"Agent Advice" is a series of quick interviews with literary and script agents who talk with Guide to Literary Agents about their thoughts on writing, publishing, and just about anything else.

This installment features Brandi Bowles of the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency in New York.

GLA: You're a new agent, which can be a big advantage to authors seeking representation. Tell us a little about how you got started in the business.

BB: I’ve wanted to be an agent ever since I read the book The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing, when I was about 14 years old. After college, I moved to New York, enrolled in the NYU Master of Science in Publishing program, and landed an internship with Inkwell Management, a literary agency in midtown Manhattan. I worked at Inkwell for a few months and was then recommended to Three Rivers Press, a Random House imprint that specializes in humor, music, and pop culture paperbacks.
      Three Rivers was a wonderful education for me, but eventually I began to crave more autonomy and the freedom to pursue my own creative ideas. When a too-generous publisher got involved and asked if she could give my name to Howard Morhaim, I recognized it as an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Howard’s is a highly respected name in the industry, and I knew I could go far under his tutelage if I played my cards right. The rest is history. 

GLA: You've indicated you're looking for memoir and biography; nonfiction on the topics of pop culture, music, science, and travel; and historical novels, science fiction, and mysteries. Do any other kinds of manuscripts interest you?

BB: I really love big idea books, and books about broad sociological phenomena, but will only consider them if they are written by experts in their fields. I love books that shed new light on something in pop culture, media culture, and everyday life. In terms of fiction, I also like Southern fiction, experimental fiction, and cross-cultural novels. Quirky, funny, edgy, or naughty book ideas are always welcome in my inbox, and bonus points go to any authors that can make me laugh.

GLA: Do you consider screenplays? Graphic novels?
 
BB: I don’t consider screenplays or graphic novels, but I do consider graphic nonfiction. I currently have several cartoonists and illustrators on my list, some working with writers and others developing content on their own.
 
GLA: How do you prefer to be contacted by writers seeking representation?

BB: E-mail! I prefer to do all of my business online.

GLA: Is the Internet dramatically changing the way you do business? If so, in what ways?
 
BB: I do pretty much all of my business online, and that includes scouting for clients, offering representation, e-mailing back and forth with authors, submitting to editors, doing market research, and more.  I do find a lot of clients online. I read pop culture and industry blogs to stay updated on current trends. I read the New York Times online. And when I’m browsing, I bookmark reviews, articles, and blogs from new authors I love.
 
GLA: Do you want to receive queries from writers who reside in countries other than the U.S.?
 
BB: I’m a big fan of cross-cultural fiction. As long as the writing is up to par (the writer is proficient in American English) and the subjects, examples, and anecdotes hold interest in the States, I’m game.
 
GLA: What kinds of writing credentials or professional affiliations do you look for when you receive a query?

BB: For nonfiction queries, it is essential that the writer be an expert in his or her field. For fiction and memoir, awards and blurbs from established authors are always nice, as are mentions of participation in well-respected writers’ groups and conferences. They show me that the author is serious about his or her work.
 
GLA: Do you identify and acquire new clients from among contest winners, whose work is published in literary journals, or through online networking sites for emerging writers?
 
BB: I have acquired several clients from writers’ conferences. I have not yet picked up any writers from literary journals, but I’ve found several nonfiction writers online through sites like ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) and through mentions on popular blogs (usually media and pop culture blogs).
 
GLA: If a writer sends you a promising query outside your specific areas of interest, will you pass it along to one of your colleagues at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency?

BB: If the query letter is intriguing enough for me to read the material, and the material impressive enough for me to wish I sold a certain type of book, then yes, I would pass the writer along. My colleagues at HMLA also work on YA, fantasy, paranormal romance, graphic novels, history, and craft. I don’t work in these genres because they don’t interest me as much, so the query letter would have to be really good. Sometimes I pass along material that’s too literary for my list to a network of young agents. But again, the material really has to stand out for me to pass along my recommendation.

GLA:    Do you read any publishing industry periodicals or blogs that might also be helpful to prospective clients?

BB: In terms of publishing industry, I read Publisher’s Weekly (both the print and online editions), Galleycat, PublishingTrends.com, Gawker, PubRants, the New York Times' PaperCuts, and Bookslut. As for other blogs and websites, I’m so all-over-the-map it would be hard to create a comprehensive list. That said, some of my regular stops are Jezebel.com, Boing Boing, Metafilter, Digg, 3 Quarks Daily, The Consumerist, Fark.com, The Believer, What Would Tyler Durden Do?, Pitchfork, and Stereogum.
 
GLA: We know you'll be presenting an information session and taking pitches at the 2008 Las Vegas Writer's Conference (April 17-19, 2008). Will you be attending any other conferences or events in the future where writers can meet you?

