Quandry - Simultaneous Subs, Agents, Oh My!

So, I’ve gotten myself into a bit of a fix.

Agent #1 doesn’t take query letters, only a cover letter, a synopsis, and the full manuscript as an .rtf file. Agent #1 was recommended to me by someone online who knew him, so I thought why not? On further research, I could only find one sale by Agent #1 to Baen, of an author who was already a Baen author (so Agent #1 probably just negotiated the contract). Agent #1’s website strikes me as not wholly professional – not bad, but not tip-top professional.

Agent #2 is very well thought of, but does not accept simultaneous submissions. Agent #2 has requested to see a partial of my work. Agent #2 has many sales of authors that I know and respect.

So, using the wording I found on the site, I withdrew my submission from Agent #1.

Agent #1 wrote back and asked if I was sure, and that my book was a week away from being read.

Now I’m wondering if I did the right thing. I’ve only sent out a handful of query letters so far, but I’m worried – what if no one else wants to represent my book?

Also, I’d like to bring up the fact that I’m interested in illustrating my own covers after I get representation (long-shot, I know, so I’ve gone ahead and painted a potential cover, and am in the middle of painting potential cover #2, just to show that I can do it). Would this be tougher with a big-name agency? It’s been my lifelong dream to write books and to illustrate my own covers.

I’m just sort of sitting here, scratching my head.

Any insight would be much appreciated! Thank you!

IceCreamEmpress said:

Agent #1 doesn't seem like he/she can be as helpful to you as Agent #2, so it seems you made the right decision.

You don't need an agent to submit to Baen in the first place, do you?

As for the "painting your own covers" thing--I'm doubtful a large publisher would be open to that. You'd have to convince the art director, and they generally have a large design vision that encompasses a whole season's list and beyond.

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Thanks. I feel a bit better now.

*sigh* I'll keep dreaming on the painting my own cover thing. Keep plugging away at it. Despite what I keep hearing (no, no, no), I'm not very good at giving up. If worse comes to worst, I can use all my accumulated work on a future website!

Thanks for all the feedback! I'm breathing easier now. I'm going to stick with my decision and mail that partial off today *crosses fingers*.

As for the cover work, I know Janny Wurts has done it - so if someone else has done it (although I know it took a lot of convincing on her part), there's a chance I may be able to as well.

I've been studying the fantasy covers in bookstores for a few years now, so I'm trying to follow some of the same eye-catching techniques. Bold colors, strong lighting, and well-rendered characters. There are certain color combinations that people tend to gravitate towards, so I've been playing around with those as well. Composition, too, is key. I've been diagraming the compositions of covers that I think work. No guarantee, I know, but I have to try.

I figure if I paint a few potential covers, then I'll have more chance at making it. I'll be happy if I get my book published at all, but if I could have my art on the cover, that would be the cherry on top of my sundae. I mean, a REALLY awesome tasting cherry that turns the sundae into the best thing I've ever eaten...

IceCreamEmpress said:

Yes, but she started doing it with Ace Books almost 30 years ago, when they were still owned by Grosset and Dunlap. Smallish house, different times.

On the other hand, Tom Doherty was the Ace publisher in those days, so maybe he'd be open to it at Tor/Orb.

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Bummer. I wonder if it would work better if I approached from the other end? Send in my portfolio to a few of the publishing companies and see if I can get some work as a cover artist first? I've worked professionally before, under a contract basis, but I've sort of dropped that in favor of working on my book in the past few years.

I'd have to flesh out my portfolio to reflect my current skill level, and it would probably mean a lot of sleepless nights, but if it's the only way to even have a chance, well, you only live once, right?

Thanks, Uncle Jim!

I'll work on both, and keep all fingers and toes crossed!