Tuesday in the Life of an Agent: Pitching Projects
Author: Rachel Zurakowski
Location: Books & Such Main Office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Tuesday morning started out much like Monday morning, but I managed to get a shower. Things are looking up!
With coffee in hand, I arrive in the office and survey the damage left during the few hours I was gone.
Email box full? Check!
Query box full? Check! (How is this even fair? I spent yesterday clearing it.)
Stack of mail at least two feet high? Check! (I really need to get to that reading.)
Calendar? It’s possible that I have a phone call or two.
The main agenda for today involves sending out my authors’ projects to editors. This starts as research. I look at my list of projects and my lists of editors, and I decide which editors I should send projects to. Sometimes I pop onto Publishersmarketplace.com to do a little research. I can look at recent deals made by editors to see what interests them. I then send the pitches to editors if they haven’t already requested to see a certain project. When the project is requested either through a meeting, a query, or our web page, I send the proposal or manuscript out right away. I also spend some Tuesday time writing pitches for projects and editing proposals.
Throughout the day I answer important messages in my inbox as well.
That’s usually enough to fill any Tuesday.
I think I’ll go out to a restaurant for dinner tonight. It’s my birthday!
By Rachel Kent on Jun 15, 2010 in Blog | 24 Comments
You’re one step ahead of me with that shower. Happy Birthday, Rachel!
~ Wendy
Wendy
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Really? Happy BIRTHDAY!
Oh yes. Dinner is a must. AND CHOCOLATE!
Have a great day, Rachel.
Lynn Rush
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy, happy birthday!!! Have a great day and (to be cheesy) smile, God loves you!
patriciazell
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy Birthday! I’m sure a full box of e-mails and queries isn’t the best gift you’ll receive!
Thanks for the peek into your day. It’s interesting to read about!
Jill Kemerer
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Ah, hope your b-day is fantastic!
Samantha Bennett
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy birthday, Rachel!
…and thanks for these posts. Somehow it’s comforting to know that your day starts out pretty much like mine.
Lynn Dean
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy birthday, Rachel! Thanks for the insight into an agent’s life.
Teri Dawn Smith
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
May the Lord bless and keep you and shine His face upon you on this day He ordained for your birth. Happy Birthday, Rachel!
Nicole
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy Birthday, Rachel!! Go and eat something really fattening for me.
Andrea
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
This is very interesting. Thanks for the post. And happy birthday!
shawn smucker
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Rachel, Happy birthday! I hope you have a blessed day and a good dinner. Thank you for blessing us with your posts.
Timothy Klingerman
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Cecelia Dowdy
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy birthday, Rachel! Praying this next year is your best yet – filled with winning pitches and great books:)
laura frantz
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy Birthday! Hope you feel young today, full of happiness and energy, and sell a dozen projects to rich and generous publishers.
And you really should get to that reading pile. Never know when there might be a groundbreaking, mind-bending, heart-wrenching, impossible-to-put-down, brilliant new manuscript from one of your clients. Not unlike the one that arrived at your door last week.
James Andrew Wilson
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy Birthday! I thought agents were busy, but to hear your schedule makes me complain less about my job. I’ll take procrastinating pastors any day. LOL
NikoleHahn
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
I feel like I’m late in the queue, but
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and thanks for the thoughts and advice you so kindly share with us through the blog.
Lucy
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for all the birthday wishes!
Rachel Zurakowski
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
I’m really enjoying this look into the life of an agent. Have a splendid birthday. You should have taken the day off to celebrate — but then that pile would be even larger tomorrow, right?
Karen Barnett
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy Birthday Rachel! I hope your dinner was delicious!
I think you may have a couple amazing pieces of work in the two foot high pile of mail!
Rachel Pudelek
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Have a wonderful birthday, Rachel!
I really enjoy your posts and I’m looking forward to your next!
Caleb Breakey
Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Happy Late Birthday! I’ve enjoyed reading these posts and capturing a glimpse inside your very busy life.
Morgan Busse
Jun 16, 2010 | Reply
Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Rachel. I’m a day late in catching up on my blogs, but it’s great to get a peek inside your day-to-day. What a great idea for a blog series.
Lori Benton
Jun 16, 2010 | Reply
I missed this post yesterday! Hope you had a wonderful birthday. Thanks for sharing your hectic life with us. It’s busy on our side of the desk too.
Melinda Evaul
Jun 16, 2010 | Reply
Happy Belated Birthday! I hope it was a good one! Enjoying your posts, thank you!
Sherry Carnahan
Jun 22, 2010 | Reply