JON STERNFELD

A former creative writing and literature teacher, Jon Sternfeld is a book lover, first and foremost; he views agenting as an extension of this passion. Jon is looking for literary fiction (including well-researched dramas and historical thrillers) and narrative non-fiction that deals with historical, social, or cultural issues. He has a particular interest in fiction that has a large, ambitious canvas (exploring a time, place, or culture) or non-fiction that does the same. Always up for an adventure, Jon once canoed the entire length of the Mississippi River and sold a new author for a hefty six figures--but not in the same week.

 

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: How did you first get your start as a literary agent?

JON STERNFELD: After leaving teaching, I started as Irene Goodman’s assistant – reading slush and learning the basics of the business. After a few months, she offered to train and make me an agent.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK:You started out as a Creative Writing and Literature teacher. In your opinion is Creative Writing generally taught well? Does it prepare students well for the “real” world of trying to make a living as a writer? Is that/should that even be its purpose?

JON STERNFELD: That’s a good question. I think the nature of writing classes is that they depend on the teacher and the students. I’ve both taught and taken many writing workshops and each one is at the mercy of the dynamic between the students and why they’re there.

Whether or not it prepares students for the real world of writing, I’m not sure. Getting an impartial audience is invaluable but I think writing classes at the college level should spend more time with the business side of publishing – if it’s craft alone, the writers still are lost in terms of getting started.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: How did the job at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency come to you?

JON STERNFELD: After leaving teaching, I knew I wanted to be in publishing, but knew that editorial jobs are very difficult to get, especially for someone a bit ‘older’ (I was 28 at the time). Agenting made sense and I’m so glad that I made that choice.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: I read in another interview that you worked in the film industry in a creative and development capacity before making the move to agenting books. What can you tell us about that experience? Specifically, what was the single most important thing you learned about how a movie gets made (perhaps from a book adaptation route)?

JON STERNFELD: When I was younger I did work in the development department of a film company. I was a huge film fan in my teens, early 20’s and the job just made me realize how difficult (and arbitrary) the process of getting films made is. After awhile it bothered me to continue;  I gave up on the idea of making it a career.  I learned that a movie often gets made b/c someone who is ‘important’ in the industry wants it to happen – rarely does the quality of the project have anything to do with it.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: You’ve said elsewhere that you have three main criteria when reading a query letter: “1) Does it interest me? 2) Does it appear to be well done? 3) Can I sell it?” For our audience at howtopublishabook.org, what exactly are you interested in? What books do you most want to see?

JON STERNFELD: I love literary fiction with a great premise, something that’s well-written but also spins a surprising and original story, often on a large canvas. I also love narrative non-fiction, whether it’s offbeat memoir, politics, current events, science or history. I’m a sucker for an undiscovered and untold story that’s well executed.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: Because the overwhelming majority of aspiring writers simply don’t have the goods to publish with a major publisher, what should all these folks do with their books? What are your thoughts on self-publishing and eBook publishing as a vehicle for the hundreds of thousands of books that aren’t right for traditional publishing?

JON STERNFELD: Another good question. Publishing with the big guys simply isn’t for everybody. It depends on what you want. If you just want to get a book out there, self-publishing offers that to people. Ebooks are changing the power dynamic b/w publishers, writers, and readers, so I’d recommend the e-route to writers who have tried the big and mid-list houses and haven’t broken through or just know that they won’t. I’d still recommend that someone looking to be professional writer try the agent/major publisher route, if only b/c they can get your work to the largest audience. I often say that writing is one of those professions everyone thinks they can do (unlike say, welding) because everyone knows the alphabet.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: What is the best way for potential clients to contact you?

JON STERNFELD: Through the agency’s email – queries@irenegoodman.com. They can address the query letter to me. If it’s something I’m interested in, I’ll ask to read more – we just get too many queries for me to respond to all of them.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: What is the best query letter you’ve ever seen? What was the worst?

JON STERNFELD: Hmm…the best would be the shortest – it was for Paul Grossman’s THE SLEEPWALKERS, which is just out with St. Martin’s. The query was super short – an evocative three line description of the book, a couple of facts about the writer. The reason I loved it is that it worked! It made me ask to read more because the pitch was written in a way that didn’t give too much away. Writers want to draw agents in, not bury them in information about their book.

The worst are the ones that try to be too ‘different’ and cute – not following guidelines, being too informal, anything that tries to ‘charm’ me – I’d rather the work speak for itself.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: Describe your dream client.

JON STERNFELD: I’m fortunate that a lot of my clients act like my dream client! A committed and dedicated writer who loves to revise, who is open to my suggestions but also has a clear vision for what he/she wants for both a single book and for the long haul. Just an open-minded professional who has guts – that’s my dream client.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: If you could change one major aspect of traditional publishing, what would it be?

JON STERNFELD: I’d love to see publishers get more behind debut fiction – it doesn’t get the audience it deserves because publishers seem reticent to come out loudly for something new and untested.

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK: Where would you like to be professionally in five years?

JON STERNFELD: I’d like my current stable of clients to all be on their third or fourth books and enjoying the trajectory of their careers. I’d love to continue to get excited about finding new clients and projects because that’s the fuel that keeps us going as agents.

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