do list.

Just keep reminding yourself that you're one up on more than a few folk on this board, and in the rest of the world. That an agent has requested thirty pages from you is definitely worth at least one extra dessert of your choice.

Although I might suggest promising yourself two servings of said dessert if you finish writing the book before the agent calls for it.

And thank you all.  I did get a fortune cookie that said I had a book in my future.  I thought karma meant my Turn Coat shipment.

Ah, the flexible language of prophecy.

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

play it cool.  play James Dean.  play some Enya music.  Re-read them one more time, call my editor to cry on her shoulders, and click the button.  EEECKKK!!!!

Oh, well done. My congratulations, and wishing you luck for it going further.

[LavinChen]

That's great, Meg! Congratulations!

Lindt truffles are always a great way to celebrate:

[meg_evonne]

Although I might suggest promising yourself two servings of said dessert if you finish writing the book before the agent calls for it.

In that case, I'll take two pieces from the chocolate pack above.  It's ready to go, but there is always more to polish.  The first quarter is finished and past editor, re-written and returned and back to me once more.  The 2nd quarter will be back to me by tonight.  Remember that I wrote this in an internet class and the instructor is an editor from a publishing house--so it has been roughly edited already.   (The trick is not to go back and tweak the edited, re-edited, and final approved pages...  Who knew that was going to be the hardest part of the whole thing?  No one mentioned that to me.. :-) Itchy fingers--bad news.)

Also agent's time line is up to two months before they get back to me.  Even if they take half that time--the last and final editing will back.  They know that I am multi-submitting so I'm still sending out queries.  The internet is an amazing tool!

I've four queries running at all times.  It's like playing cards, if you lay one down, you draw another one after tweaking the query yet again. 

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

Also agent's time line is up to two months before they get back to me.

Gosh, that's moving fast.  (I have had things out for years; still do, in fact.)

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

That's great, Meg! Congratulations!

Lindt truffles are always a great way to celebrate:

"...nothing in his pockets but knives and Lindt."

[meg_evonne]

Well, I think I might have figured out a good query letter.  I've had another agent ask me to e-mail the entire manuscript to them AND also send a hard copy manuscript.  Sent the e-copy within an hour of the request and printed and mailed off the hard copy before 5 the same day.  Crossing fingers.

My work with my editor continues to be a great relationship.  I'm so lucky to have her assistance!

[pathele]

Congratulations.

So what tips can you give us writing query letters 

-paul