| After nine months of writing and five more | | | | wanted it perfect. |
| months of editing, I was ready to search for an | | | | It's hard not to read the realistic but, negative |
| agent. It began with Jeff Herman's Guide Book to | | | | articles. The de-motivating ones tell you how hard |
| Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents | | | | it is to get a contract with a commercial publishing |
| recommended by people on every side of the | | | | house, and at least equally difficult to find an |
| publishing world. When it arrived from Amazon, | | | | agent. Many now famous, and well paid, authors |
| and I noted the overwhelming number of agents | | | | faced the same situation. Stephen King, J.K. |
| to read about, I let it sit on my desk, and keep | | | | Rowling, and George Orwell were a few that |
| me company. Finally, I attacked the project and | | | | faced a lot of rejection before success. Nicholas |
| narrowed down the agencies within driving | | | | Sparks was asked how he chose and agent, and |
| distance, so if they were interested, I could | | | | he answered that he chose the one that said |
| eventually meet with them. If they were going to | | | | 'yes.' I won't give up. One agent will realize my |
| become part of my life, I wanted to be sure we | | | | potential. |
| would make a great team. Then I read for hours | | | | The time to actually send the letter had arrived, |
| to match the agent's criteria to my book. As a | | | | and I found myself hesitant. I had to push myself, |
| record keeping method, because I could tell I was | | | | but finally, recently, I sent out several letters. |
| going to need it, I created a spreadsheet with all | | | | After I hit the 'send' button, I felt sick. I just |
| their pertinent information. | | | | handed over my fate. Almost immediately, I |
| It was time to solicit their interest with a query | | | | received a few auto-responses letting me know |
| letter, but first I had to write one. I read a ton of | | | | that they will respond only if interested. Interested |
| information on the internet, and in print on writing | | | | doesn't mean landed an agent. It means, my |
| query letters. I checked each agency's website | | | | query letter did its job, and they're interested in |
| for the most up to date submission guidelines. | | | | reading some, or all of my manuscript. It took |
| They are specific, and they vary. One page and | | | | less than twelve hours to get my first rejection. |
| one chance to catch their attention didn't sound | | | | It was an agent's version of 'it's not you, it's me' |
| like good odds to me. To include everything I | | | | in an email. |
| thought they needed to know in one page was | | | | Now, I play the waiting game. I check my email |
| not an easy task. In fact, I added a 'query | | | | regularly, and make sure I haven't missed any |
| continued' page on my website, which is currently | | | | calls. While I wait, I'm being positive and proactive. |
| geared towards finding an agent. I took an extra | | | | I'm starting my next book. After all, once they |
| step, and paid a professional editor to edit the | | | | realize my talent, they'll be pushing for another L J |
| letter. If this tiny glimpse into my story, my | | | | King crime fiction. I'll be ready. |
| writing, and my credentials held my destiny, I | | | | |