With queries, an industry staple, there is much conflicting info. An agent at a top agency said to "Give just a hint of the plot" in a query, yet I've read/heard to give a full paragraph blurb, including the ending. Another agent advised not giving a genre label, yet I've read that you should, that it lets the agent/editor know you're industry savvy. Same with the market.

One agent advised including the first five pages with a query. I've never heard that before. I've heard/read to send absolutely nothing but the query and even some who said to send the first three chapters and synop, and if the agent/editor is intrigued by the query, he can read something and then ask for more.

Amazing how individual industry people have a different take on things. And then they expect us lowly writers to "have a handle on the markets."

With one of my rejections, an agent told me sci-fi is not a good sell now, yet an agent at this conference said sci-fi and fantasy are doing well and even "breaking traditional boundaries" and that "people love genre fiction." An editor said he was expecting a sci-fi comeback, which means he believes sci-fi is now in a slump.

Rather confusing, no? Frustrating, but encouraging, too, since we can hope to get that industry personality who is receptive to our particular project.

Interesting note: Editors have separate contracts for agented and unagented authors. Should we read a word of warning into that?

Ah well. Such is the writing life.

I think that us lowly writers have to be on our toes, ask the right questions about different publishers / editors, and make the best calls based on our info.

Not much more we can do.