My, How this Business Has Changed
The last time I looked for an agent, I was thrilled to be able to email an informal query. I was shocked when she told me to email the manuscript to her, because my previous publisher had refused email submissions of manuscripts, even though they required a CD of the manuscript along with the printed version. Needless to say, I quickly became addicted to emailing rather than snail mailing. And why not? It’s cheaper, faster, and more efficient. But Agent #5 was definitely cutting edge at the time in accepting e-queries and e-submissions.
In my most recent search for an agent, I found two of my original top 10 wishlist accepted only snail mail queries. Two. I found my reaction curiously divided on this discovery. When I began in the business, everything was done by snail mail (we just called it mail, then). Maybe, if a deadline was tight, a writer, publisher or agent might use Fed Ex or UPS (no DHL back then). Mostly, though, it was the good old USPS. This process came with a built in wait (3-7 days), plus a small anxiety that the item would be lost in the mail, and a scramble would be needed to send it again.
As I looked at my previously top choices and considered sending snail mail queries, I thought about the reasons why those two (so far) agencies had not entered the 21st century with everyone else. I concluded that there were two probable reasons: (1) a lack of comfort with new-fangled technology; or (2) exclusivity. I moved them both off the top 10 list, recognizing that both of those reasons were red flags for someone who wasn’t a traditional blockbuster author. I don’t know if that was a good decision or not. And I could change my mind as the search continues and I do more research.
But… my mind boggled at how the business had changed, not only since my last agent search. My first seven books were printed, packaged, and mailed, not only when I was looking for an agent, but after I had publication deadlines and a real live publisher. As were the editorial revisions, the copyedits, and the galley prints. My last five manuscripts were emailed to my editor, as were the revisions. Once we got to copyedits and galleys, we switched over to Fed Ex. I hear that is changing, too, and the business is becoming almost completely electronic, including copy edits. Bog. Gle.
Those aren’t the only changes in the industry, either. When I first began sending out my queries, umptydumpty years ago, the only thing an agent was likely to know about me was whether I could write a coherent sentence, follow minimal directions, and spell well. Now, there’s Google. And my webpage. And this blog (I thought about these posts, and I write them knowing a potential agent or editor may read them and pass on me because of something I write — or don’t write — here).
Conversely, I can read five year old interviews with an agent on my top 10 list, as well as get completely updated information on current agent interests and guidelines. Because I know many other published writers, I can get personal — i.e. private — takes on agents, too — through a quick email exchange.
Never, when I began reading Writer’s Digest and The Writer in college, did I see forward to this day. Fortunately, I have not had any difficulty dropping the old habits (Courier 12 pt, 1 in margins, 25 lines to a page; 1 page = 250 words) and picking up new ones (Courier or Times 12 pt, 1 in margins, Word doc, computer word count).
It’s times like these when I can’t wait to see what changes are around the corner (I’m a geek, what can I say?).
Next up — What I Hope Never Changes in this Business
