JSConner800 wrote:That Guy, how did you snag yourself that agent? I'm hoping to get my next novel published for real, and I'd love to get a few of my short stories out there, so if the agent route has worked out for you, I'd like to know the details.
Everyone I've spoken to has taken a slightly different path. I recently stumbled upon
some good words of advice from agented authors, so check out what other successful people have said if you're curious.
As for me, the LONG version is that it went like this.
First I wrote a book. It took about a year, including editing constantly chapter-by-chapter, and then editing the book as a whole two or three times, and then editing again with feedback from friends and family.
Then I wrote a query letter. There are lots of sites with advice on this. Read them. In brief, query needs 4 things: 1) A quick intro about why you picked them
(I see you represent, X, which is why I am eager to share...). 2) A brief explanation of your book in a nutshell
(In a war-torn future...) 3) A little about you and why you're well suited to write on your topic
(As an avid biologist with a masters in Marine Biology, I am passionate about the lives of Orcas...) 4) a sense of your writing voice all throughout.
Then queried agents. I found a list of legitimate accredited agents (run away if you ever find an agent who charges YOU a fee). I committed to sending ONE per DAY for one month, adjusting each query to tailor it to the agent I found. I didn't do this because it's the best way to find the best agent, but because it helped me get over the fear of rejection. By the end of week two I had a handful of "no" responses, many non-responses, and two requests for a full-manuscript. (Woohoo!)
I sent my manuscript to those agents. And waited. It went like
this. There were massive storms and blackouts. It was nuts.
I got my agent! After all the craziness and nervous waiting, I had an agent who was marvelous and very enthusiastic about the project. She gave me editorial suggestions. I edited again.
SHE queried editors. BIG names from BIG publishing houses were reading MY book. I got offers from MULTIPLE editors. They each included details about the direction they would want to take the book should I opt to sign with them. I turned down a SIX FIGURE 2-book offer from Penguin books in favor of the also generous offer from Algonquin Young Readers, because I felt the editor there was best suited to the story, and could not be happier with the decision.
My book was sold! Along with an unfinished sequel (which is STILL in the early revision process).
Edit edit edit edit... After another series of revisions, the book is finally all set to publish in September.
The SHORT version went like this (translated into the language of the internet—pictures of cats):
