Very closely related to the hoop jumping complaint about the query process is the lament that agents often have vague guidelines about what they’re looking for. Thus, an author may have to waste time querying agents who may not be a proper fit because they inadvertently send something that just happened to not be up that particular agent’s alley.
Well… yeah.
Let me first say that some agents are wonderfully specific about what they’re looking for. They can tell you their preferences right down to the general plot points.
I am not this way. I never know what I’m going to like until I’ve seen it, and thus, am open to queries for pretty much anything.
But let’s set that aside for a moment and pretend that I am obsessively following Publishers Marketplace and looking at what is selling and could tell you precisely what I wanted to acquire, down to the genre and spirit of the book. Let’s say you write that book in six months. Let’s say it takes a couple of months to sell. Let’s then say it takes a year to come out (because it will). That’s still a minimum of a year and a half from idea to publication.
Who in the heck knows what’s going to be popular a year and a half from now?? We could all be wearing levitating hats by then. (See my other trend watching admonition here).
Trying to time the market based on what’s hot right now is kind of like trying to drive down a highway while looking through a rearview mirror. By the time you see something it’s already too late.
If you’re even going to try and time the market the only thing you can do is lick your finger and hold it up in the air to see which way the cultural winds are blowing. Think a couple of moves ahead, and take your best guess about where the world will be in a couple of years. Or crash land yourself on the island on Lost. Either way.
And, again hypothetically, let’s say I could spell out precisely what I wanted, right down to the shade of your protagonist’s eyes. Is this really a world you’d want to write in? Even if I were more specific in genre and plot terms, wouldn’t you rather write in a publishing world where we’re not dictating to you that you should write what everyone else is writing?
Admittedly, there are times when a story misses the cultural mark by just a couple of years, and stories that might have worked in 2005 don’t work in 2009. The culture is always shifting.
But the great stories are not timely: they’re timeless.
I can’t tell you what to write, and I can’t tell you in advance what I’m going to like. Just pour your heart into telling a great story that you want to tell, and let the gods of culture and publishing take care of the rest. I just want to represent great stories that the author is passionate about. Isn’t that the way it should be?
Anna says
almost makes me want to drop a query your way just for the sake of it…
Anonymous says
Nathan,
Don’t publishers know what is going on their lists today for releases they’ve schedule 18+ months out?
Isn’t ‘tomorrow’ being bought and scheduled today?
Thanks.
Dori says
Thanks for reminding me of the simple truth by writing this line in your post… “Just pour your heart into telling a great story…” I needed that ๐
Marybeth says
Sounds like a good plan to me ๐ I’m glad I have done exactly that!
And it is nice to know there are agents willing to look at anything as long as it’s a great story! I commend you for being indecisive ๐
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
Yes, they are, but they’re usually guessing from a year out, and it’s easier to make a guess a year out than two to three years out.
But they also aren’t usually just piling on what’s already out there. It happens some, but you hear editors say that they’re looking for fresh new voices as much as you hear agents say it.
Christa says
Well said!
JohnO says
Dear Agent,
I’m looking for representation for SARDINES ON THE STOCKTON 30, a multiple language and POV YA horror/thriller about life on everyone’s favorite SF Muni bus line …
Word Verification: impress. I guess that one was wasted on me, eh?
jimnduncan says
Yep. Sound advice. Yet, writers are constantly wanting to know what’s hot right now. I’ll admit to some trend following. I’ve got a half dozen projects parked on my computer, so I have some flexibility with regard to what kind of story I can try and get into. That doesn’t work as well as I would hope, since my motivatioin for a story doesn’t always follow any practical logic.
But aren’t editors and publishers basically doing the same thing you’ve described here? That is, holding up their finger to the cultural winds and hoping they can guess good enough to hit the mark 18 months down the road? Admittedly some trends do last a while so there is a certain window of time but one always runs the risk of missing it. If one just writes the story that truly calls to them, then you have it there at the ready when that window comes along again. Because trends seem to be cyclical. What’s hot cools off and then returns again, perhaps in a slightly different form. Writers would do well to follow your advice here.
Bane of Anubis says
I like vague guidelines or “open” agents – probably b/c I tend to write less cookie-cutterish stories (well, maybe cookie-cutterish, but not common cookie-cutterish).
Rick Daley says
“But the great stories are not timely: they’re timeless.”
You should trademark that. I want to get it engraved and hang it above my computer as a reminder.
Douglas L. Perry says
Nathan, actually it would be a whole lot easier for me if you write the book. That way I know for sure what you are looking for.
Snarkiness aside, I agree that a good story is a good story, and they don’t often fall in clear cut genres that you can spell out.
Bane of Anubis says
How many queries this week will include the word timeless…?
Over/Under 25: I’m going over
Anonymous says
So all the monkey books should be hitting the shelves next year then?
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
Sadly I am still waiting for the advent of the monkey era. We can only hope that it comes sooner rather than later.
