The tagline says it all: I have officially started my quest to find (and land) a literary agent and get my dang novel published.
What am I even doing? Why am I doing it? Who am I going to query? How will I find an agent? Where am I even looking?
These questions, among many more, are perched upon the tip-top of the massive mountain I’m climbing. I figure, hey, I should start documenting this process! Especially since I have no idea what I’m doing and I’m pretty much on my own here. Maybe the things I learn along the way will help someone else on their path to print. That and, I need to savor this moment. I really want to remember this process and the work it took to get my book on your shelves!
I graduated college like… well, let’s just say a long time ago (yikes, how did I get this old?) and the information provided in one of the classes I took on querying is lost in the abyss of my memory. Thankfully, I do still have some of the materials, somewhere… but as I forge down this path, I’m leaning on these three strong resources. They are:
IMHO, these three provide a wealth of publishing knowledge and are well worth the subscriptions. Kate’s Substack especially. I became a subscriber earlier this year and have already found such great information to get started, like her posts on How to Research Literary Agents and her in-depth advice on how to craft a query letter (in three parts — I only linked to the first — and we are hashtag BLESSED).
I have been a subscriber of Poets & Writers and Writer’s Digest for over a decade. Outside of publishing information, these two magazines have provided me so much help with my writing, from prompts to advice and so much more. If you’re into this kind of thing, I highly recommend subscribing!
Okay, now that I have these resources at the tips of my fingers… where do I actually start? Well, for me, it’s two-fold:
draft/revise/finalize a query letter; and
start researching agents.
A couple of years ago, I participated in a Writers Digest conference for mystery and thriller writing. A perk that came with my ticket was the opportunity to get feedback on a query letter. At that time, I was nearly finished with draft three of my novel. I didn’t have a title just yet, but I knew where the rest of the story was going.
One of the panels helped me refine my synopsis and elevator pitch, which boosted my confidence to get a decent query together. I reviewed the list of participating agents and picked two based off their submission guidelines and types of work for which they are looking. I put it all together and sent it off, hoping I didn’t miss the mark. When I received the feedback, I was elated. Both agents said I had a solid synopsis and urged me to refine the elevator pitch a bit more. Additionally, they gave me some advice on how to make the letter more personal and attention-grabbing, as well as ways to better set myself up for success.
Now that the novel is finished (I mean, as finished as it can be before an editor gets their hands on it), I’m ready to query for real… ahhh!
I am revising my letter right now and I think it’s going well. I have the bones there, now it’s time to fill in some other details before I send it off. But where am I sending it? Great question.
That’s when the agent research comes into play. I reviewed Kate McKean’s article I linked to earlier and confirmed I’m on the right track. I’m reviewing acknowledgements of books I really enjoyed, clicking around Publisher’s Marketplace, and cruising Manuscript Wish List to investigate agents with specific criteria that align with my work.
My goal: I’m aiming to compile a list of 5-10 agents that I vibe with. That’s based on their individual submission guidelines, the type of work they are looking for, and if I think they will be a good partner based on what I’ve read about them.
Once I have that list together… it’s time to send off my query letter and a sample of my novel.
And then? I wait. 😰 I’m finding most agencies have a pretty heavy lead time — which absolutely makes sense. I will have to practice patience and hope I hear something back — it could be as early as six weeks, or as long as 12 weeks. Or longer. It depends on the agent!
After I knock out these two steps, if I’m not successful I will simply try again. I’ve accepted this process may take a long time. I’m fine with that, because ultimately, I want my work placed in the right hands and I want to find an agent who will help me grow as an author.
In the next Path to Print post, I will probably get more into that aspect — the process of researching agents, the specific things I’m looking for, and why the right placement is so very, very important to me. And of course, I’ll be letting you all know once I have actually sent off some queries and when I’ve set the next round of goals. This series is not just for me to share my journey, but for me to hold myself accountable. If I speak it into existence, I have to follow through!
If “Option A: get an agent and get a book deal” takes too long, I’ll begin to consider what I’m calling “Option B: hire an editor and go the self-publishing route.”
One way or another, this book will make it to your shelf. I promise.