It's official! I have FINALLY decided to go the traditional publishing route. I sent out my first query to an agent yesterday. Now, I just have to wait 2-4 weeks for a response while also deciding who to query next.
Thanks to everyone for putting up with my repetitive questions!
Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :
Woo! That's a big step!
My rule is, when I get a query/sub rejection, I'm not allowed to go to bed that night until I get it sent out to the next place. I don't ever want to let a sub rest. Keep plugging away at it!
But hopefully you'll be the lucky one who strikes gold with the first swing of the pick.
Posted by jerich100 (Member # 10202) on :
If it's a novel (forgive me for not keeping up to speed on all you professionals), you can submit to Tor books without any agent. Skip the middleman! Middle person?
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
I'd recommend selling something first, then getting an agent---but I'm so old fashioned that I still send out paper manuscripts and so out of the loop that all I ever get are form rejections. Besides, I haven't finished a novel since the early 2000s. What is the practice now?
Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :
Congratulations! That's a big step.
Don't wait for the response. Research more agents. Very, very few agents request or expect exclusive queries (unlike publishers, like TOR, who will expect to tie up your submission for MONTHS). Most agents actually expect you to be querying other agents.
I generally send out queries in batches of threes. You do want to have enough time to figure out if your query is working and revise it, if necessary.
BTW, you can put your whole query in F&F for Books for helpful suggestions.
Also, look into pitch contests. Query Kombat is due to start next week.
I used to have a link to a blog that kept track of pitch contests. I'll see if I can find it.
Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :
Found the link, though it doesn't look like it's been updated recently.
That is wonderful. Congratulations! I hope you break the norm and land your fish with your first letter.
A few years ago I had decided (after getting good advice) to do the same. Put together a spreadsheet. Down the side it listed each story I was working on. Across the top it listed all the potentials buyers, each with a box for "submitted" and "reply."
The best advice I got was, "Don't get discouraged." I didn't listen. After a year of tabulating rejections, really discouraged and took up a new hobby. I'm back now.
Hang in there, keep writing and keep submitting, and DON'T let the discouragement get you down!