THE CAREER NOVELIST
At one time or another, all of my clients were unknown to me.
Many were previously published, true, but many were not.
Something they said or wrote convinced me to read their work.
There are pitches that persuade. What makes a pitch successful?
Before going into that, let us examine the best means for making
contact. I am bemused when people ask how to contact agents. How
do you contact anyone? Probably in person, on the phone, by fax, by
letter, or through e-mail. Any of those avenues will work. About the
only method I would not recommend is carrier pigeon. Most agents
are not set up for that.
But which method is best? Arrange a meeting? Would-be clients
frequently offer to travel to New York to meet me. I appreciate their
willingness, but, really, what is there to discuss until I have read
their writing? Save the airfare for later.
Phone calls have an immediacy that other methods do not, but
not every author has a terrific phone manner. Still, this method is
appealing because the results are quick. Provided you get through
to your prospect, you will know in minutes whether or not you can
send your submission. So what is wrong with that?
Nothing, really, except that the impression made in a phone call
can easily fade in the course of a busy day. A better way to make
your message last is to write. Your letter will probably be filed—and
referred to again. Besides, when you write you can be sure you are
saying exactly what you want to say.
Directory listings usually tell you the preferred method of contact
for a given publisher or agent. Most often it is a query letter sent
with SASE (a self-addressed and stamped envelope) in which the
agent may send his reply. The SASE is courteous. Return postage on
my five thousand queries each year would cost me $1,600; more if
sample pages or entire manuscripts had to be returned. For the
same reason a fax is also somewhat discourteous, as it arrives with-
out an SASE.
E-mail, many feel, is the superior, low-cost way to communicate.
The only problem with e-mail is that electronic messages are so
easy to send en masse. E-mail queries frequently feel like junk mail:
anonymous and unappealing. They will improve, I expect, but for
the time being I do not invite them, nor do most agents.