Comments on: Full Requests http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/ A place for people who love, read and write children's literature. Tue, 22 May 2012 02:20:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: BP http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-17619 BP Thu, 05 May 2011 14:20:52 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-17619 This is fantabulous advice! I love hearing your 'behind the scenes' take on things. It makes perfect sense, other than the sheer amount of forests being killed by paper and insane postage! LOL :) I guess that's why most writers never invest in sending fulls or agents don't request them? Too much paper? That's why I originally thought they only requested small samples, but now that I think about it, at the end of the day, more time, paper, and postage is wasted in sending multiple sections than just sending in the full. It also makes more sense to see the work in it's entirety. Otherwise, it's like trying to judge if your date is a good catch or not by seeing a headshot of them; it tells you nothing and just wastes time! :D haha Alright, saga ends here... This is fantabulous advice! I love hearing your ‘behind the scenes’ take on things. It makes perfect sense, other than the sheer amount of forests being killed by paper and insane postage! LOL :) I guess that’s why most writers never invest in sending fulls or agents don’t request them? Too much paper? That’s why I originally thought they only requested small samples, but now that I think about it, at the end of the day, more time, paper, and postage is wasted in sending multiple sections than just sending in the full. It also makes more sense to see the work in it’s entirety. Otherwise, it’s like trying to judge if your date is a good catch or not by seeing a headshot of them; it tells you nothing and just wastes time! :D haha Alright, saga ends here…

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-3865 Mary Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:38:03 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-3865 Tammy -- Not really. I like to flip to the last page in published books but not in manuscripts. If a manuscript is keeping my attention and I'm enjoying it, I trust the writer will probably find a good way to end the story. I've actually never read a "it was all a dream" ending in my slush. I guess some bad writing myths are just that... Tammy — Not really. I like to flip to the last page in published books but not in manuscripts. If a manuscript is keeping my attention and I’m enjoying it, I trust the writer will probably find a good way to end the story. I’ve actually never read a “it was all a dream” ending in my slush. I guess some bad writing myths are just that…

]]> By: Miss_Tammy http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-3851 Miss_Tammy Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:00:40 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-3851 I was just wondering if, since you request a full every time, do you ever flip to the end first just to see if things end up somewhere other than "And that's when she realized, it was all a dream." I was just wondering if, since you request a full every time, do you ever flip to the end first just to see if things end up somewhere other than “And that’s when she realized, it was all a dream.”

]]> By: Kathleen http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-3659 Kathleen Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:12:18 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-3659 Over time, as email queries continue to grow, I think full requests will become more common than partials. It just makes sense (especially when you consider that the cost to the author is the same, regardless). Over time, as email queries continue to grow, I think full requests will become more common than partials. It just makes sense (especially when you consider that the cost to the author is the same, regardless).

]]> By: Julie R. http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-3514 Julie R. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:09:49 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-3514 Mary, Thanks for the encouragement to send 10 pages regardless of an agency’s submission guidelines. I now feel I have professional permission to do what I've wanted to anyway! I wrestled with conficting adivce to 'obey' submission guidelines when they ask for only one page. (You don't want to tick that agent off) And I know you guys are good at what you do, but one page? Yikes! :) That's a lot of pressure on us wannabes. Mary,
Thanks for the encouragement to send 10 pages regardless of an agency’s submission guidelines. I now feel I have professional permission to do what I’ve wanted to anyway! I wrestled with conficting adivce to ‘obey’ submission guidelines when they ask for only one page. (You don’t want to tick that agent off) And I know you guys are good at what you do, but one page? Yikes! :) That’s a lot of pressure on us wannabes.

]]> By: Jennifer http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-3381 Jennifer Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:27:34 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-3381 Thanks for this post Mary. I finished my first MG novel about 6 months ago and the third agent I queried asked for the full manuscript. My brain was filled with fantastical outcomes - only to be pretty disappointed when it was rejected. I tried to reframe (after a few weeks of stewing about it) the situation to see it in a more positive light: 1. Agent liked the first chapter enough to request full, 2. Agent's comments did help me to make improvements - especially in getting out of the character's head a little more and 3. The agent turned out to actually be a human and I at least got the feeling that I wasn't submitting to a black hole. Thanks again for your perspective on this and it is good to remember to try not to take rejection personally. Jennifer C. Thanks for this post Mary.

I finished my first MG novel about 6 months ago and the third agent I queried asked for the full manuscript. My brain was filled with fantastical outcomes – only to be pretty disappointed when it was rejected. I tried to reframe (after a few weeks of stewing about it) the situation to see it in a more positive light: 1. Agent liked the first chapter enough to request full, 2. Agent’s comments did help me to make improvements – especially in getting out of the character’s head a little more and 3. The agent turned out to actually be a human and I at least got the feeling that I wasn’t submitting to a black hole.

Thanks again for your perspective on this and it is good to remember to try not to take rejection personally.

Jennifer C.

]]> By: Maribeth http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-3202 Maribeth Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:07:26 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-3202 I'm still waiting for that wonderful day when I receive a letter requesting a full. This mama will be doing her famous Woo-Woo-Woo dance. :) I'll probably do the dance and then receive the rejection-hahaha. I’m still waiting for that wonderful day when I receive a letter requesting a full.
This mama will be doing her famous Woo-Woo-Woo dance. :)
I’ll probably do the dance and then receive the rejection-hahaha.

]]> By: MHPayne http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-3189 MHPayne Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:52:35 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-3189 My late agent: Always insisted on me sending him full manuscripts--he didn't even want to talk about a project till I had the whole first draft done! :) Mike My late agent:

Always insisted on me sending him full manuscripts–he didn’t even want to talk about a project till I had the whole first draft done! :)

Mike

]]> By: Tracy Astle http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-3172 Tracy Astle Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:45:25 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-3172 Thanks. Good info to have. It will help me keep a request for a full in proper perspective. Thanks. Good info to have. It will help me keep a request for a full in proper perspective.

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2010/01/04/full-requests/comment-page-1/#comment-3162 Mary Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:13:07 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=714#comment-3162 Shalanna -- I'll do a quick post about sending a query right after a rejection. It'll take a few days. Watch out for it. Shalanna — I’ll do a quick post about sending a query right after a rejection. It’ll take a few days. Watch out for it.

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