Yesterday I received some encouraging (!!!) news in regards to my manuscript that I am attempting to get published. Check out the video.
So the next step for me is to get signed with a literary agent, which is much more in-depth and difficult than it sounds. How does that work, you say? Here’s what I’ve learned so far, rapid-fire style: LITERARY AGENTS
-A useful website called www.querytracker.net where writers can search for literary agent names, who their clients are, what genres they represent, etc. -Searched online and Twitter using the hashtag #mswl (which stands for Manuscript Wish List) and identifying in the results who said “contemporary realistic Young Adult” is a genre they are interested in -Twitter in general: Many literary agents are active on Twitter and often give tips about writing, publishing and what they are looking for, which is helpful. Plus Twitter can somewhat be a way to get a sense of an agent’s personality, (though I realize online personality or way of saying things is not always the same as face-to-face). -The Book of Everything Publishing, aka WRITER’S MARKET. This resource book comes out every year and lists all literary agent names, agency names, contact information, submission guidelines, etc. -Literary agent websites -Blogs that feature interviews with literary agents, such as www.literaryrambles.com Based on my research (we are talking hours and hours of research to identify who may be a good fit for me and my story), I created a list of literary agent names that I feel may be a good fit for me/me be a good fit for them. So what happens after you identify potential literary agents to represent you and your work? Like fishing, you gotta hook ‘em. QUERY LETTERS When a fiction writer finishes (yup, we’re talking actually completes the story) their manuscript, the next step is to query agents. The verb “query” is defined as “to ask a question about something.” Basically, a query letter is a one-page letter (nowadays it is an email) with one purpose: to grab the literary agent’s attention to want to read sample pages of your manuscript. This is not easy. You have one page to describe a story that is close to your heart. Your manuscript pages have your blood, sweat and tears on them (metaphorically speaking, hopefully). But the query letter is a test, in a way: Can you determine the important parts of your story? Can you reflect the heart and plot of your story in a few paragraphs? Can your main character’s voice come through in a few sentences? Can you effectively identify what genre your story is in, why the agent should care about the story and the main character, the stakes, why your story is unique? Are you being clear instead of leaving the agent confused at the end of your letter? Literary agents not only expect you to submit your manuscript to multiple agents, they want you to submit to multiple agents. Like I said, it’s all about finding the right fit for both the agent and the writer. The reason query letters are so important is because agents receive thousands of query letters. One of the agents on my list recently shared her 2015 statistics. You guys, this agent and her colleagues read and responded to 29,000+ queries. 29,000+. Of those 29,000, wanna know how many debut authors this particular agency signed? Three. So yeah. You need to put your best foot forward, in both your story and your query letter. Another method gaining traction for submitting manuscripts is online “pitch” contests via blogs or Twitter. This is how I received a manuscript request from an agent yesterday (see video above). The agent reviewing the pitches (requirements: title of manuscript, word count, genre, 100-word pitch, first 100 words of the manuscript) is one of the agents I had on my list of possible good agent matches, which is why I submitted. But overall, one of the most common and popular way to submit to an agent is to write a query letter, which I am doing, as well. Rejection is part of this process. It just is. Even J.K. Rowling, author of the amazing Harry Potter stories, was rejected. I’m not saying this to make light or excuses of inevitable rejection; I am saying this because it is a fact. I do want to be honest in this journey, so I will continue to share the good and the bad. It’s all learning, it’s all growth, and though it’s an emotional rollercoaster, I suppose riding the rollercoaster is better than sitting on the park bench watching.... xo, Lindsay
2 Comments
Lesley Withers
2/27/2016 01:03:20 pm
Wooohooo! Keep going!
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Lindsay Henrh
2/27/2016 07:24:35 pm
Thanks for the encouragement, Lesley!
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