What happens when you run out of agents to query?

Write another book.

Sorry. Not what you wanted to hear, but while you have all these queries out you should be writing your next book.

You should try living in the UK. Hell of a lot less agents to query here and I'm fast running out of possible queries on the novel I'm shopping about.

Yep, either totally rewrite or just write another one.

glendalough said:

<snip>
By the way, can I vent? I'm so tired of hearing that only known authors' work will be okay for submission. What the heck is that about? <snip to end

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Might one enquire as to where you have heard that?

That's exactly the place I am at. I have decided to shelve the much queried novel and concentrate on my new projects. And I will hold onto them until I am absolutely sure they are the very best they can be before submitting. I will not be in a rush to submit next time. Keep writing. Sometimes it's best to let go.

glendalough said:

I have been contacting every fitting agent I can find in 2007 Guide To Literary Agents...as well as found on Agent Query and Agent Tracker.

Let's say no one takes up my novel, now what? Revise my query letter and start at the top again?

By the way, can I vent? I'm so tired of hearing that only known authors' work will be okay for submission. What the heck is that about? I'm also tired of getting a query back so fast it makes my head spin.

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Back to the revision board.

Before settling in, get some trusted beta readers to look at your book.

Maybe it stinks.

Maybe it just needs tweaking.

You won't know unless you get feedback.

While they're reading it--and doing you a HUGE favor so take them to lunch afterward--work on another book and read the library's 808 section.

And be patient. It took me 2 years and 3-4 complete rewrites to get my first book in publishable shape. I didn't know what was wrong with it without the feedback from some (very brave) friends.

Good luck.

Friends who read your book and pass comments, give critiques, while the book's in the 'beta' stage of development.

You just have to make sure you only submit to agents when it's been tweaked up to 'alpha' condition.

See here, missy, you stop that kind of talk! (The one about a glimmer of hope with PublishAmerica.) <--said with my sternest Mom voice

If you decide to self-publish, we will guide you to a POD that won't lie to you or rip you off. However, the library may well refuse to shelve a free book that's self-published, no matter how good its quality. It sets a precedent most libraries won't consider, one which will degrade the overall quality of its collection, even if your book does not.

Have you considered sharing your query letter to see if that's what needs tweaking?

Maryn, just asking

glendalough said:

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo That's so not what I wanted to hear, Janet. lol I know this novel is good, but apparently everyone on the planet is emailing agencies. They must be so overworked. Poor things.

I keep going back to the Publish America thread (it's sooooo long!) and hoping to find a glimmer of hope. I'd sure like to take my book to the library and see it on the shelves.

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Unfortunately, your opinion doesn't count.

You're not thinking of submitting to PA are you?

Sorry about that, but you did ask. I don't think it's true that publishers will only look at known authors' work. I have spent the afternoon reading up on the new and upcoming novels from Random House and some of them are by completely new, never published before authors. But they have chosen a timeless, universal theme and kept the writing tight and focused. I believe that an editor will consider the work on an unknown author as long as it strikes a chord and the author shows commitment and integrity and respect for the reader. I'm not going to submit anything without first looking at it through an editor's eyes, who perhaps has already read couple of queries for almost identical ideas. Unless we have an idea that has never been used before or have written on one in a way that has never been done before, we don't have a chance. Now in my case, I have no trouble coming up with original ideas. It is following through on it that gets me down, and I go wandering off track, which weakens the plot. That is a mistake many writers make. It's up to us writers to come up with stupendously original and comepelling plots. (stretching brain)

glendalough said:

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo That's so not what I wanted to hear, Janet. lol I know this novel is good, but apparently everyone on the planet is emailing agencies. They mu t be so overworked. Poor things.

I keep going back to the Publish America thread (it's sooooo long!) and hoping to find a glimmer of hope. I'd sure like to take my book to the library and see it on the shelves.

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I've got just the place. I may see you there, but not until tomorrow, since I need to get cracking on dinner.

Maryn, who can smell roast turkey breast all the way upstairs

PA says that to everyone. PA is a complete scam.

Try looking at the Snarkives of Miss Snark, the literary agent.

Her blog is closed, but the crapometer contests are still to be found and some of them are danged funny.

Otherwise, there's this forum's "Share Your Work" venue.

You can get feedback for both novel and query letter here.

Though it is my experience that a perfect query won't sell a stinky book, nor will a stinky query stop a good book from getting into print.

I tried to query my first book. I got absolutely nowhere fast. It took me a little time to realize it wasn't the agents or the publishers. It was my story. So I put it under the bed and left it there. I doubt I'll ever take it out again. But I didn't give up. I started again with another story.

It's hard to put something you've put your heart and soul into aside, but there's some reason all the queries haven't returned positive responses.

There's some great advice on this thread from people much more experienced than I am, but I just wanted you to know you're not alone.

Hi there,

The advice to get test readers is straight up good advice. Probably some of the best advice anyone could give you at this point to be honest. I know that my test readers have helped me enormously in the past.

My latest book was read by a wonderful Lady I've known a few years. She is noted for her bluntness and honesty. I told her that I needed her help with the project but only if she was willing to be honest with me. I further told her that platitudes never help a writer improve their work. Straight talk about what the reader feels is wrong does help us perfect our craft.

OMG she blasted the work in the first email concerning it. What I thought was a perfect mini plotline from my perspective she considered a terrible idea that was totally unrealistic. She also caught a naming issue. Getting right down to it she pointed out about a dozen areas that I needed to address. I did so and I had to admit that she was dead on right on every point. I just couldn't see it until she bludgeoned me with it lol. Sometimes we are too close to our own work to see the problem area.

It took me two days of furious work but the changes improved the overall quality of the book. That's her opinion BTW.

The point is her feedback helped me to improve the book a lot. But you will need a thick skin. If your test reader reports back that the book is perfect and they love everything find another. You need someone that will point out the lil things that are wrong and even the big ones if there are any. You don't need praise. Praise makes you feel good. Praise doesn't get books published though nor does it correct those errors in plot direction and the like.

I'm just another writer, but I have worked with feedback for two years. Though that feedback hasn't opened any doors for me it has helped me to improve the material so that it is worthy of a look.

I wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavors.

Have a great day,

As I understand it there is indeed a place on these forums for feedback but I'm new here and can't recall where I saw it. There's also a link thread here somewhere with all sorts of nice links to forum areas. I think that was in the newbie section. I need to get my newbie butt back over there and see lol.

Good luck,

glendalough said:

Thanks Raistlin, I agree. I just don't have anyone other than dh to critique it. Is there a place on this board?

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The area you seek is called: Share Your Work (SYW) and can be found here. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=26

You will need to read the instructions to enter because it requires a password that is embedded in the forum intro.