Thread by @MeganDavidhizar

I was lucky to be in Pitch Wars with a mentor and writing peers for querying+call help, and it was SO HELPFUL.

But not everyone has those connections, so instead of a “how I got my agent” post, I thought I’d share some things I knew, but didn’t KNOW about The Call.

1. The email for The Call really is pretty simple. One day you’re neck-deep in querying woes, trying to forget that last stinging rejection, and BAM. Your inbox pings. Someone loved your full, and they want to know if you have time in the next few days to talk.

2. Rarely will the email say, “I want to offer you rep.” Many PW friends had to ask if it was an R & R or an offer. The Call is to make sure you’re not an axe murderer, but the agent will be looking for vibes to ensure you click. They might not use the O word right away.

3. Once you have The Call and have the offer, inform other agents with your full or query. I never heard from some agents with only my query, but every agent with my full responded! (Thank you for not ghosting!)

4. On The Call, YOU are interviewing the agent. YOU ask the questions. They need to impress YOU here (as long as you’re not an axe murderer). Be yourself, but don’t be intimidated. The agent will talk way more than you!

5. You get to ask their clients questions! Just like a job will call references, you request a few clients’ contact info to ask questions about the agent. This part is so fun! Everyone I spoke to was so kind and generous with their time! ❤️ This part was my fav.

6. You also get to preview the agency agreement, aka contract. You want plenty of time to look it over and make sure you understand everything. Ask questions if you don’t! (P.S. industry standard is 15% for agent, 20% foreign/film rights)

7. Industry standard is also giving other agents (and yourself!) two weeks to consider the offer, take other calls, and make your decision. You probably think “After all this time in the query trenches, waiting two weeks to accept the offer is nothing!” But you’d be wrong lol

8. Agent websites, Twitter presence, and Publisher’s Marketplace pages can’t give you the full picture of an agent. But The Call—The Call reveals A LOT.

9. Times vary. One call was over and hour and would have been longer if I didn’t have a commitment. Another was less than 20 minutes. Just like job interviews or dates, when it’s going well, it stretches. Schedule plenty of time, because there’s no predicting in advance.

10. Not every agent will be a great fit. Querying authors DREAM of The Call, thinking if only ONE person can say YES, it will all be ok. But you don’t want any person. You want the RIGHT person. That’s what you deserve. The Call will help you decide if this agent is right for YOU

I hope this helps some #amquerying writers. I’ve had lots of help and want to pass it on to others!

Never be afraid to ask questions. The #WritingCommunity can be the best place for answers ❤️