I only went and did it!
Not as many times as I would have liked, but I did it, and you know what? It felt pretty good too. This week I'm going to do it again, and I think when I do, it will feel even better, because it won't be my first time. Next time I'll be more prepared Next time I'll know what I'm doing. Next time I'll be better at it.
I am, of course, talking about the process of querying my book (get your mind out of the gutter!). It's something I talked about last week, and this week... Well read on.
The Beginning Of The End
As I detailed in last week's post, the process of writing a book doesn't necessarily end with the words 'The End'. In fact in many ways, that's only the beginning.
The next job (Well, after editing, sending it to a beta reader or three, getting feedback, and making improvements) is to plead with a literary agent to put their eyes on your work, at which point they will hopefully deem it fit for purpose and convince a publisher of the same. This was the week that process started.
Family Time
It didn't start as early as I might have preferred. A busy few days began for me on Monday, with a family meal at a popular burger Mcrestaurant to catch up with my parents after their return from holiday, and my nephews who were on half term.
To be fair, it was planned in. The date had been set for over a week, and I should possibly have foreseen it taking up the bulk of the afternoon, especially after my wife, Tina mentioned popping into a shop to pick up a new duvet.
I am, of course, talking about the process of querying my book (get your mind out of the gutter!). It's something I talked about last week, and this week... Well read on.
The Beginning Of The End
As I detailed in last week's post, the process of writing a book doesn't necessarily end with the words 'The End'. In fact in many ways, that's only the beginning.
The next job (Well, after editing, sending it to a beta reader or three, getting feedback, and making improvements) is to plead with a literary agent to put their eyes on your work, at which point they will hopefully deem it fit for purpose and convince a publisher of the same. This was the week that process started.
Family Time
It didn't start as early as I might have preferred. A busy few days began for me on Monday, with a family meal at a popular burger Mcrestaurant to catch up with my parents after their return from holiday, and my nephews who were on half term.
To be fair, it was planned in. The date had been set for over a week, and I should possibly have foreseen it taking up the bulk of the afternoon, especially after my wife, Tina mentioned popping into a shop to pick up a new duvet.
Tuesday, saw more family shenanigans, as my Step-Daughter arrived for a visit (Another pre-planned event I'd promptly misplaced on my mental calendar). Unfortunately she only stayed for the night but that only stressed the importance of making the most of the time Tina and I had with her. This included another meal (steak and chips this time, at a lovely pub), a night of fun, some frolics, and a complete lack of control of the telly. I guess this could have been a chance to get some work done, but the two ladies promptly reverted to their early teens, and would have left me in a state similar to trying to concentrate while two tornadoes with Tourette's throw chickens at each other.
On Trend
No, the real chance to kick things off was Thursday. This was a day of relative peace and quiet, a day which offered at least a little time to do my own thing, and this was indeed the day I began to investigate the plethora of Literary Agents who appear to be out there.
At first glance it might seem the numbers were in my favour. After all, there's only one of me, and if there are a great number of agents ready to vie for my most excellently written book, then the whole things a breeze. right?
Wrong. You see, although they are numerous, agents also tend towards the highly specialised. At any given time, any given agent is probably looking for something specific, something ready made to fill a gap in the market, or an up and coming trend. This makes the process of selling the book, and most probably the author, much easier. It makes perfect sense from their point of view, and I can't, and won't, blame any Literary Agent for doing so. It doesn't make my life all that much easier though.
Realistically Speaking
Now here is where a website called MSWL or Manuscript Wish List comes in. This ingenious little site is a central hub, where agents can post about the work they're looking to represent, From there it's a matter of finding a good match, checking out their website, and following the submission guidelines. Easy right?
You see, you've fallen for it again, because it's not quite that simple. Not if you want to do it right, anyway. First of all, you have to have a realistic and honest appraisal of what your book is. Yes, it contains a little romance, but is it a romance? If it has magic in it, does that make it a fantasy, and if so what kind? What exactly is the difference between Urban Fantasy and Magical Realism anyway?
These questions and a near infinity of others were more than enough to fire up the nagging little voice of self-doubt I think lurks in most writer's minds, and that in turn made the search even harder. Of course the fear-factor was more than happy to back the voice up and together they ganged up on me, tying me in knots of my own making until, with one final 'sod it' I took the plunge and sent off a query which was probably to the wrong person, at the wrong time, about the wrong book.
Wait For It
The mere act of doing so was like the sun poking out from between the clouds of Storm whatever-this-one-is-called, however. A symbolic, but very real seeming, ray of light. Immediately, I felt enthused and twenty-four hours later the amount of queries I'd sent had doubled. Within the next couple of day I expect it to do the same.
And that will be it,for now. Once I've sent my targeted five queries, the waiting begins. One phone call, one email, could be life changing, but I know neither will be quick in coming, In fact both agents I have queried have an expected turn around of four to six weeks, and I don't foresee others being much different. No, I've done as much as I can for now, and the rest is a restless, nervous, waiting game I'm not entirely built for.
Now please, do excuse me while I check my emails.
Until next time...
On Trend
No, the real chance to kick things off was Thursday. This was a day of relative peace and quiet, a day which offered at least a little time to do my own thing, and this was indeed the day I began to investigate the plethora of Literary Agents who appear to be out there.
At first glance it might seem the numbers were in my favour. After all, there's only one of me, and if there are a great number of agents ready to vie for my most excellently written book, then the whole things a breeze. right?
Wrong. You see, although they are numerous, agents also tend towards the highly specialised. At any given time, any given agent is probably looking for something specific, something ready made to fill a gap in the market, or an up and coming trend. This makes the process of selling the book, and most probably the author, much easier. It makes perfect sense from their point of view, and I can't, and won't, blame any Literary Agent for doing so. It doesn't make my life all that much easier though.
Realistically Speaking
Now here is where a website called MSWL or Manuscript Wish List comes in. This ingenious little site is a central hub, where agents can post about the work they're looking to represent, From there it's a matter of finding a good match, checking out their website, and following the submission guidelines. Easy right?
You see, you've fallen for it again, because it's not quite that simple. Not if you want to do it right, anyway. First of all, you have to have a realistic and honest appraisal of what your book is. Yes, it contains a little romance, but is it a romance? If it has magic in it, does that make it a fantasy, and if so what kind? What exactly is the difference between Urban Fantasy and Magical Realism anyway?
These questions and a near infinity of others were more than enough to fire up the nagging little voice of self-doubt I think lurks in most writer's minds, and that in turn made the search even harder. Of course the fear-factor was more than happy to back the voice up and together they ganged up on me, tying me in knots of my own making until, with one final 'sod it' I took the plunge and sent off a query which was probably to the wrong person, at the wrong time, about the wrong book.
Wait For It
The mere act of doing so was like the sun poking out from between the clouds of Storm whatever-this-one-is-called, however. A symbolic, but very real seeming, ray of light. Immediately, I felt enthused and twenty-four hours later the amount of queries I'd sent had doubled. Within the next couple of day I expect it to do the same.
And that will be it,for now. Once I've sent my targeted five queries, the waiting begins. One phone call, one email, could be life changing, but I know neither will be quick in coming, In fact both agents I have queried have an expected turn around of four to six weeks, and I don't foresee others being much different. No, I've done as much as I can for now, and the rest is a restless, nervous, waiting game I'm not entirely built for.
Now please, do excuse me while I check my emails.
Until next time...
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