I've known about Absolute Write for a while, but did not know about its forum until I recently did a search for a specific agent. This looks like a fantastic place. 
Anyway, I just finished writing/editing a historical fiction novel and am preparing to start querying early next week. I have researched nearly 35 agents, and have things nearly ready to go, but I'm really nervous. I've been down the agent querying road before, though for television scripts, not novels.
I am currently a lawyer, but I have a writing background. Prior to law school, I spent several years trying to break into the television writer market. Although I won a competition for best original pilot and placed well in other competitions, I found the agent market for television writers to be extremely difficult to crack, and finally moved on.
In some ways, it was a blessing, because it made me turn my attention back to novels. I had written a novel draft when I was 18, but it wasn't fit to be published. However, when moving into my law school apartment, I came across the draft again, and even though the draft was still not fit to publish, the characters came alive for me. I ended up creating an outline for a new first novel using those characters, as well as for several sequels. It was great getting back in touch with them, and I'll admit to being very protective.
I know a lot of agents (and readers!) won't feel the same way. I am prepared for a lot of rejection or plain old silence. What I need help with are the gray areas (do they like me or don't they?), or what to do when it seems like I've run out of agents to query, whether I need to change my approach, etc.
In addition to the writing mentioned above, I also have a blog: The Wild Blog in the West (http://thewildbloginthewest.blogspot.com/), and also do online legal writing for different law firms. I look forward to being on this board and reading everyone's ideas.
Anyway, I just finished writing/editing a historical fiction novel and am preparing to start querying early next week. I have researched nearly 35 agents, and have things nearly ready to go, but I'm really nervous. I've been down the agent querying road before, though for television scripts, not novels.
I am currently a lawyer, but I have a writing background. Prior to law school, I spent several years trying to break into the television writer market. Although I won a competition for best original pilot and placed well in other competitions, I found the agent market for television writers to be extremely difficult to crack, and finally moved on.
In some ways, it was a blessing, because it made me turn my attention back to novels. I had written a novel draft when I was 18, but it wasn't fit to be published. However, when moving into my law school apartment, I came across the draft again, and even though the draft was still not fit to publish, the characters came alive for me. I ended up creating an outline for a new first novel using those characters, as well as for several sequels. It was great getting back in touch with them, and I'll admit to being very protective.
I know a lot of agents (and readers!) won't feel the same way. I am prepared for a lot of rejection or plain old silence. What I need help with are the gray areas (do they like me or don't they?), or what to do when it seems like I've run out of agents to query, whether I need to change my approach, etc.
In addition to the writing mentioned above, I also have a blog: The Wild Blog in the West (http://thewildbloginthewest.blogspot.com/), and also do online legal writing for different law firms. I look forward to being on this board and reading everyone's ideas.