BB: I will also be attending the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Summer Conference in Seattle, the Alaska Writers Guild’s 2008 Speculative Fiction Writers Conference in Anchorage, and Words & Music in New Orleans.

GLA: You also teach a one-day mediabistro workshop with Susan Shapiro. How do you prefer to be approached by prospective clients in person at a workshop or business event—other than during a scheduled pitch session?
 
BB: I don’t mind writers coming up before or after any panel discussions or speaking engagements. I also don’t mind writers approaching me at cocktail or mingling parties at conferences, as long as they aren’t too heavy-handed with their pitches. That’s why those events are set up. The only times I really get frustrated are at meals, when I’m busy talking to other colleagues, or at end-of-conference type banquet events. If the event is for relaxing and celebrating, and not networking and pitching, I intend to do just that.
 
GLA: What do you want prospective clients to know about you?

BB: I believe that the agent-author relationship should be open and collaborative. When it comes to editing, I always want there to be a dialogue about what’s working, what isn’t, and why, and I want my clients to feel comfortable being honest with me. Writers at conferences have flattered me by telling me how approachable I am. Wonderful! I’m a firm believer in pulling back the curtain on book publishing and don’t think it should be shrouded in such mystery and intrigue. I will always strive to speak openly about the way this business works. When I sign a client, I consider from that point on that we are a team.

GLA: To a writer looking for an agent, can you offer advice about something we haven't discussed?

BB: It still surprises me how many writers are angry or defensive when agents reject their work. It’s a wasted opportunity. We invest countless hours reading book proposals and giving each proposal careful thought. We have firsthand knowledge of what’s selling (or easy to sell) and what’s not. Rather than firing off a counter-response (which has probably never convinced an agent in the history of agenting), authors should use the opportunity to find out why they were rejected and improve their future chances of success. It is not rude to ask for more detailed feedback following a rejection, as long as the request is polite. We may be able to give advice or point out character, dialogue, pacing, pitch, or structural issues that you might have missed. It could also lead to a referral or a request to resubmit.

      Brandi Bowles has been an agent with Howard Morhaim Literary Agency, Inc., in Brooklyn, New York, since 2007. She was previously an assistant editor at Three Rivers Press. Her specialty is pop culture, and she’s an avid observer of media trends who likes the idea of making the publishing business more transparent.

Agent Nathan Bransford has his "Anatomy of a Great Query Letter" posts.  So, on my blog, for educational purposes only, I present "Anatomy of a Bad Query Letter" (Part 1).

Obviously, I've changed names and places to protect this writer.

Check out the original letter and then I'll dissect it below...

-----------------

Awesome Writer
123 Main St.
Address

Date, Year

Dear Agent,

I am seeking representation to market a collection of my original short stories, entitled XXXX. My goal is publication to a mass audience, not only to English-speaking readers, but globally, to have translations of my work available in several languages.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from the University of XXXX. I wrote my first story in January 2006, and I have since begun to also write a body of poetry. My short stories are science-fiction adventures with an ecological angle.  Teenagers and young adults comprise my target audience. In a perfect world, I feel I could best get my message across in a television series adapted from the stories. That would be my long-range goal. However, unlike current popular TV programs and films of intergalactic warfare, my work stresses the interconnectedness of all life and the sacredness of Earth’s wilderness.

Publication in New Age and ecological magazines would be a logical first step for me. With the collection of I am submitting here, I welcome your input. What follows here is what I could see as possible back cover endorsements/promotions of the collection:

     - "Awesome Writer’s collection of stories has a more than sufficient number of surprises and compelling plot twists to engage the 12-25 set, with a skillful juxtaposition of science- fiction and spirituality."

     - "XXXX demonstrates the discerning and thoughtful intelligence of an author who personally survived a traumatic childhood event, and then spent nearly ten years as a teen and young adult on a spiritual healing quest. Write rshares this learning and experience in an authentic way, through his delightful characters, both human and alien."

     - "XXXX crosses a frontier familiar to many teen and young adults in the science- fiction/magic adventure genre, but differentiates itself in a message of hope for humanity and the planet, without preaching. The stories evoke the Arthurian legends in their mysticism and magic, but instead of knights, wizards and kings, benevolent aliens team up with humans. These stories could possibly become as loved by the new generation of youth as the film E.T. was thirty years ago."

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Awesome Writer
E-mail: awesomewriter@yahoo.net

----------------

OK, here we go...

