Comments on: Send a Sample Anyway

By: Amie Borst

Amie Borst — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:14:55 +0000

i went to an informal lecture where an agent was speaking about a week ago. and he gave the exact same advice. except, he said send a sample page (not 10). i think i will start doing this from now on.

By: Kidlit.com · Full Requests

Kidlit.com · Full Requests — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:43:25 +0000

[...] request full manuscripts, not partials. Part of it is the same rationale as why I say you should send 10 sample pages with every query, regardless of an agency’s submission guidelines: instant [...]

By: Marjory Bancroft

Marjory Bancroft — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:23:55 +0000

Fascinated to hear this advice, as I’ve always felt that a query can’t do justice. In certain cases I’ve added the first two pages of the ms even when the guidelines said to query only.

Ten pages! Will give it real thought. It’s tough, trying to read agents’ minds, and tougher still to violate explicit guidelines.

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:53:05 +0000

I’m laughing right now, because I’ve always wondered how an agent can make a decision on a query letter alone (and because I secretly love breaking rules). I will take this advice to heart. Thank you.

By: Rikke

Rikke — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:15:39 +0000

Interesting advice. There ought to be an old saying. ‘Luck favors the bold.’ Or something like that. I wonder if you’ve had reactions to this post from agents outside your own agency?

By: Kidlit.com · Resubmission Versus Requested Submission

Kidlit.com · Resubmission Versus Requested Submission — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:57:06 +0000

[...] know some of you will call me a hypocrite to insist on submission guidelines while also writing a post about flouting submission guidelines and sending a writing sample anyway. So be it. I still stand by what I said there — only if you really want to take the risk and [...]

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:20:30 +0000

I see what you’re saying and I think it’s great advice, but my one reservation is that this method will work. As a novice novelist, I want to nail the agent right away…I don’t want to jump in with two feet and hope the water is warm.

Should I go ahead and send the first 10 pages anyway? Most of the agents on my list don’t request any part of the manuscript. Is that odd for most agencies?

By: WindyA

WindyA — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:39:41 +0000

I’ve heard this from a couple of my friends who have been really successful with this strategy. But again, they did have solid gold first 10 pages. But I think this is a testament to just making sure that your first few pages are awesome, and then making sure the rest of the book will live up to what the first 10 pages are.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!

By: Lisa Tyre

Lisa Tyre — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:04:26 +0000

Thanks for the advice! I love it when agents request a sample, no matter how small.

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:06:31 +0000

Haylee — An interesting question. If their submission guidelines don’t call for a writing sample, you don’t want to say “Here’s that writing sample!” When I did it — and I just went back through my email — I didn’t put anything at all. An agent will see the sample, don’t worry. Just paste it below your signature line.