An important reminder: we don't have time to lie about wanting to see your next work. If an agent asks to see future projects, they mean it! - ThreadSky

jsinsheim.bsky.social • 70 days ago

An important reminder: we don't have time to lie about wanting to see your next work.

If an agent asks to see future projects, they mean it!

Comments

mweidele.bsky.social•49 days ago

What if you received a response for Manuscript A you queried over a year ago and the agent just replied and said send me anything else in the future…..but I’ve sent Manuscript B to another agent at their agency because the first one didn’t respond to Manuscript A (which I tabled)

abriannaleaming.bsky.social•69 days ago

Okay, you've helped convince me to keep going with my next project. Imposter's syndrome, shoo

jsinsheim.bsky.social•69 days ago

It's very common in our industry--I've heard agents, editors, even very powerful people say they have it. It might be that it's so hard to judge when something creative is going well, or perhaps it's that it's easy to assume waiting = something wrong. But. You're not alone. 🥰

abriannaleaming.bsky.social•69 days ago

I definitely struggle with separating myself from my work, so your words are comforting. I can write queries and concise plot summaries for OTHER writers, but my own? I crumble gloriously.

jsinsheim.bsky.social•70 days ago

I admit I don't understand the logic, but so many writers have said they received such requests, but the agent "was just being polite."

No! Really! We don't have time. If you receive one of these, please take it to heart.

It means we see potential.

robinwrites.bsky.social•70 days ago

I think a lot of writers are worried an agent just stuck it in their form letter. It can be really hard to tell what's individualized and what's a form. Plus we get in our heads about everything 😂

jsinsheim.bsky.social•69 days ago

The thing is, there are sometimes multiple form letters on offer. At one point I had maybe ten of them!

Even if it's a "send me the next" form, or a line added to a form, it still counts--I thought about every single one of those, and they were sent on purpose.

recentlysarah.bsky.social•70 days ago

Would you then suggest we add that to a query? I haven’t in the past, as I’ve always assumed it was an agent being polite.

jsinsheim.bsky.social•69 days ago

To the agent who asked? Yes! Definitely! You can put that in the personalization at the top--mention that they liked your previous project, [title], and asked to see your next. If you used the same email address as you did for the previous one, bonus points, so they can look it up!

katieferrie1.bsky.social•70 days ago

Wait. This actually made my night because on my first book an agent told me to query with future projects and I definitely thought it was a form.

jsinsheim.bsky.social•69 days ago

Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry you thought that!

Now, to be clear, I did once work with a number of forms (one complimenting writing, one concept, a few more), and one of them asked for the next project.

But it was very rare that I used it, and I definitely meant it. Even if it's a form, it counts!

writermom62.bsky.social•70 days ago

Good to know, Jessica. It’s easy to tell ourselves it’s ‘a typical form letter.’ I listen to my when I get that in a reply, grateful for it.

jsinsheim.bsky.social•69 days ago

I know. I'm so sorry that this happens--it's such a common part of the writing experience. But I promise we simply haven't the time to lie about this. Even if it's a "send me the next" form letter (which I used to use), it was sent with intention!

writermom62.bsky.social•69 days ago

Im growing a thicker skin these days!! I’m actually finishing a YA for an agent who sent me such a letter.To me, I think she was being genuine.✍🏼✍🏼
Thanks again, Jessica for this post!!

erniechiara.com•70 days ago

100%

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