tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post1683548938544125473..comments2023-10-26T11:34:38.322-04:00Comments on Ask Allison: Stuck in the Stone AgeAllison Winn Scotchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-35525085748976272472007-11-28T09:05:00.000-05:002007-11-28T09:05:00.000-05:00Why snail mail? Archaic as it sounds, it makes a l...Why snail mail? Archaic as it sounds, it makes a lot of sense to me. First, it weeds out the wannabes. Only serious writers (serious does not necessarily mean good) spend their time and money pursuing an agent. Agents who accept e-queries are likely inundated with a lot more crap than those who insist on snail mail.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, would you want to spend your own paper and ink budget printing out 75 pages of a manuscript you might reject? Do this dozens of times and the agent would go broke. Sure, they could read it on screen, but we all know that reading on paper is easier. <BR/><BR/>If you take the time to find an agent who understands your target audience, then you're more likely to get a response than if you send queries to everyone on a list.<BR/><BR/>Great topic, Allison.The Messy Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02231485575194758530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-87236707285900979402007-11-20T10:16:00.000-05:002007-11-20T10:16:00.000-05:00Thanks everyone! This is exactly what makes this ...Thanks everyone! This is exactly what makes this blog so useful: I certainly don't hold all of the answers. E-queries worked for me, but it sounds like they're not the answer for everyone.Allison Winn Scotchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-16375230287511670062007-11-20T10:14:00.000-05:002007-11-20T10:14:00.000-05:00I have to agree with what's been said. I've gotten...I have to agree with what's been said. I've gotten more response, either postive or negative, when I've sent an SASE. I've targeted several "e-query" agents and I believe only one responded. I'd rather have a rejection SASE than no word at all, but I believe and hope e-query will become the norm for the business.<BR/><BR/>Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for your great site!Alison Ashley Formentohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561233370577996025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-55561248002606100972007-11-19T21:35:00.000-05:002007-11-19T21:35:00.000-05:00Many have already said it: A SASE invites a reply....Many have already said it: A SASE invites a reply. E-mail doesn't, and many agents don't beat around the bush and come right out and say, "We'll only respond if interested."<BR/><BR/>In the meantime, you don't know if they're truly not interested, or if the e-mail never got through.Susan Helene Gottfriedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778191943289129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-39728034793669037672007-11-19T20:52:00.000-05:002007-11-19T20:52:00.000-05:00I sent out snail in the beginning but then got tir...I sent out snail in the beginning but then got tired of it. Eventually, I started sending a short email to agents saying I'm interested in querying and wonder if they would accept an e-query. I think almost everyone agreed to receiving my query via email! Even my agent received my complete ms via email and she and I have never exchanged a real live sheet of paper throughout our relationship.<BR/><BR/>Email and equeries are the way to go!MaNiC MoMMy™https://www.blogger.com/profile/14038801888210803955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-11888729463108306152007-11-19T15:53:00.000-05:002007-11-19T15:53:00.000-05:00I specifically targeted agents that accept e-queri...I specifically targeted agents that accept e-queries (and my agent ONLY accepts e-queries), and it worked for me. One tip for e-queries is keep them very, very short. Mine was 5 sentences.Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-58111775053050765452007-11-19T12:24:00.000-05:002007-11-19T12:24:00.000-05:00i am in the hunt as well, and my experience has be...i am in the hunt as well, and my experience has been better with the sase. i have heard back from all the old fashioned mail queries, but not from some email queries.<BR/><BR/>it is frustrating to make sure that an email query is just as professional as the hardcopy, and then not to receive a response.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05716215892504806470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-87274719354879684852007-11-19T11:07:00.000-05:002007-11-19T11:07:00.000-05:00I have heard that some agencies only stick with sn...I have heard that some agencies only stick with snail as a way to cut down on the overzealous queries that are maybe fired off in haste.<BR/><BR/>Meaning that those who take the time to do snail might be more serious about it? <BR/><BR/>I don't agree with that and am turned off by those who do not have current websites or don't use email at all.<BR/><BR/>Just like when they view our blogs or websites I want to know they are sort of "with it" to just like they expect us the writers to be in this day of self promotion.bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01500014712284794881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-25371978910936066982007-11-19T08:30:00.000-05:002007-11-19T08:30:00.000-05:00Amy-That's so interesting! Usually, I hear the re...Amy-That's so interesting! Usually, I hear the reverse: that people never hear back from snail and have better luck with email. See, you just never know! I'm curious to hear what others post here too...Allison Winn Scotchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-77780135935385467882007-11-19T08:05:00.000-05:002007-11-19T08:05:00.000-05:00I have a friend in the throes of querying agents r...I have a friend in the throes of querying agents right now. She has only heard back (positive or negative) from those she snail-mailed. Not one email query garnered a response, and the agent letter/query is the same - and she follows all guidelines etc. <BR/><BR/>Her experience gave me the impression that snail mail gets more and better attention than email for agents who accept both or prefer snail mail.<BR/><BR/>Just my .02!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com