Dead Zone

So, as I've mentioned before, I am currently in the process of pursing literary agents/small publishing houses to publish Lost Souls. When I started writing the manuscript almost 2 years ago, this stage felt like a million miles away...something I would need to worry about in the very distant future. But several drafts later and feeling WAY more confident about my work...here we are, ready to shove it out there and see if anyone bites. A both hopeful and terrifying prospect. As August is just around the corner, the dreaded "Dead Zone" month for anyone who is attempting to sell their work...as everyone is either on vacation/checked out from work....I think we can see this coming publishing hiatus as an opportunity to hone some important skills and work on that sales pitch before Autumn rolls around.

Like many other writers who have navigated the murky waters of publishing, I am realizing quickly that I enjoyed writing the book more than I am enjoying trying to sell the book. But, it's all part of the journey, and I don't want to shortchange my hard work, so I'm giving it a go. Also like me, I'm sure there are many of you out there that have gotten to the point of- "okay, I have this great book...now what?" I started my research in a fairly obvious place...with the 2015 Guide to Literary Agents. You can pick up a copy at any major book retailer or online. I learned that if you want your manuscript to even have the chance to be read by one of the big publishing houses, you need to have an agent. And finding that agent is very much akin to going from general meet and greet to serious relationship.

First of all, your query letter is everything. This is your initial handshake..."hi, nice to meet you" if you will. Most agents do not even want to see your manuscript unless they are intrigued by your query letter....so it's key that you put together a letter that you feel really solid about. The letter should not be longer than a page and consist of 3 parts: Intro, pitch, bio. You intro should include who you are and what you've written...if it's genre fiction say which genre and give a word count-- and then if you have a schmooze factor- this is the place to do it. If you've seen this specific agent speak at a conference, or if you've been recommended by another one of their (hopefully published) clients, or why you think the two of you would be a good fit to work together. Personally, I'm not a big schmoozer, so my intro is fairly straight forward...which may be to my detriment in the end, but you have to do what you're comfortable with.

The second part of the letter is the most important- your pitch. This is specifically what your book is about-- the key characters, plot points, why your target market is going to want to buy your book. I like to think of this like the inside book jacket-- what people pick up when they're browsing at Barnes and Noble, read, and decide if it's going in the shopping cart. Meat and potatoes, people- make it sing.

The third part is where you would give a little info about yourself...if you've published anything previously, or any other experiences related to writing. This section is very important if you are a non-fiction writer...as agents and publishers want to know what sort of credentials you have to write about your subject matter. As a general rule, it's better not to over-elaborate in this section. If you have no previous credits, just don't say anything.

I'm have a link to a great list/post by the very talented Erica Verrillo... of paranormal romance agents for any other authors who are in my genre-- you can check it out here....I then thought I'd end with a Top 5 List of Dos and Don'ts when querying agents.

DO:
1. Query a specific agent at a specific agency who represents the type of material you write
2. Keep the tone professional, and for the love of Pete...PROOFREAD!!!! Double check the spelling of the agent/agency name
3. Focus on plot when pitching fiction
4. Always check the agency's submission guidelines-- maybe they only want to see your query, maybe they want to see the first 50 pages of your manuscript...maybe they only accept snail mail submissions-- do your homework
5. My favorite: Keep pitching despite rejection!!!:)

DON'T:
1. Mention this is your first novel...they don't need to know that. Other stuff they don't need to know- personal information that doesn't have anything to do with the book-- like if you have 3 Yorkshire terriers at home that love to cuddle or you are an amazing orchid gardener
2. Say how long it took to write the book-- they don't care. Some writers churn stuff out in a matter of months, others years. (Harper Lee, anyone?) They also don't care if it's been professionally proofread, loved by your peers, or already has a copywrite. Cool story, bro....moving on
3. Don't send anything they didn't ask for...manuscript pages, flowers, character sketches, whatever. Only a self-addressed-stamped envelope (SASE)-- if they ask!
4. Mention previous rejections-- that's a rule for agents, first dates, life
5. Follow up with a phone call...if an appropriate time has passed and you haven't heard back...follow up the same way you queried- most likely by email.

I think it's also important to remember...agents are people too. They are not omniscient, ( even though they may want us to think they are), and they have their good and bad days just like everyone else. The person on the receiving end of your query isn't looking to say 'no'...they're looking for that next AMAZING project that's going to be wildly successful. That could be your book! So keep polishing, keep trying, and do it your way...keeping a few helpful tips in mind.

Bonne Chance!