Would you namedrop in a query?

[carolinayellowdog]

Hey,

I'm just finishing the first revision of a book manuscript and plan to start work on a query over the weekend. It's a history book and I'll first query the leading scholarly publisher in the state. I have a decent track record to cite in my query, in terms of the sales and critical/scholarly reception of three previous books. But they were in fields quite different from the present one, in which I'm an amateur without connections or credentials.

There is one exception to this lack of connections, an extremely well-regarded historian with whom I came into contact unexpectedly and who gave me considerable support and advice after reading a rough first draft. I can't see a way to write the query without alluding to several points about the book that he made in his comments. But am wondering whether or not it would be advisable to drop his name and quote some of his comments in the query. Perhaps it would be better just to paraphrase them (after getting his permission.) Would namedropping in a query be counterproductive?

If you're interested in the specific remarks in question, PM me and I'll send by reply.

CYD

[Orrex]

1. If it sounds as though you're name-dropping, don't do it

That is, if the average reader would identify the inclusion of the name as an effort to puff yourself up, you're better off without it. Save the endorsements for the book-jacket.

One exception is if the person in question carries particular weight with the specific company that you're querying. In that case, it could be useful--with the person's permission, of course--to do a little coattail-riding.

YMMV, of course!

[Taxloss]

2. I don't see the harm in name-dropping in this way.

But my advice is to keep it as brief as possible - limit it to just "Florian Historian said the book was 'truly enlightening'" and nothing else. That should be enough to pique interest, which is all you really want to do, without labouring it. If they want to hear more, they will ask.

Disclaimer: I know nothing about academic publishing.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. You certainly should namedrop

In this case, I'd go so far as to say that you must.

In a query letter, it's not namedropping. It's two things: an indication of your qualifications, and an eyecatcher that makes your query stand out from the crowd.

Doing this is established and accepted in the publishing biz. In fact, you should word your query letter so that you name the important person in the first sentence, as close to the beginning as possible. Often, it's only the first few words of a query that get read, and you want to be sure that the editor sees that name and therefore keeps reading.

[Orrex]

4. Upon reflection I don't dispute this, but I confess that it baffles me!

If I were reading something with a conspicuous name attached as an endorsement, the presence of that name would cause me to infer that it was intended to compensate for something perhaps lacking in the writing itself.

I suppose that my error is in thinking of this as if the query were a conventional job application. That is, if you're applying to be the new fry-guy at McDonald's, and your application mentions that your skills with liquid shortening are respected by Ronald himself, then I'd suspect fluff and bluster before top-notch fryer prowess.

But upon reading your framing of it, I am inclined to recant my original reply.

[DavidDvorkin]

5. Think of it as networking rather than applying for a job

The writer is approaching the publisher about a business deal, and he needs to demonstrate that he's not just some random outsider who thinks it would be nifty to be published but rather that he's in some sense already part of the gang.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

6. Ask the well-regarded historian

Get his take on it.

After all, I wouldn't especially want my name used on something that I wasn't wild about. If he's excited about your work, he'll give you the go-ahead.

If he's not, you do have a whole different problem on your hands.

In either event, it's an adventure.

Good luck.

[carolinayellowdog]

7. I decided against it; then he volunteered unexpectedly

Hey,

After deciding that name-dropping was probably not a good idea, I still wanted to paraphrase some comments the historian had made about the "hooks" in the manuscript. So I emailed asking his approval for that, and in giving it he volunteered that the editor I was querying knows him personally. Then he encouraged me to mention his enthusiasm for my project if I thought it would be helpful.

So this morning I finally put the query in the mail, and did namedrop after all. If any name might help, this would as the gentleman has won multiple awards in recent years.

CYD

[carolinayellowdog]

8. Hooray! Got through the first hurdle!

The publisher just sent me an author questionnaire to fill out and send along with the foreword to the book.

[Orrex]

9. Congratulations! Keep us posted! (nt)

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

10. How did I miss this thread?

ummm, Hell yes you should!

A query has to have gravitas from somewhere, if you can't get it, it goes in the shitcan.