Thursday
Jul092009
Slush Realizations: Round 1
Elana RothLate in the afternoon yesterday, I started going through my slush pile. I ended up tweeting a bunch of my observations and thoughts on Twitter while doing so. Though not as brutal as a #queryfail or a "why I'm rejecting things," I liked the idea of just recording my more thoughtful discoveries. So here's a compilation. I might make this a regular series if you guys enjoy them. Though I'd rather you follow me on Twitter and get them live, of course....
- Slush Realization #1: I guess I'm just not a fan of non-human characters and narrators.
- Slush Realization #2: I really hate e-stationery.
- Slush Realization #3: If you hire someone to query on your behalf (don't), wouldn't you want them to have read my submission guidelines?
- Slush Realization #4: Sometimes people make up things so strange that classifying them as "fantasy" still doesn't help me understand them.
- Slush Realization #5: Apparently just saying "no thanks" can equal feeding the trolls. A rejection letter does not a dialogue opener make.
- Slush Realization #6: I know what always turns me off in queries, but I'm also always surprised by what I am attracted to.
- Slush Realization #7: I don't like Christmas stories.
- Slush Realization #8: It confuses me when the name you sign at the end of the email is different than the one in the actual email address.
- Slush Realization #9: If an email doesn't LOOK cleanly formatted, I tend to think words-on-a-page might not be your thing.
- Slush Realization #10: When a client manuscript comes in, all focus on the slush pile dies.
I'd explain them, but I think it defeats the purpose. Plus, I like how contained they all are within 140 characters. Them's some concise thoughts. Enjoy!
Reader Comments (9)
Whenever I read something like this I feel two things- glad that I seem at least ahead of the curve (follow guidelines, not rude) and frustrated that in being so, I still get the form rejection.
Still, I do appreciate for your post. It is helpful to hear your thoughts. And if I had written about talking animals or Christmas, I'd know why I got the form.
A 'no thanks is like feeding the trolls', I love that! Knowing how true that undoubtably is, I feel for you! I'll be sure to pass this great info along to my friends at Authornation, maybe it will help you get a few less queries that fall under these guidelines.
Thanks for this glimpse into your process; it is very helpful. Please continue to post more!
Thanks for posting these! It's great insight for people who are thinking of querying you, and a nice combination of personal tastes and general query etiquette. Now that author with a Christmas fantasy narrated by a gecko can focus on agents who might be more receptive :)
I do follow you on Twitter, but I find that not all messages actually appear. I appreciate roundups like this where the information is presented all together.
I am a follower on Twitter, but I never actually open Twitter because all those people chattering overwhelm me. So thanks for posting these here, I always read the blog.
Yep. I followed that on Twitter when you were doing that. I found it very helpful. And funny. Your posts always crack me up though.
They were so NOT brutal, it was encouraging. Nice balance.
Happy Friday!!
Thanks for sharing these! I don't Twitter (yet) so I appreciate the peek into your thoughts.
I agree with so many other commenters. I follow you on Twitter, and I check it fairly often--although it has become a dreaded chore--but somehow I never get the good bits like these amidst the chatter. In fact, I'm feeling pretty over Twitter. I hope it burns itself out soon. It's so overwhelmingly silly 99% of the time. I like blogs. This one is lovely.