Serious Wednesdays: The Right Agent

Finding the right agent is important, but there are a few things that you need to know and that you should consider before settling in with the first person who says "yes."

1. First of all, know what you want. Are you expecting a person to do the marketing for you? Edit your material? Be your encourager when you're down? Realize going in, that few agents will do all this for you. 
2. Do your homework: Study both the agents in the field and your own work. You have to determine who fits what you need. Most agents do not accept all genres, so don't waste your time and his/hers by shopping those who aren't a good match for you and your work.
3. Make sure you know what they're asking for before you send in your material. DON'T send in a full manuscript unless asked for. Search for their guidelines and follow them strictly. You'll make a much better impression than insisting "God wanted me to send this to you." 
4. Do your best, and by that I mean, Study, write, edit and edit some more. If you're not English proficient (lol), then hire, or find someone who is and ask them to go over your manuscript. Never, ever send in a manuscript that is not in topnotch shape. 
5. Finally (for now), once you find an interested agent, talk to her/him. Ask intelligent questions to see how they work, what they expect from you and what you can expect from them. 

Once you've completed all these steps, you're on your way to finding a great agent. If an agent is something/someone you know you need, then, by all means, be diligent in your search, and hopefully, the right one is there...for you! 

Best in your writing endeavors!

Special People

One of the highlights of my year! Meeting Diana Flegel, my literary agent.


She's just as wonderful as she sounds over the phone.
Knowlegeable, interested, concerned and prayerful about her clients and their work, fun.

Two of my fellow writers: Max Lewis (in the middle--and he's not really, uh, as snobbish as he looks--snicker--he just had a time getting the rest of us to behave.) His very sweet wife, Valerie, on the end in the white sweater, Connie Cameron between them, wonderful Diana on the end, with me between Max and her.

Books galore from authors like Tamela Murray Hancock and Doug Varrieur and Connie Cameron. Topics like the market, and critique groups, and research. That subject took us down the trail of dogs, but we managed to curb our ever present curiosity. We even got in some critiquing and brainstorming over Connie's newest project--and is it an exciting topic! Can't wait to see it in print.

And, of course, we had some of Tim Horton's famous and delicious coffee, and muffins of each individual choice (although certain people who shall remain nameless, deviously got samples of two different types of muffins by ingeniously cutting them in halves. Hmmm).

• Max writes suspense.
• Connie is a superb and published nonfiction author.
• Valerie is a supportive wife. Smile
• Me, you all KNOW what I write. (That's what comes of having somewhere to talk, I mean write, what I want)
• And Diana. Our agent. The best.

A fun, meaningful day.

Blessings!

Second-Guesses

What does it take to be a second-guess-er-writer?

Hmm.

Take some: Anxiousness.
Throw in a few: Wishes that didn't happen.
Check out the: Fast heart rates.
Sprinkle in: A touch of inferiority.
Toss in a dash of: impatience.
Smother it all with: Rejections!

And you have a situation that is ripe for second-guessing yourself. You get to thinking:

I should have written this novel differently. Or . . .
This novel isn't any good. Or . . .
What am I doing trying to write anyway?

But, if you're a writer, with a great agent, then you've got a chance of
coming out of that thick soup of despair! Ha.

She/he can set your feet right back on the solid earth where they belong with a few words of encouragement, advice, or suggestion. Instead of swimming in a fluffy cloud and never getting anywhere, she/he can help you re-focus your ambition, your calling, your career, right where you know it should be, but are so moody, sometimes, you let IT all side-track you.

Thank God for agents. Heaven's gift to writers!


Quote:
Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others. --Robert Louis Stevenson

Blessings