tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35405042.post4003279351420649454..comments2023-04-25T08:32:45.729-05:00Comments on The Chicago Contingent: Writer's Block Wednesday: Ask an AgentDana Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16520699440390498341noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35405042.post-1317686561093358712009-09-16T17:34:12.614-05:002009-09-16T17:34:12.614-05:00Hi Quinn,
I don't mind at all when I see that...Hi Quinn,<br /><br />I don't mind at all when I see that authors are querying a first novel. As long as the query is written professionally and succinctly, I'm happy. The best thing debut authors can do is make the most intriguing pitch possible and keep things short and sweet. It's always nice to see other publications on a query (short stories in lit mags, articles, etc), but if not, it's certainly not a deal-breaker for me or for most other agents. <br /><br />I wish you every success with your submission!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02344413337826392315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35405042.post-743283549603439502009-09-16T09:45:29.382-05:002009-09-16T09:45:29.382-05:00Hi Sara, I actually just met an acquaintance of yo...Hi Sara, I actually just met an acquaintance of yours named Claire Martinson and was going to contact you with some questions directly, but it looks like Dana already did the legwork for me. I hope Chicago is treating you and your business well.<br /><br />My question: I'm shopping around my first novel and I have no publication credits. As such my query says simply "[Title] is my first novel." But since a lot of first novels are pretty terrible, I'm wondering if that one sentence might be enough to push a wavering agent away from a partial request.<br /><br />How do you react when you see that the author is querying for a first novel? Would that hurt their chances even if their pitch intrigues you? Or am I just overthinking this?Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10665823669624714322noreply@blogger.com