I am seeking representation to market a collection of my original short stories, entitled XXXX.  I like the straightforward approach to begin, but note how your collection is "titled," not "entitled." My goal is publication to a mass audience, not only to English-speaking readers, but globally, to have translations of my work available in several languages.  This is what another blogged called "Thinking Too Far Ahead Syndrome" (TTFAS).  Stick to pitching your work.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from the University of XXXX. I wrote my first story in January 2006, and I have since begun to also write a body of poetry.  Awesome!!  Wait - why does this matter?  My short stories are science-fiction adventures with an ecological angle.  Teenagers and young adults comprise my target audience. Kind of cool.  Will voracious YA readers gobble up a short story collection?  They just might, but this cool note is not expounded and buried in mistakes.  Pity.  In a perfect world, I feel I could best get my message across in a television series adapted from the stories. That would be my long-range goal. Way too much TTFAS!  However, unlike current popular TV programs and films of intergalactic warfare, my work stresses the interconnectedness of all life and the sacredness of Earth’s wilderness.

Publication in New Age and ecological magazines would be a logical first step for me. Probably - so go do it!  With the collection of I am submitting here, I welcome your input. Input as to what?  How to begin?  An agent wants to sell your work and make money, not give you career advice for free.  What follows here is what I could see as possible back cover endorsements/promotions of the collection:  This doesn't bode well...

     - "Awesome Writer’s collection of stories has a more than sufficient number of surprises and compelling plot twists to engage the 12-25 set, with a skillful juxtaposition of science- fiction and spirituality."

     - "XXXX demonstrates the discerning and thoughtful intelligence of an author who personally survived a traumatic childhood event, and then spent nearly ten years as a teen and young adult on a spiritual healing quest. Writer shares this learning and experience in an authentic way, through his delightful characters, both human and alien."

     - "XXXX crosses a frontier familiar to many teen and young adults in the science- fiction/magic adventure genre, but differentiates itself in a message of hope for humanity and the planet, without preaching. The stories evoke the Arthurian legends in their mysticism and magic, but instead of knights, wizards and kings, benevolent aliens team up with humans. These stories could possibly become as loved by the new generation of youth as the film E.T. was thirty years ago."

Ohhh-kay.  I get the gist.  Maybe this is a unique take on the pitch, as you want to "pitch through blurbs," but it doesn't work.  Conjuring up fake praise comes off as not only amateurish, but a bit egotistical.  Meanwhile, the cool idea of sci-fi short stories for teenagers is never explained well, even to the point where the interconnecting themes are not identified.

Furthermore, agents will usually not pick up a short story collection from a new writer.  The best way to get such a collection published is to write novels, gather a readership, and then publish it.  If you are an amateur and want to get them sold, I highly suggest getting some awards and honors for a few of them.

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely yours,

What about just "sincerely"?  Isn't that good enough anymore?  I've seen "sincerely yours" a lot recently.  This sounds kinda flirty ... maybe it's just me.

Just got back from Vermont and the League of Vermont Writers' spring session, where I spoke on all things agents.  Good little group up there, and everyone was quite nice.

I got to see plenty of the state (it's not exactly that big...) as we traveled from Burlington - the super green-liberal upper northwest section where the University of Vermont is - to Rutland in the middle of the state.  Just like you would expect, the state is chock full of these small cities, towns and "junctions" that each have their own small white churches with steeples.  Check out the pictures below to get some more Green Mountain State flavor (and I'm not just talking maple syrup).

Me taking "practice pitches" from
writers. They were practicing in
preparation for agents coming in July.

Off to Rutland, Vt. in a few days for the spring session of the League of Vermont Writers.  It's not exactly a conference, per say, as I am one of the only speakers.  I'll be doing a lot of speaking on queries, pitching and agents so attendees can soak up info in preperation of a mini agent pitch slam that the league is hosting in July.  (If you live in/near Vermont, consider going.)

I'm critiquing work and meeting with writers up there to talk.  I'm looking at fiction, mostly - synopses and manuscripts.  Here are some thoughts after reading samples for a while:

• Always include a header on your work.  That's the thing up top (not part of the regular text) that says NAME / PAGE NUMBER.
• Synopses have a very specific format.  I've blogged about this before, so I won't go into everything, but remember that characters are CAPITALIZED when introduced.  Also, the more names you have in the synopsis (and pitch, for that matter), the more confusing it is for us. 
• Avoid super-general sentences, such as "She overcomes her fear to achieve self-confidence and happiness."
• Avoid scenes where characters converse and summarize a scene that just happened.  We were there.  We remember.  Perhaps worse: Try not to skip a potentially awesome scene, only to tell all about it through dialogue as someone tells another character what happened at this awesome scene we missed.  This is telling, not showing.
• In queries, avoid telling the agent how the story should make readers feel, such as "this will make readers smile" or "my story will hopefully brighten your day."

State and Main was set and filmed in Vermont. 
GO YOU HUSKIES.

I'm in Colorado wrapping up the Northern Colorado Writers' Conference and, let me just say, it has been an excellent conference from start to finish.  Kudos to organizer Kerrie Flanagan for doing such a great job. 

So what was Fort Collins like?  Look at the picture below and see for yourself.  It was a very awesome town at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.  It's also a college town somewhat (CSU is there) and is big into the "Green" movement and living clean.