Saturday, January 30, 2010

Agent Research


It is exhausting researching agents. Searching their websites, their lists, their submission requirements, their likes, what authors they represent, etc. requires a lot of time and concentration. My reading glasses prescription needs to be stronger. And what must they go through, reading, reading, reading, hundreds, maybe thousands of queries and picking a few to ask for full manuscripts? Too bad the queries and manuscripts aren't on the audio kindle.

So far I'm only a quarter of the way through the agents on the agent query site and my list of fabulous sounding agents has grown to 31.

These sunrise pictures cannot be helped. My little car races past predawn fields of gray cows and gray horses and gray llamas and dark wheat fields and I start to hold my breath in anticipation as "the place" gets closer. I round the corner and there it is, Mt. Hood in all its splendor and glory. Each day the sun rises later and later and the view changes. Sometimes gray clouds hide the mountain and secret the beauty. Sometimes the ticking clock forces me to speed on to spend the day in the closet at work. But sometimes, just sometimes, my little car screeches to a stop in a "no parking anytime" zone, my window slides down and the beauty of the scene settles over me like a misty spring rain on bright green baby leaves. My breath catches and my eyes take in every detail of the field, the house in the distance, the trees against the fire of light, the mountain, tall and majestic, the brilliance of color.

It is a gift. It is happiness.

23 comments:

  1. Oh, yes. Sometimes you just can't help stopping to take in the scenery, because if you didn't, it would be just another day, and you'd miss the fact that every day is unique, every sunrise its own wondrous event. A gift indeed, good lady.

    Best of luck with the agent search!

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  2. Simon,

    I'm so fortunate to have that clear view of the mountain, and a camera. *smile*

    Nina,

    Thanks.

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  3. My personal view is that more literary agents should be hired, provided with spectacles, fresh food and water and be required (by force if need be) to respond to all letters of inquiry, asap.

    I can't think of any other business that does not put it's customers first. Can you?

    Needed to say that. Rant over. So sorry :)

    PS. Looking forward to hearing about your progress! Great pic by the way.

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  4. I'll never forget a day when I was traveling over the Mount Hood highway on a snowy morning just as the sun was coming up. I was the only car on the road at the moment and the sight before me took my breath away. It was so awesome. Awesome, as in awe inspiring. It felt surreal. Everything was pristine and the sun made diamonds in the snow. I felt like I was in an out of world fantasia.

    I have some links on my sight in the "Bum's Rush" page for places you might consider submitting your story. There are some agent listing there as well. Might be some you have missed. Feel free to investigate. Good luck.

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  5. Wendy,

    Let the inquiries begin. Man the rack! Prepare the Scavenger's Daughter! Lower the dunking stool! Mwwaaahahah.

    Elizabeth,

    Did you have a camera? When someone goes through a horrendous event, the scene superglues itself to the mind. Isn't it good to know that a scene like your Mount Hood experience is also there, spread across the canvas of the memory for all eternity?

    And now it is in mine, too. My mission is to fill my head with lovely ones, so when I loose the sails before the wind, it is the good canvas I am setting.

    And thank you, I shall check your site.

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  6. I still love that picture! Did you know that smudge in the sky is the shadow of the mountain!? Someone told me about that at work.

    I'm still battling the synopsis battle - I can't even bear to think about the query campaign. Hmm...maybe I'll just write my book for me and the dead bunny club and leave it at that.

    Being a writer is stressful!

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  7. NWFoodie,

    I did not know it was the shadow of the mountain. That makes it even more amazing.

    Synopsis is a horror. I'm willing to donate my time if you so desire. Just say the word and we'll meet. It is getting down to the wire.

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  8. I know. I sent it off to our beloved teach for her views. I'll probably be reading the updated version at TDBC on Thursday since I doubt I'll be doing anything else BUT this. OY

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  9. Hope hope hope...it's there in the search, in the dark fields, in the gray grayness of morning before dawn. Beautiful....

    It is hope that will carry you through.

    Thanks for the reminder.

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  10. My advice would be query a few agents at a time. If rejected take another look at your submission package and see if you can make it better, then do it again.

    Awesome picture! You are very lucky :)

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  11. Carol,

    Thanks. Hope is also a gift. And being stubborn enough to defy the odds. Of course, a little talent might be of service, I suppose. (There is always a catch)

    Emailman,

    Excellent advice, my man. I shall follow it to the letter. How many do you think are a "few"? I was thinking one.

    Thank you.

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  12. lol...I'd say about every 3-5 rejections, then take a good hard look at everything before submitting again. The reason I say this is because I made the mistake of thinking my manuscript was perfect and sent it out to loads of agents. BIG mistake! You only get one shot at each agent with each book. Once you're rejected you can't submit again. Learn by my mistakes :)

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  13. Kurt,

    Whoa, I have to send out 3 more then. My fingers are shaking just thinking of it.

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  14. It is nice to know that from time to time you get a small glimpse of what I enjoyed X5 many mornings as I comuted to high school in the 70's in Portland. Driving over the Markham Bridge on particularly clear mornings, I could see Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson and a tip of the Sisters mountain range (if I'm remembering them all right - that was a couple or three decades ago, don't ya know). I wonder if that happens any more. The next time you see her, say hello to "my Mt. Hood" for me.
    I miss her.

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  15. Kathy, I just saw her tonight. In fact, to be fair to the old girl, I might post a picture of her in the evening.

    I've seen three mountains in the crisp winter air when on the Markham bridge. Perhaps I saw more and didn't realize it. Or maybe my eyes aren't as good as a high school girl's.

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  16. Go you! :) I hope you read my email first?

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  17. Kurt I got it. Thanks. Back to the drawing board.

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  18. I feel almost mean now...lol...Don't send any more until we've talked synopsis :)

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  19. Start talking, Kurt. I'm listening. You have my email address.

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  20. You have my email :) To finish, I would be interested in seeing your first chapter if you're up for it? Just so I can see how well edited it is. Is that okay?

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  21. Researching agent, preparing submissions, and feeling that each one will come back as a rejection is my least favorite part of being a writer. I keep telling myself that if I don't do it, I'll never get published. Good luck!

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  22. Theresa,

    Thanks for your comment. The old saying, "misery loves company" is oh, so true. It is nice to know others are suffering along with me. I don't feel so alone. :)

    Good luck to you too, and let me know if you get any bites.

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