Some thoughts on finding an agent

A set of rules for approaching agents and publishers exists for writers. I have read a few books on the subject but the books do not provide definitive answers, at least not the books I am reading. They seem to contradict one another and really don’t provide a clearly cut path for approaching this seemingly convoluted business of agency.

Here’s the problem. Many will suggest that approaching an agent should be done one at a time. They also suggest researching agents who have a particular interest in the aspiring writer’s style of writing. This would not be so bad except for the length of time that a writer must wait before receiving a response from a prospective agent, if he or she receives anything at all. Agents may take months to reply to a query letter! This is apparently due to the number of query letters they receive daily. What does that mean? It means that a query letter must be painstakingly written to stand out above the crowd. After all, writers should know how to write, right? Not so fast. A query letter is not easy for any writer to construct. It has elements of style, yes, but it should also consider marketing techniques. It is a one shot deal on a single page that lets the agent know who you are, what you have written, and the ever important answer to the question, does it have a snowball’s chance in hell for generating a profit?

Okay, so you have perused all of the magazines, read articles and books, and have now developed a short list of potential agents. That is great! There is yet another step and that is to determine if the agents are accepting query letters. For that, you must go to their respective websites and read what they are accepting. By the way, I was surprised to find a whole new layer that exists below the agents. These are the screeners that will determine what their boss or client (the agent) will read and what they will not read. So, your first level of resistance may actually occur before your query letter reaches the agent. Here is a tip that I’ve seen written a few times. Treat everyone with respect. When you call and a secretary answers the phone, it pays to treat that person with the same respect and deference that you would show to the agent. Why? That person may be the first cut. That is, a secretary can destroy your efforts by simply not forwarding your information to the desired target. Of course, I think this is a good rule for life in general.

To further complicate matters, the whole publishing business landscape is changing rapidly. So what is so different? Publishers are much more selective toward manuscripts that have a higher probability of success. Coupled with fewer publishers, this raises the bar for writing a compelling query letter and a quality manuscript. At the same time, there are many who are pursuing the self publishing path. Although I do not believe it is entirely warranted, many independents regard publishers with distrust and resentment. What is the result? I think prospective writers are less willing to accept the traditional protocol for sending out queries one at a time. I believe folks are submitting multiple query letters to multiple agents.

While some may disagree, I think it is better to approach agents one at a time but to follow up in two weeks on each submission. Furthermore, I think placing a time requirement on an agent can have a negative impact on the chances for publishing a first manuscript. It is a small red flag that may indicate that a writer is not in the right frame of mind to navigate the whole publishing process. It also takes away from the strength of the query letter itself. It is a distraction. The query letter should be very compelling and should stand on it’s own merits, not force the issue with a prospective agent.

Personally, I think it is better to provide a reasonable amount of time between submissions. Not all agents will respond within two weeks, but I think it is a reasonable length of time to wait before following up with a call. A follow up call (or e-mail ONLY if the agent says it is ok) should be very professional and courteous. Ask if the agent has received the letter. Also, ask if the agent requires additional information. If you are connected directly to the agent, ask if he or she liked the query letter and if there is any interest. If not, simply ask why but do not expect to change anyone’s mind at this point. You have the information you were looking for and you now have every right to pursue other agents.

Yes, it is a long process, but I think taking a cautious approach makes sense. Why? Because it may be an indication of the strength of your query. Think of it this way. If your query is not that compelling, do you really want to broadcast it to every agent that may have an interest in your manuscript? I think the answer is no. You would be much better off to approach agents one at a time and make note of feedback along the way. Stated differently, you have not burned all of your bridges to those agents who may be in the best position to help you. You can make adjustments along the way that will improve your chances in the long run. Besides, submitting a query letter can offer a little closer access to the agent. Use the time wisely. Find out a little as you go and you might be surprised at the benefits that you receive.

Educational with entertainment value

I am confronted by a great mystery. That is, what does an aspiring writer put on a blog about publishing?

While it may seem abundantly clear that one would share the experience of publishing on a regular basis, there is a problem. That problem is the long amount of time that an aspiring writer must wait between steps. So, my plan is to provide my thoughts on a variety of relevant topics associated with getting a book published between the milestone events. Those topics will include the daily frustrations, my observations about the business, commentary on the elements of writing, samples of my writing and eventually....an actual milestone event. Of course, the milestone event might send me reeling in exasperation for not having accomplished my desired goal. That is, an event may be a rejection letter or a particularly nasty critique. So be it. I will report my experience, no matter how it might appear to the average reader. And you, my dear reader, can witness it all first hand without risking your neck. Hopefully, that is the value that I might offer.

