My husband and I got in a chat about recommendations. He’s big into Linked In. I like the site too, though it’s not twitter. (Just sayin…)
On Linked In you put your resume up and connect with former/current employers and/or employees and/or co-workers. As you connect you are able to leave each other recommendations (As long as you have worked together in the past) and boost one another’s credibility. It’s an awesome feature and I don’t doubt it helps in the hiring process.
Our conversation began when we started talking about agents I like and how I know some of their clients via blogging/twitter.
He said, “You should get recommendations!”
Now I think this a great idea, but I felt like ‘eh’.
I explained that to me it seems like an unspoken rule between writers that we don’t cross that boundary. Kinda like the unspoken rule that you never date your best friends ex. Or the one where it is mandatory to tell a good friend that they have food in their teeth.
Nobody flat out makes these rules, they are just kinda there.
OR maybe it’s just me. I love my bloggy friends! I would never want them to think I am stalking following them just to earn me some recommendations. That is totally NOT the reason I stalk follow/read my favorite blogs and chat it up with my twitter folk! (Now in twitter language would that be Twolk? I’m totally trade marking that one!)
So what are your thoughts? Would you ask a friend for a recommendation before you queried their agent? If you have an agent, have you ever had anyone/everyone ask for a recommendation?
Please share your feelings. I am incredibly curious! (And I’d love to prove to the man that I am right about my unspoken rule that I may or may not have created all on my own)
Amy
I think I’d be too scared to ask for a recommendation. What if my friend didn’t feel my writing was up to par? That would put both of us into an awkward situation. Plus I’d worry that I’d crossed that unspoken boundary. :o)
T. Anne
Honestly I probably wouldn’t but I sure wish they would ask if I could use one!
Natalie
Um, yes. I think you should use every avenue you can. Referrals are a good thing and most agents like them (and with a referral you have a better chance of getting a partial read). The agent still has to connect with the writing and story, so there are no guarantees, but at least it helps get your foot in the door.
I have to read something before I can recommend it (obviously), and that is time consuming, and I’d feel really bad if I didn’t like it enough to pass it on to Sara. But if I have time, and if the person asking is a friend, I’m happy to read. 🙂
Danyelle
I think I’d be too scared to ask for a recommendation. What if my friend didn’t feel my writing was up to par? That would put both of us into an awkward situation. Plus I’d worry that I’d crossed that unspoken boundary. :o)