Several months ago I started to query
literary agents for my first novel, which I wrote last year during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). At the time, I
considered writing the odd blog to keep everyone updated on the progress… does
the term wading through cold molasses mean anything to you?
Rejection hurts!
Well, due to a variety of assorted reasons
(excuses), the plan to write a series on agent querying ground to a halt after the first five polite
rejections. It really doesn’t matter how
polite the rejection is, or how stoic you’ve received them at the time, it
still stings. Even though I kept reading
on all my writer/author forums that so many very famous authors were passed
over hundreds of times before a publishing company picked them up, I still didn’t want
to publicly share my humiliation.
Then I realized how cathartic it would be
to share with people who care or who have been through the process before and
can reassure me that it’ll be worth it in the end.
Playing the Agent Query Game Right
It’s a long, drawn out process that takes
time and a lot of effort if you do it right. Each query takes me a couple hours to write after
I’ve done the research to find the right agent… and after the synopsis is
written and re-written a hundred times and the first three chapters are
perfected yet again because they often ask for those up front.
Traditional Vs. Self-Publishing
But, I’m not giving up. I still have in the back of my mind that I
could self-publish. After doing a
webinar with Shelley Hitz and purchasing her Kindle layout template and guide (which were
very reasonably priced by the way), I was off to the races. I did a test run of a short e-book on authors doing their own PR (after all... I have 20 years in PR so had lots of advice to give) . I wanted to see how easy or difficult publishing a Kindle
e-book on Amazon would be and it was quite simple, once you know how. The actual upload onto Amazon is free, however, don’t forget to take into account the cost of
editing and cover design and then if you want to do a print version, the cost
for someone to do your layout… but I digress.
So, with that in my back pocket as plan B,
I continue to query agents and hope that someone will pick up my novel, Mental Pause.
Stay tuned!
Comments
So glad you found me! I love the Book Writers group. There's lots of great discussion and tremendous support.
What's your blog address? Let me know and I'll follow you too!
Anne :)
Be careful what you ask for because...Yes, I am so inclined! Thanks so much for the support. I'll be in touch :)
Anne
See what I've got going here: http://www.ariverofstones.com
Happy Writing!
Anne
I'm following you from Linkedin. I recently pitched my novel to an agent I met at a conference a few weeks ago. I've heard nothing so far, but I have some other places in mind. I don't want to self-publish if I can help it, but it's hard finding an agent. All the best to you.
Great to see you here! I think the secret is to get your novel in front of as many people as possible. Do you get Writers Digest? Every issue introduces agents who are looking for new writers. It typically explains what genres they're interested in and how they like to be queried. I've got a big long spread sheet and I send out about three at a time and I'll keep working through the list until one of three things happens: I get sick and tired of rejection, I've saved enough money to self-publish properly or I find the right agent for my novel! In the meantime, I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo and excited about getting my next novel underway!
Happy writing,
Anne