I am starting my new novel and I am on chapter 2, and I will have it ready by the first of the year. I have already gotten one book published. I am not counting it since Publish America did it, and I am starting over and even getting a new pen name. I am writing a novel that all women from every walks of life can read and hopefully, learn from. I am going to put three different stories in to one book and tie them all in. One woman will have plastic surgery due to domestic violence and then she starts her life over again, due to the surgeon that only does pro bono work for these women and helps them do this, and then years later she goes back to see him, where hes waited on her to do that. One will have ovarian cancer and meet a man that believes that one day she will still be able to have a baby.one meets the true love of her life even though shes engaged to another she cant live without the bad boy. Another woman will meet a man at a beach house and fall in love with him, although hes writing letters to the beach house to another woman that he was once in love with a year ago, and hes still hoping for a chance, until this woman starts writing him, not knowing that he's the same man that she met at the house because he came back there to see if anyone was there. He just keeps posing as the letter writer, until one day they meet and she has a surprise for him at the end. I plan to tie all this together, just haven't figured out how yet. I would just like to have a agent ahead of time, so that I will someone to talk to during this whole process. Please private message me, if you are a agent.
I need a agent in ga
- Thread starter wanda45451964
- Start date
Wanda, you might want to really read through these threads on AW. Agents don't pick their clients this way. Also, write and polish the book first. Make sure it's ready. Then you have to write a great query, then go to www.agentquery.com to find agents who rep what you write.
Another thing: an agent can be anywhere in the world. You don't meet up with the agent (if he/she takes you on) usually. There's email, fax, snail mail, phone....
Another thing: an agent can be anywhere in the world. You don't meet up with the agent (if he/she takes you on) usually. There's email, fax, snail mail, phone....
Last edited:
Yes, definitely read all the threads. Also, you need to finish and polish your manuscript before querying agents.
In addition, you have to have a finished, edited, polished novel before an agent will represent you. Good luck, and you've definitely come to the right place to learn all you need to know
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2008
- Messages
- 4,010
- Reaction score
- 4,825
Welcome to AW. Stormie is right, finding an agent is a proactive process you must undertake - ie, write a book, polish a book, write a query, send it to agents, etc...
And for fiction, it is unlikley any agent will even read pages until the book is finished.
Instead, find a critique group or some beta readers (you can post in teh beta readers forum) and then workshop your book that way. But I am not aware of any agent who represents fiction that will consider an unfinished novel.
good luck.
~suki
Agents don't represent ideas - they're worthless. Agents also aren't there to hand hold during the process. They don't have time for that kind of thing.
Agents get THOUSANDS of queries for finished books, most of which (99%) aren't saleable either because of the quality of the book or because of the market. They read those queries when they're not busy with the existing clients they represent to publishers. (Contract negotiations, etc.).
What you need is a writing group, not an agent. You're not ready for an agent. Get with a group of people, either in person or online you can bounce ideas off of. People who don't care about making you feel good about bad writing (not saying your writing is bad, but you don't want a bunch of "nice" critters who will leave you with a worthless book)
You say you have 2 chapters done. Why not post a chapter or a snip of a chapter in the Share Your Work forum here (password: vista) to see where you are and how far you need to go?
Wanda, how old are you? Are you a minor or an adult? I'm not asking to be insulting, but you've spent a good chunk over the last couple of days in the Bewares and Background Checks area of this board - which is a section full of information about agents and publishers.
Once the book is finished, and polished, and edited as well as you can make it, you write a query letter. (Go to Share Your Work and look at the query section there.) Once the query is finished, and polished, and edited as well as you can make it, you go to AgentQuery.com and/or QueryTracker.com, enter your genre (sounds like romance) into the field, and make a list of agents who represent that genre.
Then take your list back to B&BC, and Preditors and Editors, and check out the people on it. Once you've done that, choose 12-15 agents to start with and follow their agency submission guidelines (usually the query + a certain number of pages). Then you wait.
If you get requests for more pages, you send them. If you get rejections, you either rewrite the query or send the same query to another batch of agents. Keep going until you get an offer of representation. If you don't get an offer, you might need to readjust the book.
If you are a minor, you need to get your parents to help you with this. They'll have to sign any contracts you enter into (and if they didn't sign the one for PA, it's invalid).
Once the book is finished, and polished, and edited as well as you can make it, you write a query letter. (Go to Share Your Work and look at the query section there.) Once the query is finished, and polished, and edited as well as you can make it, you go to AgentQuery.com and/or QueryTracker.com, enter your genre (sounds like romance) into the field, and make a list of agents who represent that genre.
Then take your list back to B&BC, and Preditors and Editors, and check out the people on it. Once you've done that, choose 12-15 agents to start with and follow their agency submission guidelines (usually the query + a certain number of pages). Then you wait.
If you get requests for more pages, you send them. If you get rejections, you either rewrite the query or send the same query to another batch of agents. Keep going until you get an offer of representation. If you don't get an offer, you might need to readjust the book.
If you are a minor, you need to get your parents to help you with this. They'll have to sign any contracts you enter into (and if they didn't sign the one for PA, it's invalid).
(I PMd Wanda how to post in the SYW section.) Wanda, I think just pasting 500 words of the first chapter of your manuscript would be the best way to start.
Take it all one day at a time. A novel can take many months to write. Then many more months after to rewrite.
If you have someone--a friend or former teacher-- who can help you with grammar and spelling, or just read it through with you, that would help you a lot.
Take it all one day at a time. A novel can take many months to write. Then many more months after to rewrite.
If you have someone--a friend or former teacher-- who can help you with grammar and spelling, or just read it through with you, that would help you a lot.
