(You Can Still) Become An Agent!

"We will not go quietly into the night!"

Deb here. While our Querypalooza, sadly, had to be canceled, we aren't giving up the fight in helping our fellow writers of color! What we will do for now is focus on you all one at a time. That means for those who submitted, you still have the ability to receive help, and for those who wanted to help, you can still Become An Agent!

But here is how it will work:

For those writers of color still brave enough to have your queries critiqued (putting your baby out there is a big step, we know): please send the meat of your query and, if available, the first 250 words of your manuscript to soovingqueries (at) gmail (dot) com . Feel free to let us know that you've sent it also, just in case it falls into the spam folder. We will post your submission on the blog for other writers of color to critique as early as the next morning!

For those writers of color who would like to critique: UPDATE: Post your comments below, but please visit the rules found below before doing so.

Of course, there are a couple of changes, as this is no longer a querypalooza:

1) As we're only looking at one query at a time, there is no limit to how many times you can say you would or wouldn't have wanted to see more from the writer, but you can still do so.

2) There isn't a minimum number of times you need to critique another's submission, but I would ask that you at least critique ONE in order to submit one yourself. It's still a give and take process.

Now for some rules:

I'm big on two things in the critiquing business: usefulness and etiquette. With that said:

Critters: 

1) Be honest, but be kind. Kindness is relative, but we've all had a jerk critique our query before. So don't be that jerk.

2) Don't just say that you liked or didn't like something. Explain why. What stuck with you? What turned you off? You've seen some personal (and form) rejections in your day, I'm sure. What would an agent say?

Submitters:

1) A thick skin and a slow reaction time are important. Yes, this is your baby, but if people are taking time out of their day to help you and give you that honest and kind (even if brutal) feedback, do not throw a fit over what they said. The last thing I want to see or hear is someone on social media ranting about a critique they were given and find out it was from this project. No. Don't be that person. Because we will have receipts, which will be the query and critique in question.

2) Do not brush off the critters as though they don't know what they're talking about because your friends, mother, or beta readers liked it. These critters aren't here to validate you; they're here to help you write better. I don't know about you, but nothing annoys me more than the ungrateful person who asked for help in the first place.

Believe it or not, we do have a submission up to bat, so the next post you see, we will be in full swing! Questions are always welcomed. Please ask, and we will respond as quickly as possible.