Another Query Question

Sorry to keep bothering everyone about query letter matters, but these damn things are getting more confusing as I go along. My latest problem: It seems like everyone says not to send letters to just the Literary Department, but to get the name of a specific person to address them to. However, every agency I've called (except for one) said to send it just to the Lit Dept., and not just one person because that will limit the possibilities of who may read it. Arggh!

Desperately Seeking Sanity,


PsyDoc

Let your heart guide you.

Hehe.

Joe Average.

Doc - I wish I had some great advice for you, but I don't. I guess just send it to the literary departments and hope for the best.

Or you could call and disguise your voice...I know say, "This is Dr. So-and-So. One of my patients is a real nut case, but underneath that fasad, he's a heck of a writer. To who's attention should I send his script?"

When they ask the name of the writer - give them a fake name. Then send yours.

OK - not the best advice I've given, but if you read the thread to Justice, you'll find that I'm only 8 days into conception, therefore, what could I possibly know.

Good luck...and if you need someone to read your synopsis. Ask around - lots of people on here give out great feedback. Give it a trial run first.

Tina

Thanks for the feedback. I'm wondering what others have been told when they have called agencies. I thought maybe they were inundated with queries with the impending strike and so weren't giving out individual agents names. I don't know, this whole process is driving me daffy.

Doc

If they say "just send it to the Literary Department" say "Is Kevin Styles still the head of the Department?"

They'll either give you the real head of the department's name, or you'll discover there really isn't a Literary Department...

Your pal,
Couchguy

Well some of what answer you get depends on what questions you ask. There are key phrases that are the kiss of death. Two of them are "hi I'm a new writer" and "I'm looking for representation." Never use those phrases ever. The correct phrases are "I'm a writer" and "are you taking on new clients?'

Memorize that because I am right on this one.

Don't call up and ask who you should send a script to. Get a directory. Read the directory. Pick a name out of the directory. (The Agent's and Manager's Directory, to be specific.) When you call an agency, the first thing you are doing is verifying an address, so that's what you do. You call up and you say, "I need to verify your address." Read the old address out of the directory to the person on the phone. They will say yes that is it, or they will say no and give you the new one. Then you say, real casual, "Is so and so still there?" Naming the person you're going to write to. If they say yes, you hang up and write that person a letter, or you can push, which means hang up, call back, ask for the person, get his or her assistant (odds are, sometimes you will get the person), and go with them, "Is he taking on new clients?" If they say no, you ask if they know who is, or if there is a junior agent there maybe who is. You get a name. If at the beginning of all tis, the receptionist told you the person isn't there anymore, say damn, do they know where that person went? Then you start over. Hang up. Pick a new name. Call up and ask for that person.

Look, calling up and saying "Hi I'm a new writer looking for representation, who should I send my script to" does not work. They will always say Lit Department. "Lit Department" means your letter goes on a big stack with all the other "new writers looking for representation." And if you're lucky, that letter will get read. Probably by an intern. Or if you're luckyier still, by a hungry junior agent. But that is if you're lucky. So pick a name. Target a person. Verify an address. Verify that person is still there. And write that person.

Thanks for the very practical advice GiG - exactly what I was hoping to find. Whrn I made my calls I asked what their current submission policy was, not specifically identifying myself as a new writer, but I'm sure they must have been getting that impression. Thanks again.


Doc

Whassup, Doc? Phew, glad I got that off my chest...

As for query letters, I'll give you my experience from the agency side (I was an agent at Writers & Artists for five years). I would suggest one or more of the following:

1) Send the letter to the head of the agency, heaping praise about the agency to him/her. When my boss (Joan Scott) would get letters like this, in most cases she would either read the script, or refer it to an agent. That agent would be compelled to read the script, because Joan wasn't to be ignored.

2) Find a writer whom you admire, then call that writer at the studio he/she works. If you get to them, clearly ask them to read your script. At the very least, ask if they wouldn't mind giving you their agent's name so that you could send it with their blessing. This is another big motivator.

3) Along the same lines as 2), call the WGA and find out who reps your favorite writers, then call that agent's office, or send them a personal letter referencing your admiration for the writer.

I always found it most helpful to try and discover an agent's pressure points. In other words, what will force an agent to pay attention.

My last bit of advice is to be extra nice to the assistants, and perhaps even ask if they will read you. Most are thrilled to be asked, and some will likely end-up as agents within a year or two. I did... and I found my first few clients that way.

Good luck!

Thanks ToddinHB! It's nice to hear from the other side of the wall. I'll try out your advice, and hopefully get a few bites. Thanks again!

Doc