Is anyone here an avid reader?
Strange posting this on forum like SBR but that's one of the interesting aspects of this forum. The topics truly run the gamut. Anyway, I have completed a manuscript and have just begun the arduous task of seeking an agent. This is a fictional work and I would have to categorize it as a John Grisham type novel although it has very little to do with the law. I had it vetted by some very smart people but I have tweaked it quite a bit and now feel as though this is close to the finished product. I have recently received the copyright papers on it, therefore I feel more comfortable talking about it. Telle me what you know, what you've done or what you like to read.
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Dude this is SBR...Comment -
The only thing I read is lines on the sportsbooks.Comment -
First of all, congratulations on completing a novel length manuscript! That is no easy task!Originally posted by Swinging Johnson
As you set on the challenging task of securing agent representation of your work, allow me to make a couple suggestions: Ensure that you target your manuscript to agents who deal with the type of book you have written, and ensure that you follow their submission guidelines. Most manuscripts fail to see the light of day simply because the author failed to do one of those two things. Do not allow complacency to set in. I recommend that you check out the Donald Maas Literary Agency. Maas has written some very insightful books on what agents look for, and a couple agents who work for him have a blog. It will give you a very good idea on how to approach an agent, and will also give you a dose of reality when an agent says that she received 240 submissions in the past week and she rejected every single one of them. This is why following the submission guidelines and maintaining a professional attitude at all times is crucial. Even if the agent rejects your work, she is much more likely to give you a second look down the line. Do not -- I repeat, DO NOT -- fail to be professional in your correspondence with a prospective agent. Even if the agent declines to represent you, send him a courtesy letter thanking him for his time. Consider approaching an agent as a job interview. In short, do your research.
Ensure the manuscript is the best you can make it prior to sending it out. You only get one chance to make a good first impression! While most agents have backgrounds in the editorial process, that is no excuse for sending them manuscripts filled with grammatical errors or poorly written passages. Regardless of how well you revise your work, an agent will make corrections as she reads it. No matter how solid your story is, an agent will lose patience quickly if she is having to correct simple errors that a spell check or grammar check would have caught. An agent told me once that a lot of writers seem to think that just because they wrote a 500 page story that they should get a pass for poor writing. Believe it or not, 90% of manuscripts are rejected on first glance simply because the author failed to A) ensure the agent he queried handled that particular line of work B) failed to follow the guidelines for submission (agents are different, but most prefer something along the lines of a query letter with the first 5 pages of the book) or C) failed to properly revise the manuscript and the agent ran out of patience halfway through the first page. Think of all the potentially great books we will never get to read simply because the author failed to pay attention to detail!
Last of all, be prepared to wait. Agents are very busy with the authors they already represent. From working one on one with the authors to securing book contracts to attending editorial meetings, agents have little time, and with the unemployment rate hovering at almost 10%, they have seen an influx of submissions. But they are always on the lookout for new talent, and often spend their evenings pouring through the submissions they receive, hoping to find that diamond in the rough. Expect your wait to be anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months after sending your initial query. Don't give up and take criticism in stride.
Again, congratulations on finishing your novel and best of luck! I hope this helped, and if you have any further questions feel free to ask either in this thread or via PM.Comment -
Writer's Market
I'm unsure if there is an equivalent publication in the states but this reference is comprehensive nonetheless.
Just keep sending the manuscript out. Best tactic is a shotgun scatter shot approach.Comment -
I am impressed, Swinging Johnson! Have you thought of sending a chapter to a creative writing conference? That is what I do with my poetry, you always get valuable feedback this way. Also, your manuscript will probably be rejected...several times. Not giving up and stubbornly sending it off again seems to be the key. Many friends of mine publish merely a small portion of what they actually write. The market is harsh. They literally keep lists of publishers and check them off one by one with every rejection. I also am sometime sinvited to rejection parties so we all stay motivated.
I read, yes. Right now Kate Chopin, some German contemporary authors, and "Into the Wild"...
Are you aware of your audience? The more precisely you narrow down your audience, the more likely you will find a publisher for your piece.
Best of luck, J!
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