RIP to the GOAT

Janet Reid, In Memoriam

Anyone who has been in the trenches of trying to get a book published in the last twenty years is probably aware of QueryShark, the seminal website from agent Janet Reid that broke down queries submitted by aspiring writers, starting in 2003. I learned a lot from it when I first joined the agency, and even had the privilege to overlap with Janet for a hot minute when I was at New Leaf. I’m sad to say that she has passed away, as announced by her client Allison K. Williams on Twitter:

I didn’t know Janet well, but I spent a lot of time on QueryShark, which she updated as recently as July of last year. Patiently and with a great sense of humor, she broke down queries line by line, pointing out weaknesses and giving suggestions for how to fix them. No passive phrasing went unnoticed; no laggy tension un-pointed out. She never got paid for it—there must be hundreds if not thousands of entries on the site, loving examples of labor done for the help of authors alone. Janet Reid was a force for good in this industry, and we are all a little poorer at her passing.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What questions should writers ask an agent who makes an offer of representation?

-Anonymous

This is a great question! Any conversation with an agent who makes an offer of representation should cover a few basic areas. They should tell you about their thoughts on the book, including any ideas or suggestions for revisions and a general idea of where they think it might sell; they should tell you about the agency and the resources available, as well as anything that might set their agency apart from others; they should ask you about your hopes for the future and any ideas for future work; and they should give you the opportunity to ask questions. If you’re in a position to have one of these conversations, think about any questions you have in those areas to start— What do you think of the book? What should I do to revise it to be ready for submission? Where do you see the book fitting into the market?

Also be ready to ask questions about their agenting style—are they more editorial, or less? How do they like to be involved once an editor has acquired your work? How do they approach career guidance? You can even ask specific questions about the agency agreement, commission rates, etc — the only question I’ve shied away from answering in the past is about specific editors, and that’s because submissions strategy will change based on industry knowledge at the time of submission. (People go on family leave all the time!)

Regardless of the specific questions, the aim of an offer call is to get a feel for one another. It’s good to be on friendly terms with your agent, but more importantly, it’s crucial to be on the same page with regards to goals, strategies, and timelines. If their vision for the book and your career doesn’t align with yours, that’s a sign that you might not be compatible in the long run—and it’s better to not be represented at all than to be represented badly, in my opinion.

THIS WEEK IN HOCKEY SPORTS GAMBLING

I said it last week, that we would start having more gambling scandals thanks to the major leagues’ embrace of sports betting, and here we fucking are: The NBA has banned Raptors player Jontay Porter for life for violating the league’s gaming rules. Porter was banned “for betting on the league’s games and giving inside information to bettors, delivering a severe punishment for violating the league’s gambling rules. A league investigation found Porter provided info about his health status to bettors, and limited his participation “in one or more games” for betting purposes.” I’m not at all surprised that a player decided to make a quick dollar by getting involved in throwing his own games, and I’m even less surprised that leagues take money stuff more seriously than they take accusations of sexual assault. I’m just tired of being disappointed!

Elsewhere, I’m delighted to report that the near-deceased Washington Capitals have clinched a spot in the playoffs, despite having a -37 goal differential:

As a reward for their "efforts," the Capitals will face the Rangers, hockey's best team by record. Given that this franchise hasn't won a playoff series since their 2018 Cup, and this is the weakest they've looked since Ovi became able to legally order vodka in D.C., their expectations are sub-basement level. But if the Capitals have anything going for them at all, it's the sheer desperation of mortality, and the crack in the door left open by hockey's randomness. There is no long-term plan in place in Washington, no way to take defeat as a moral victory or a learning experience. There is this series and the darkness behind it. Reinforcements are thin. Everyone's body is breaking down. For guys like Oshie, Ovechkin, and John Carlson, they have to play these games like it's the last truly competitive hockey of their lives. Because there's a good chance it is.

HOUSEKEEPING

Do you have any questions about the publishing industry? Requests for advice? Thoughts on your recent reads? You can leave them as comments, replies to this email, or fill out this Google form to ask anonymously!

I am open to queries via QueryManager only, which can be found here. Here is my submissions page on the LDLA website, and here is a more detailed MSWL.

My first novel, Marrying In, is available for purchase on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo, and is coming soon to iBooks. If you’ve read it, consider leaving a review—that helps me and the book in the long run!

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This newsletter is a personal project, and the sentiments and opinions expressed here are my own and not those of my employer.