Jael says
I think complaints about “I don’t know what you’re looking for” also track back to some writers’ sense that effort leads unerringly to publication. In that ideal scenario, you would say “I want a 75K-word novel about a tap-dancing muskrat”, and they would say “Yes! I happen to have a 75K-word novel about a tap-dancing muskrat!” and send it to you, and you’d agree to represent it, and all manner of things would be well.
But even a 75K-word novel about a tap-dancing muskrat could be too flippant, or too savage, or overwritten, or confusing, or disjointed, or just plain bad. It might have a subplot about terrorism or eating babies or floraphilia or something else you don’t want. Just because it’s technically “what you’re looking for” doesn’t mean you want to represent it. This frustrates the cr*p out of some people. They figure they gave you what you asked for, and you’re required to respond in kind.
Other scenario: you’re intrigued by the concept and they send a partial, and you pass, saying “well, it’s not as funny as I thought it’d be,” they’ll say “Well, you should have TOLD me you wanted funny!”
So many options for discontent. None of them your fault.
Kat Harris says
I’m with Rick. You should trademark that maxim.
Great post.
susiej says
Yep, we’ve all heard the story- a certain English writer being told “no one wants to read anymore stories about English boys in boarding schools.”
Laura D says
Amen, Nathan. I march to the beat of my own drum anyway. I couldn’t right a pop story for it’s own sake, cause agents would see right through me and know I was faking it. And I’m not that desperate, yet.
The First Carol says
Waaaaa. Now we have to relate timeless emotionss? I am so dead.
DebraLSchubert says
Sounds like porn – you know it when you see it! (Or so I’ve heard…)
Alan Orloff says
Are levitating hats:
A) hats that hover above one’s head, or
B) hats, when worn, allow the user to levitate?
If I get to vote, I’d go for B.
Nathan Bransford says
alan-
I vote for both, which will benefit both transportation and fashion.
Scientists, get on it!!
Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist! says
Too bad most agents aren’t as COOL as you, Nathan ;-(
Myra says
I pretended to be an intellectual a couple of weeks ago and did some research on Depression Era entertainment. It seems the leaders were slapstick escapism or grim realism. Do you see any signs of trends heading that way? Is this why all those “sparkalay” vamps are so appealing?
Nathan Bransford says
myra-
Yeah, I personally think that in the next year escapism will come back to a certain extent and that you’ll see more lightness and humor, along with darker narratives that expose the problems of the last era.
But that’s just my own wild guess. It’s really tough to predict where trends will go, and I don’t really base my representation decisions on them, as I outline in this post.
Jen C says
Alan Orloff said…
Are levitating hats:
A) hats that hover above one’s head, or
B) hats, when worn, allow the user to levitate?
I was imagining A…
RE: the topic, I’d rather be a trendsetter than a trend follower.
Jen C says
PS thanks for the LOST reference Nathan! /uberLOSTgeek
Marilyn Peake says
Nathan,
Wow! Loved your blog post today! The type of writing and publication process you describe allows for creativity, the most important ingredient in literature. In painting, it would illustrate the difference between great art and paint-by-numbers. Too many rules and formulas, and you basically get paint-by-numbers. I agree with everything you said about the world and the publishing field constantly changing, and liked your suggestion that “We could all be wearing levitating hats by then.” Sounds like fun. ๐
Annalee says
I don’t think the people asking for more specific preferences are actually planning to write books to them (or at least I hope not). I think it’s more “If I know an agent has a particular interest in $foo, and my book contains $foo, that tells me we might be a good match. That makes me more likely to query them sooner.”
It can also have an effect on the way we personalize our queries. For instance, say my science fiction novel has a gay MC. Since my book isn’t an LGBT book, and sexual orientation isn’t really central to the story (at least not central enough to include in the hook), I might not mention that in the query. But if I know an agent has a preference for strong LGBT characters, I’m going to be sure to mention it as a reason I think my book might be a good fit for their list.
With eye color, though… I’m going to have to go ahead and hope that’s hyperbole, because I’m not sure why any agent or writer would find that information helpful.
Steena Holmes says
Interesting topic Nathan! So do you write for the masses, what you know is ‘hot’, or do you write that story that is burning inside and just HOPE agents will look at it despite it going along with the ‘day’s fad’?
Damien Grintalis says
Thank you for another great post!
I’ve tried to write something to ‘fit’ into a popular mode and it was horrible. I tell a better tale when I let it come out in whatever form it wants to take.
Laurel says
In fashion and music the old farts with the money observe the trends in the fringe teenage crowd to predict what will be hot in 3 to 5 years. This used to be the “alternative” folks but that label really doesn’t mean anything anymore.
At any rate, trying to write what’s hot sounds like trying to beat the stock market to me. Too many variables. One major news story can make an idea hot or “too soon.” What if someone wrote a novel about a group of terrorists attacking the US with airplanes and a rogue CIA agent trying to stop it in 2000? And it was scheduled to hit stores in October 2001? Would it be a bestseller or would the non-publishing industry think it was gratuitously trying to cash in on a tragedy?
(Sorry for the semi-rhetorical question.)
Mira says
Oh thank goodness. I agree with every word Nathan said. No arguing today.
