How many followers do you have?

I’ve mentioned that I’m looking for a new agent for my work. I’ve contacted several people who handle the kinds of books I write and whose clients and projects I admire.

So far, most of those emails have gone unanswered, even by agents I worked with for years when I was an art director. Oh well. I KNOW they are busy.

I understand that whenever agents open their lists to submissions, they can receive thousands of queries. I know why they can’t respond to everyone, but it’s still frustrating. Many publishers will only consider manuscripts submitted by an agent, which leaves writers like me in a difficult position.

Some reps use online forms for queries, and most ask for the expected information about the author and the story. I was filling out one recently when I reached questions about my number of followers and my social media presence. I stopped there.

I understand that, with so many books being published, authors are increasingly expected to help promote and sell their work. I also know that agents consider many factors when deciding whether to take on a new client. Still, I hope the quality of the story can ultimately speak the loudest. We’ll see

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