A Year in the Rear-view Mirror
- By: admin | Date: May 20 2016
It’s hard to believe today is my one year anniversary at BookEnds. This year has been a wild ride and I cannot wait to see what the next has in store for me. When I sent my cover letter to Jessica last year, it felt like a one in a million chance that she’d pick me to join the team. I couldn’t be more blessed to not only have Jessica for a mentor — but also to be able to rely on the wisdom and expertise of Kim, Jessica A, and Beth as well. They’re an amazing group of women and I truly cannot imagine a better, supportive agency. Even if they love eating delicious looking treats at meetings and teleportation technology does not exist… yet.
Since I know writers like those statistic things (and, frankly, I do too!) I thought I’d track my queries over this first year to see just how many I received. I passed query #5,000 back on May 11th. I’m getting through my inbox as fast as humanly possible and I thank you guys for your patience! Digging into my inbox is one of the best parts of the job. I love seeing what brought you to query me: if it was something I said in an interview, my love of all things geekery (#TeamIronMan, yes you heard me Beth), or my cosplay pieces.
Number of Queries Received: 5100
Number of Rejections: 3304
Number of Partial Requests: 182
Number of Partial Requests Upgraded to Fulls: 27
Number of Full Requests: 43
Number of Offers of Representation: 12
As you can see, it’s hard to capture an agent’s eye. This is why it’s so imperative for your query to shine and sparkle. It’s your chance to make a first impression so be sure it’s a good one!
Of all the things I’ve learned and experienced this year — the best part of the job is getting to call an author and extend that offer of representation. Now, it’s time to dig back into that inbox and find some more great talent to add to the awesome list of #TeamMoe!
Congratulations! 🙂
I was in the 3304 pile, but I have to say your rejection letter is one of the kindest and most encouraging I’ve ever seen. Thank you! Good luck moving forward, and may the Assassin’s Creed movie be as awesome as the games (not Unity). 😛
Thank you! And thank you, too, for the kind words. I do try to take a bit of the sting out of rejections. Yes, here’s hoping the movie is as awesome as the games! \o/
Congratulations!! I’ll be adding to the NEW list as soon as I learn to send to the RIGHT EMAIL!!! Gah.
Least I discovered the error and gave a sigh of relief mine didn’t even warrant a rejection.
Have a great weekend and may your next year be filled with kind and best selling authors!
🙂
Thank you so much! :^)
Girding my loins to start hitting the query trenches again later this year, so while I really just want to stick my fingers in ears and chat ‘la la la’ at those numbers it’s a good incentive to keep polishing.
Happy 1st Anniversary, Moe.
The numbers can be sobering in some regards — but there’s always a chance no matter what! One will never know how they’ll do unless they try. :^) And thank you!
Wow those numbers are scarey. Can we talk gaming instead? I’m in love with ESO at the moment.
Congratulations on one year with Bookends. I’ve been following the blog just less than a year and I know how much I’ve learnt, I can’t imagine actually being able to talk to the team.
We definitely can talk gaming — I’ve only ever played the original non-multiplayer. Though a good friend of mine is in love with ESO.
Thank you so much, and I’m glad you’re learning so much from the blog. It’s a fantastic resource to be sure! :^)
Moe: we couldn’t be happier to have you on the team. We were right when we made the decision that we would all love to have a beer with you. I’ve been thrilled with what you bring to BookEnds. Happy Anniversary! And to many, many, many more.
To many, many more in deed. This has been a truly blessed year to be sure. (And next time I’m in Jersey, I want that beer!!)
That’s over 400+ a month. Gasp! How do you do it? Do your eyes ever simple cross?
As a nerd, I couldn’t help but get ‘pinged’ by a keyword. I do TONS of research. And in writing a manuscript I came across actual teleportation. Like, it’s been done. Yeah, they’re photons. But still. Sooo cool.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2012/09/06/physicists-quantum-teleport-photons-over-88-miles/
Eyes definitely cross, but I do love reading queries all the same! I’m always working hard to get caught up, too. And man… awesome that we have teleported photons! Now we just need to work on teleporting people and/or food……
It’s nice to hear that agents like reading through the queries. I can’t imagine the decision making process. And yes, I too am very excited for teleportation. Though apparently as the quantum science exists, you would more likely be read and broken down at the quantum state then “duplicated” at your destination. This sends my mind into all sorts of threads. Like, how does your soul know you’re in London? 🙂
Happy 1st anniversary!
I’m curious… of the 12 you decided to represent, do you have an update yet on how many received publishing deals? Would you please post an update when you have this metric?
Congratulations, Moe! (Picture fireworks glittering in the May night!) How gratifying it must be to find a place to call home for your talents and interests and to know, after a year has passed, you and your agency made the right decision to make that home together. Here’s to many more from a writer happy to have made the “182!”