What does interest me, though, is the person who sees writing as craft and wants to do it as a profession. For example, romance novelists who write several a year, etc. Those people may or may not see writing as artistic expression for them as well, but they definitely see it as their bread and butter.
I guess for those people, rather than trying to guess the trends, they could stick to something tried and true. Like romance, that sort of thing.
Because you’re right, Nathan, predicting the way the culture will shift is neigh impossible.
Ask anyone trying to play the stock market.
Anonymous says
I think if more agents allowed authors to submit a snippet (*half a page even.*) along with the query, it’d make both sides happy. But that’s just me…
sex scenes at starbucks says
I don’t know about writing to trends. I do know I want to be a well-rounded writer. For instance, if I had my way, I’d sell all epic fantasy. Alas, it’s not something that sells well. So I’ve challenged myself to expand, writing mysteries and sf and noir and even some erotica. So far most of that stuff has sold, so I’m getting where I want to be–a selling writer rather than an epic fantasy writer with no sales.
Marilyn Peake says
Nathan said:
“Sadly I am still waiting for the advent of the monkey era. We can only hope that it comes sooner rather than later.”
Well, I do have a genetically altered time-traveling monkey in the science fiction novel I’m writing โ very minor part of a futuristic world. I guess I should finish writing my novel before the monkey era begins in earnest.
Kristi says
Good post but still no mention of picture books…sigh. Even one about escapist monkeys?
Marilyn Peake says
Whoa. I think the future has arrived … again. An astronaut … I kid you not … is sending Tweets from outer space on Twitter: here.
reader says
Thank you!
A different agent blog (which shall remain nameless) did a post a few weeks back listing what types of books editors at the London Book Fair wanted. You know: Thirty-five year-old Houswife Goblin or Boy meets Girl literary YA.
I wonder how much of the time they really get what they want — because in writing the execution is everything.
Anyway, I agree with your post.
Rowenna says
It seems like quite a bit of the grousing about vague guidelines is for another reason entirely–the submitters who get a response saying “Sorry, not my thing” or “This just isn’t for me.” They read the agent’s guidelines, their work fit the broad spectrum of what the agent liked, so they submitted. And were told “Not my thing.” So, my question is–does “not my thing” really mean what it says (for instance, “I don’t represent paranormal romance with gender role reversal as a theme”) or is it simply a nice, nonconfrontational way to say “Pass”?
Richard Lewis says
What do Lisa McMann's WAKE, Ally Carter's I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU…, and AS King's DUST OF A 100 DOGS have in common?
Well, I just read these three YA novels, and even though they are coooompleeetleeey different one from the other, what they have in common are powerful imaginations presenting a story with compelling originality. You know, the kind of thing that agents and editors are always telling us they are looking for.
While it's true that there is nothing new under the sun, and all stories are in some ways always a retelling, these three novels are definitely not the usual standard derivatives of hot YA trends. They are uniqueโฆthat's the one thing that really jumped out at me.
(They are also exceptionally well executed in terms of traditional craft.)
I reckon this applies as well to adult fiction & may well be, in my humble and remote opinion, even though I am neither agent nor editor, the one single most important factor in getting a first novel published these days. Correct me if I'm wrong!
Chris Eldin says
Wow, there aren’t a hundred people here yet, so perhaps I can get a word in!
Love this post…I think it’s always important to be flexible and think outside the box. Especially in today’s environment.
Nathan Bransford says
rowenna-
It’s a nice way of saying “pass.”
Jason Crawford says
Great post Nathan…I love your approach to agenting.
Haste yee back ;-) says
To all those thinkin’ Haste yee back’s lost his mind…
BIG SORRY… here’s the right stuff.
Go to,
https://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/
Scroll down to, AGENTS TALK SYNOPSES, LITERARY JOURNALS AND MORE
Click highlighted link containing words (because it’s here online for free)
It’s a five page interview with four agents contributing.
Please, oh please, someone teach me how to link. Seriously, I don’t know how.
SORRY,
Haste yee back ๐
RB Ripley says
I believe that this kind of honestly is such a strength and admire you a lot for the approach.
Leslie says
I would totally buy that tap-dancing muskrat book if someone were to write it.
Kristin Laughtin says
Don’t know what else to say other than “amen!”
Although if I did crash land on the Lost island and traveled back to the 1970s, I would do exactly what Hurley attempted!
Rebecca Knight says
I have run into a few writers on the intarwebs talking about how they are writing Paranormal YA, etc, because “that’s what’s hot and makes lots of money right now.”
So, sadly, I don’t just think it’s folks trying to hook up with agents who rep what they’ve already written–there is definitely trend chasing.
I can’t help thinking these people are either:
A) More talented than I am (I can’t force out a novel in a certain genre I’m not comfortable with), or
B) Crazier than I am. Doesn’t that seem like waaaay too much pressure?
I like writing what I want to write, and trying to make it the best I can :). It’s comforting that it seems to be the way to go. Thanks for the great post!
Amber Argyle-Smith says
I still think most agents could be a bit more specific. I recently queried one. He liked the MS, but said he had a client that wrote that genre and so didn’t want another. Well, save me the time and put it on your website.