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2009
- Messages
- 11,732
- Reaction score
- 4,650
I just wanted to clarify here that she isn't saying rewrite the query with the intention of sending it to the same agents. The idea is always to send to a new batch of agents, just that if your original query needs work you might choose to rewrite it before sending it out again.
Lucy, AW members prefer to encourage people to learn, to better their craft, to aspire to improve their writing every day. Saying "this story you've described doesn't work for me, therefore nothing you will ever write will be any good" is neither constructive nor realistic. Very few writers create publishable works straight out of the gate; most of us have to get our million words of crap out of the way first.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 18,805
- Reaction score
- 4,600
- Location
- Caledonia
- Website
- derekpaterson.net
Lucy: no profile info, no introduction thread in Newbie Forum, only joined AW this month, 3 posts.
I don't know who you are or what you're capable of, but before you post anything like that again (referring to your deleted post above) you'd better read The Newbie Guide to Absolute Write. Focus on be respectful to your fellow writers and don't be a jerk.
-Derek
I don't know who you are or what you're capable of, but before you post anything like that again (referring to your deleted post above) you'd better read The Newbie Guide to Absolute Write. Focus on be respectful to your fellow writers and don't be a jerk.
-Derek
I was not intending to be a jerk. I was intending to be realistic. I greatly appreciate that you want to foster a supportive atmosphere. But if being supportive is at the expense of being honest, I'm not sure of the value of the board.
It's true, I've only posted three posts but I've lurked for a while. I've published two books by Bantam. I know a little bit what I am talking about.
It's true, I've only posted three posts but I've lurked for a while. I've published two books by Bantam. I know a little bit what I am talking about.
Generally critiques of story ideas are done in the Sandbox. Crits of story content are done on posted excerpts in SYW.
One can infer from the original post that the OP may have been 'stung' on a previous book deal and could be rushing a little in an attempt to make amends through landing an agent and publishing by the traditional route.
I'd say the majority of people here are chasing a dream of seeing their work in print. And, a good majority of members fully understand how hard it is land an agent and/or publishing deal. Others may need a little more guidance.
Being realistic is important, especially from those who have been published. But, a little tact goes a long way too.
Cheers,
JJ
I'd say the majority of people here are chasing a dream of seeing their work in print. And, a good majority of members fully understand how hard it is land an agent and/or publishing deal. Others may need a little more guidance.
Being realistic is important, especially from those who have been published. But, a little tact goes a long way too.
Cheers,
JJ
Not to be mean, but you will have to be extremely cognizant of your grammar. Your posts here are sadly lacking in grammar skills. You will want to present your very best work. You should study grammar as much as you can.
Good luck.
CYIA,
There was no story to criticize. I was pointing out that Wanda's writing (based on her question) was lacking, as several others have done. I really hate when people use "honesty" as an excuse to be mean, so I was not doing that at all. I was saying that at Wanda's level, it is unkind to encourage her to submit to agents. As others have said, one must write a lot of crap before you get anywhere close to publishable. She simply is not ready, and it is cruel to encourage her at this stage of the game.
However, it probably is helpful, as others have pointed out, to remind hopeful writers that they must have a complete, polished, edited, refined manuscript to submit. Agents are not really available to talk with throughout the process.
My advice to Wanda would be to work for several years on her manuscript before thinking about sending her work anywhere.
There was no story to criticize. I was pointing out that Wanda's writing (based on her question) was lacking, as several others have done. I really hate when people use "honesty" as an excuse to be mean, so I was not doing that at all. I was saying that at Wanda's level, it is unkind to encourage her to submit to agents. As others have said, one must write a lot of crap before you get anywhere close to publishable. She simply is not ready, and it is cruel to encourage her at this stage of the game.
However, it probably is helpful, as others have pointed out, to remind hopeful writers that they must have a complete, polished, edited, refined manuscript to submit. Agents are not really available to talk with throughout the process.
My advice to Wanda would be to work for several years on her manuscript before thinking about sending her work anywhere.
Last edited:
Not all writers need to write a lot of crap before being published - my first piece of writing was published (Bantam) a couple of months ago.
But, I do agree that all writers should be fully prepared with a completed (fiction) and polished manuscript to submit. As well as having fully researched the publishing industry and those they wish to submit to.
I don't think too many agents will see a post such as the OP and make contact via a PM to assist.
JJ
But, I do agree that all writers should be fully prepared with a completed (fiction) and polished manuscript to submit. As well as having fully researched the publishing industry and those they wish to submit to.
I don't think too many agents will see a post such as the OP and make contact via a PM to assist.
JJ
Last edited:
Yep. Agreed. I do think though, in Lucy's defense, that she was speaking directly to the OP's display of bad grammar skills. You're right...the OP's post is not going to make anybody think she is publish-ready. In defense of the OP, maybe the lackadaisical grammar is just a bi-product of not being too careful while posting on a forum. But one would gather that grammar skills do need to be polished. Wanda...it is always extremely important to show your best work to an agent/publisher/editor. I hope that your posts here are not examples of your best work. Some quick study would definitely go a long way in preparing you to prepare your manuscript for the eyes of a potential agent.
JJ Cooper,
My first book sold as well. By offering that Wanda was still in the "crap writing stage", I was attempting to offer a glimmer of hope to Wanda, as my first attempt was deleted by moderators.
My first book sold as well. By offering that Wanda was still in the "crap writing stage", I was attempting to offer a glimmer of hope to Wanda, as my first attempt was deleted by moderators.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 18,805
- Reaction score
- 4,600
- Location
- Caledonia
- Website
- derekpaterson.net