Agreed. 100% Diana. Is it really that hard? No. And blatantly IGNORING guidelines? Well, isn’t a wonder your stuff isn’t getting read.

I’m afraid I’m with Rachel. On the first round I queried 12 agents (I just consulted the spreadsheet; yes, I do keep track). I also was extremely careful to follow the instructions precisely, just as you and Rachel did. I did not hear at all from 4/12. Yes, one of those said she would only respond if interested, and 2 of the others requested email queries only, so it’s possible there was a foul-up? (there wasn’t on my other email queries, but…) I don’t know what happened to the 4th. I just assume after 4 months or so that I won’t be hearing from them.

Of course I just got a rejection in the mail for a children’s book I queried…a year and a half ago. {sigh}

Susan

I cannot understand why any writer would think this is okay. Especially when we complain about getting form rejections. Why make it so obvious that you’re sending a form query?

I worked really hard to research each agent I sent to and to tailor my query to him/her. (And, in spite of what I said in my previous comment, if the agent had a rant on their website about not following rules, or if during my research I found out they were a real stickler for rules? I didn’t include any sneaky sample pages if they said query only…) On the other hand, I didn’t get too anal about the number of pages my synopsis was and other (I think small) details like that… If they said short, I wouldn’t send a 6 pager, but I had a short (2 page) and longer (about 6) for most of my ms’s and picked the one that fit best based on that agent’s guidelines. I didn’t rewrite for every submission.

I did, however, send 5 or so sample pages to a few “query only” agents. (Colour me rebel.) I got at least one request this way.

I’m the type of person who would only send what was requested in guidelines, but that’s also because if I were in the agent’s shoes, I’d delete those who couldn’t follow the rules.

BUT, I can understand the people who feel pulled to do otherwise with so many people out there who say otherwise. I’m talking NYT bestsellers who are saying otherwise with convincing arguments (at the RWA conference, no less – when you know you’re talking to newbies). Part of it for me is that I feel like I have a strong query letter. But, if I felt like I couldn’t write a query letter to save my life but that the first few pages of my ms were very strong, I think I’d feel the pull of submitting a few sample pages as well. I feel lucky that I’m not in that position…

Ok, no more drinking on dates and blog commenting

And since I’m an Excel geek, tracking submissions, the date, what they require, the response, etc was really easy. And if you’re not tracking this – you should. Especially if you plan to take tax deductions for your writing expenses prior to making a profit. This is a great way to prove intent.

Oh god, the accountant snuck out.

I’m an advocate of following the rules. Do I know someone who broke the rules and published? Yes. But I think that’s an exception and not what happens to most people.

I do skim Miss Snark’s blog occasionally and a lot of it is over my head since I’m not in the business (or seeking to be). But quite a bit of it just seems like plain common sense.

I suppose my analogy would be getting permits for new construction. My company builds in several counties and states. Some counties have individual city permits that are required. Each place I submit a permit application to requires something different. And it’s my job to know that County A wants 3 sets of blueprints and a survey certificate and City B wants 4 sets of plans and an electrician to sign off on it. If I don’t provide exactly what they want, I don’t get a permit. And that’s just the way it is; I don’t sit on my journal and whine about it.

I have a feeling some of the non-response, too, is from stuff sent to agents who are less than legitimate, but that’s pure speculation on my part.

In 13 years, I’ve never had a submission to an agent go unresponded to.

Because I got a great response and I followed the directions. It’s the PROJECT, not the method you use to get it in front of someone.