Building a blog means getting folks to read it. That takes well placed resources, including time. I will make mistakes. But, I will hopefully learn from those mistakes. An ongoing account of activities could include my assessment of mistakes and lessons learned. So, I hope that I can provide an objective account of my routine with humility and grace. We’ll see what happens. I might have an online hissy fit and break something.....who knows.

Then, at some point, I must provide something of greater value to the reader. I must provide some sample of my fiction. I think it makes sense to offer something entertaining and compelling to those who might take a few minutes to read this blog. It is all I can offer really. It is my hope that samples of my work might generate interest over time. The small portion of my brain that deals with reality tells me there is a risk of not generating interest. Fortunately, that is offset by the larger part of my brain that is idealistic and creative. It says, go for it! Make a damn fool of yourself online! I don’t care. (Actually, I do care, but I will pretend not to care if that is ok)

So, it is my intention to provide maybe a small amount of entertainment as I progress. Self-deprecating, embarrassing stuff that no sane person would reveal about themselves....all right here in the coming weeks! So, please tune in and see if I will self destruct or maybe.....just maybe.....get a lucky break.

From short story to long story and more

My short story, The Vase, was part of an actual gift exchange in 2009. I did have an old mahogany vase with matching lid from Jamaica. I put dry cement into a plastic bag and sealed it into the vase and wrapped it. I put the story and manifest sheet into an envelope which accompanied the vase. So, the story was actually ABOUT the actual event that we planned to attend. It was a big hit. In fact, we attended this year's party and the vase was re-gifted.

I invented a few characters and began writing character bio's soon after the party in 2009. After about two months, I had an outline and was ready to begin writing. The result of my planning seem to pay off as I was quite surprised to write an additional 65,000 words in a little less than two weeks.

Of course, I spent a lot of time editing and now the manuscript is at revision five.

Currently, I have submitted the manuscript to Sourcebooks in Naperville. It has been fourteen weeks, but I know that it takes a while for a publishing company to review a fiction manuscript, so I am working on my plans for additional work in the meantime.

The first order of business is to prepare a solid query letter that I will send to a very select few agents. I have a list of possible agents, but the process is very long as agents also require a long time for reviewing manuscripts. I think I have a good start, but feel that I must wait for a response from Sourcebooks before I send a query to an agent.

This business of writing is not easy for an old guy like me from a different line of work. It requires a lot of patience and also a great deal of humility. Everything I've read indicates that pushing ahead before doing your homework can have very bad results. For instance, sending out manuscripts before they are ready, approaching the wrong agents, and attempting to shortcut the painstaking process of accessing professionals can all damage a writer's reputation very quickly. These folks have seen it all, and they have a tendency to appreciate a writer's due diligence.

So, it also pays to have a plan for maintaining positive momentum while waiting for a response from agents and independent publishers.

My plan is to educate myself on the business while continuing to produce creative collateral. It is a convoluted business and some of the information is contradictory, but it pays to research before making a fatal mistake that could have been the best possible opportunity for your work. Stated differently, rushing in can result in a burned bridge to your best possible resource if you are not careful. It is better to understand the landscape before moving ahead in this case, I think.

The marketing aspects of self promotion are daunting. This also requires a great deal of research and patience. I recently attended a bookstore event in which David Sterry and Arielle Eckstut, co-authors of The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published compared marketing collateral to a dowry. That is, today you should present yourself along with your marketing collateral as a demonstration of your commitment and ability. I have a website, but I am writing this very blog as an attempt to expand. Videos on YouTube, articles and guest blogs can also help a writer to build a following OVER TIME. It does not happen overnight!

Finally, I continue to write. I write on several blogs with some regularity, but I still have a backlog of short story ideas that I continue to produce between large projects. In fact, I wrote a short story this morning along with several relatively long blogs on our writer's group site. Yesterday, I worked on a new set of character bio's and the beginning of an outline for a possible prequel to my existing manuscript, Box of Dreams. It is a more in depth character study of the autistic son of my main characters, Art and Karen. I am considering a separate blog that will follow my writing process as I create this story. The point is, I remain busy with a variety of projects, both business related and creative as I wait for an answer from Sourcebooks.

So, now I have a manuscript

Last year, I wrote a 70,000 word fiction manuscript entitled Box of Dreams, an adventure of self discovery existing somewhere between The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez Reverte.

Here is my pitch: Art's career has been sabotaged. His autistic son has been murdered. Even his suicide attempt is thwarted. But, Art's life is about to change forever as he discovers his great, great, grandfather's diary written in Vigenere's code. Art encounters a slutty ex-girlfriend, her manipulative mother, and old friends as he attempts to unravel the mysterious code in search of lost Confederate gold.

So, I'm thinking, maybe I should write about my experience. Maybe there is a benefit to maintaining a journal of sorts as I unlock the mysteries of promoting my manuscript. Hmmmmm.....sounds like a plan.